We all cherish our classic cars and will do everything we can to preserve them. To help you avoid causing unnecessary damage to your vehicle, below is a list of what to look out for.
Road salt
Many of us choose not to drive our classics in the winter due to wet, cold and icy weather conditions. But, the greater issue is actually road salt. The salt reacts with steel on the car to produce iron oxide – AKA rust. This means that just one trip on a wet, salty road could result in your car rusting on areas with insufficient protection, such as your exhaust or suspension parts.
Rodents
Perhaps something people wouldn’t necessarily think of as a threat to their car, rodents could in fact turn out to be a huge nuisance – especially if you store your car in a garage. Rats and mice wreak havoc on cars, chewing up insulation and upholstery, gnawing through wiring and even breeding (or leaving mess) in the vehicle. So, if your car is stored in the garage, be sure that it is rodent-free.
Non-use
Because we value our classics so much, some of us only save them for those sunny Sunday afternoons. However, it’s a well-known fact that cars work better when they are maintained on a regular basis. If left for a long period of time, the car’s battery may become flat, the seals may perish and brake cylinders and other engine components may corrode. These are just a few among countless other issues people encounter with cars that have been left for a long period of time, which gives you a great excuse to get your classic out on the road a bit more.
Old tyres
Just because you have a vintage car, doesn’t mean you should have vintage tyres. Even though they may look safe on the surface, old tyres could have numerous underlying issues, such as dry rot, flat spots and damage created by UV exposure. Old tyres increase the chances of you experiencing problems when driving, like a blowout for instance, which could significantly damage your car.