5 Rules For Maintaining A Classic Car’s Value

In the automotive world, you never quite know which cars are going to go up in price exponentially, and which are going to be perennially dumped in the scrap heap. However, you can do your bit to maintain the value of the vehicle you already own. This way, if it does become a classic, you’re ready.

But how do you maintain a classic car and keep it in good shape indefinitely? After all, don’t most cars fall to bits in less than twenty years?

In this post, we take a look. Here’s what you need to do:

Keep It Stored Correctly

Classic vehicles are considerably more prone to the elements than their modern equivalents. Back in the day, the quality of metal treatments, paints, and rubber just wasn’t as high as it is today. Cars would often corrode all the way through, requiring mechanics to replace entire body panels. 

The trick here is to keep your car stored correctly. You want to make sure that you keep it out of the elements long-term so that the sun, rain, and snow can’t damage it in any way. If the car is particularly old, you may want to keep it in a climate-controlled room to avoid damagingly high humidity levels that lead to metal fatigue. 

Regularly Replace Short-Life Components

If you drive your classic car (which you should if you want to enjoy it), you’ll want to regularly swap out shorter-lived components. Make sure that you get an oil change and tire rotation every six months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Mechanics can take a look and see where your vehicle might be experiencing the most wear and fix the problem before it becomes a bigger issue. 

Keep It Original

Adding lots of modifications to classic cars might seem like a great idea. After all, modern components are better and often help older vehicles go faster. 

Unfortunately, collectors don’t see things this way. They want vehicles to be 100 percent original so that they can get the classic experience. They want to feel like the original owners did, way back in the day. 

The good news is that many mechanics now specialize in supplying original (or replica) parts for classic vehicles. They’re not hard to find and often made to much higher standards. 

Wash It Regularly

You don’t want to use too much water on a classic car, but you do want to keep it clean. Removing dust and debris lowers the chance of wear and tear and helps keep sensitive components, like rubber, in optimal condition. 

Rinse your car every couple of months or so, even if you leave it parked, and then wipe it down with a leather chamois. Keeping your car looking clean helps you stay proud of it, removing any residual scum that might change its appearance. 

Avoid Modifications

Lastly, don’t modify the classic car in any way, even if it is something like a Ford Cosworth which is a real boy racer vehicle. For investment purposes, focus on maintaining originality at all costs.