Summer is the best time for a vintage or classic car owner. It’s time to get the car or truck out of storage and hit the open roads. Just as winter’s road salt can be damaging to your restored classic vehicle, the rays of the sun can damage the interior and exterior of your car. At Wrenchers LLC, we are asked all the time for tips on how to protect your classic car from the sun, and we’ve put together 6 tips.
Whether you’re new to vintage or classic car ownership or if you’re a long-time enthusiast and driver, you know that the UVA and UVB rays of the sun can damage the paint job. Sun can also lead to fading and cracking of leather seats and dashboards.
What can a classic car owner and driver do to protect his or her car from the rays of the Michigan sunshine? If you’ve just spent a tidy sum on your vehicle’s restomod or frame-off restoration, you will want to protect your car.
How To Protect Your Classic Car From The Sun
In addition to the sun damaging the paint job, here are a few other things that can happen to your vintage vehicle during the heat of the summer day:
- The UV rays can dry out and damage the car’s tires.
- The vehicle’s fluids could evaporate because of the heat, and you may find yourself with an overheating car on the side of the road.
- Plastic parts can crack and fade.
- Sunlight can cause the car’s headlights to yellow.
- Under the hood, the heat can dry out hoses.
- As mentioned, leather can crack, and seats can fade.
Here’s how to protect your vintage vehicle from the ravages of the summer sun:
- Park in the shade. Be aware of parking under the shade of a tree that is prone to dripping sap or that might be home to a flock of birds.
- Wash and clean and apply wax to your car’s exterior. Washing removes bugs, dirt and debris. Wax and other sealants can protect the paint job.
- Use window protectors and sunshades to keep the sun from streaming through the windows and fading and damaging the interior.
- Cover the vehicle. This will protect the exterior and interior, but unfortunately won’t do anything to protect the hoses from cracking or fluids from evaporating. Consider using a car umbrella. Yes, it’s just what it sounds like – a portable umbrella to cover your car.
- Park in an air-conditioned garage or storage space. This may not be a feasible option for everyone, but if you can park in air conditioning, we urge you to do it.
- Check fluids and tire pressure before you hit the road to ensure your vintage vehicle is road-ready and that you won’t have any unwelcome surprises along the way.
If you have any questions about a frame-off restoration or are looking for further insights for protecting your classic car or truck, give us a call or stop by our shop.
At Wrenchers LLC, we are classic, antique and hot rod enthusiasts, and that shows in the craftsmanship of our vehicle restorations. Whether you choose a full frame-off, traditional restoration or custom work for your vehicle, our experienced restoration professionals listen to you and work on your vehicle with the same care they take with their own. When your keys are handed over and you slide behind the wheel after your car has been restored, you will be hitting the road in the vehicle of your dreams.