Class Car Storage & Security

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The last thing you want to happen to your prized project is for it to come to any harm – and yet many enthusiasts believe that simply locking it away in their garage is good enough all year round security. Well, it’s not.

Security doesn’t only mean shielding it away from prying eyes, but also keeping it in the superb condition you lovingly restored it back to. Things can happen in any garage so you should cover that body beautiful up to prevent accidental damage – but don’t simply use old blankets or – worse still – a cheap plastic sheet as it will cause the body to ‘sweat’ and lead to micro-blistering of that expensive new paint job resulting in another unwanted expenditure.

Keep it tidy and making sure stuff on the shelves can’t fall on your classic by being too overloaded. Attend to defective roofing and leaks but don’t fret over draughts as these can provide much needed ventilation – especially if you have a simple prefab lock up! If you’ve got any old carpet and underlay, make use of it by lining the floor to keep the heat in and the damp contained.

There’s a range of inexpensive car covers, starting from £50, designed for the job with the more pricier alternatives tailor-made for specific classics. The ultimate are dedicated air bubbles which seal the car in a special protective environment (such as Carcoon, Airflow Cair-o-Port and Permabag); these ‘additional’ garages cost from as little as a few hundred and some can be used outside.

In fact if you suffer from a damp garage, then the car is best kept outside, or invest in a dehumidifier. All air contains moisture and as it cools to reach the ‘dew point’ any steel object below this, gathers condensation meaning rusting will start along with the formation of mould and so on. Basically, they work like a fridge in reverse; sucking in the air from the garage and taking out the moisture into a built-in reservoir. Running costs are said to be as low as 4p an hour. You can buy a basic unit for around £100 and for what it is protecting, is certainly money well spent. A better alternative is to have a special all singing and dancing air bubble which protects the vehicle at the same time.

If your classic is stored away from the house with no power then close all windows and air vents, but open up regularly to allow fresh air to circulate and ward off mildew.

Theft is becoming a major worry so consider installing a good alarm system along with CCTV which you can view from a smart phone. Again, if your classic resides in a private parade of lock ups, speak to an alarm expert on how to best protect your classic and consider a tracker. Removing the battery and fitting a steering clamp is certainly a deterrent but if the authorities or Police and Fire Brigade have to quickly move your vehicle before you arrive, then damage will certainly occur. Lastly, ensure that you have the correct level of insurance protection.

Best ploys

Professional

If you have the money, and feel your car deserves it, have a professional storage company look after it especially during the winter months

Garaging

Have you ever considered a makeshift garage on the drive? There’s many around and while they’re for simply storage, they are effective enough

Protection

Even the best lock ups need a little extra and a car cocoon provides that, particularly over the winter months. Adds another layer of anti-theft protection

Top five tips

Winter

 
Long term lay ups require a full day’s servicing and preparation; don’t simply lockup and forget about it

Legal issues

 
Don’t let your insurance lapse even if you are not going to use your car; Most classic car insurers can provide short term or storage cover. And remember that if the road tax runs out (even if ‘tax free’) you must inform the DVLA and register the car as SORN

Fuel for thought

There’s divided opinion over what to do with the fuel tank as unleaded can go ‘off’ if left dormant but an empty tank attracts condensation. A compromise is to leave the tank between half full, and to add a gallon or two of fresh when you are about to bring the car out of storage

Keep it clean

 
Never put it away wet and dirty. Some owners like to give their classic a good polish, we don’t advise cutting the old paint back because that old layer of paint actually acts as a protective shield

Use it

Just like their owners, regular exercise is the best way to keep your pride and joy fit and healthy