Storing a project car for the winter months can be daunting; it’s your pride and joy at the end of the day! Whether you use it every day or just take it out for a blast at the weekends, our project cars hold a special place in our hearts. That’s why proper preparation is key when it comes to storing it away for the winter! This way, you can ensure its safekeeping and minimise any potential damage or issues when you release it back into the wild in spring. By following these essential tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a hassle-free spring season with your car.
Cleaning and Preparation
Thorough Cleaning: Remove all dirt, grime, and debris from the exterior and interior of your car. Pay special attention to areas prone to rust, like wheel wells, floor pans and the undercarriage as a whole.
Drying: Ensure the car is completely dry before storage. Moisture can lead to rust and other issues.
Wrapping: Cover your car with a breathable, high-quality car cover to protect it from dust, dirt, and the elements.
Pop a Window: Prevent condensation buildup inside the vehicle by leaving a small opening on the driver’s side window. This ventilation strategy stimulates air circulation within the cabin, mitigating moisture buildup. Excessive humidity can lead to rot and deterioration, potentially ruining interior materials like leather and other finishes.
Fuel and Fluids
Fuel Tank: Fill the fuel tank with premium gasoline and add a fuel stabiliser. This helps prevent fuel degradation and condensation inside your fuel tank.
Fluids: For optimal winter car storage, it’s essential to have your vehicle serviced at a reputable and trusted garage. Inform the technician that you will be storing your project car for an extended period, for the winter months; this is typically from October to April. This service should include a comprehensive fluid replacement strategy, particularly for engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid, along with a new oil filter. Ensuring these fluids are in peak condition helps prevent corrosion and degradation during the storage period.
Legal Considerations
SORN: If you won’t be driving your car during the winter, consider declaring it SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification). This way, you don’t have to pay road tax. This is particularly applicable to modern classic project cars which aren’t yet MOT and Tax-Exempt. Just remember to tax your car again or remove the SORN notice in the spring when you return to the road!
Storage Environment
Ventilation: Ensure your storage area is well-ventilated to prevent moisture buildup and mould growth.
Temperature Control: If possible, store your car in a climate-controlled environment to minimise temperature fluctuations.
Bonnet Pointing Outwards: When storing your classic car for winter, position it in a secure, designated space with the bonnet facing outward. Most cars, although some exceptions exist, typically have their batteries located at the front. Even in models where this isn’t the case, there are often terminals accessible under the bonnet for battery connections. This configuration facilitates easier access for jump-starting or towing a vehicle with a dead battery. Being prepared for a problem like this will really streamline the process if you have any issues in the spring.
Maintenance
Lubrication: Apply lubricant to rubber seals, hinges, and other moving parts to prevent them from drying out and cracking.
Chocking: Use wheel chocks to prevent the car from rolling while in storage.
Battery Maintenance: Cold weather months are particularly unkind to batteries, so disconnect and store your battery in a warm, dry place where possible. Consider using a trickle charger to maintain its charge.
Tyres: This is a subject that attracts some debate; some people recommend that you under-inflate your tyres to avoid flat spots. Others recommend you put in around 50PSI, which in most cases constitutes over-inflating the tyres. The latter isn’t recommended, especially if you forget to deflate them, and you have a blowout on your first run in the spring! Other people also recommend that you take all of the wheels off and place your car on axle stands; however, that can be a bit of a faff for a short period of storage. Ultimately, the most sensible option seems to be to just rotate your tyres every 25 days or so to avoid flat spots.
Pest Control: Take precautions to prevent pests from entering and damaging your car.
AM Restorations
AM Restorations operate from a comprehensive workshop in Plymouth, Devon, in the South West of England. We are classic car restoration specialists, and our portfolio includes numerous classic car restoration projects across a wide range of brands, such as Triumph, as well as classic Mercedes, classic Jaguar, and retro Ford models. We offer a very high standard of work at competitive prices, and by completing as much work as possible in-house, we are able to keep a close eye on the quality of work. We understand the importance of making sure every customer is completely satisfied with the service they receive and offer assistance with any project. So, if you need any help preparing your Project Car for winter storage, contact us.