Classics in winter storage

Of course there are classics for whom the retirement age is just as sad as the people who thought they were guaranteeing their pension provision with a usury policy: They just have to keep working. They don't even have to mind. Because classics prefer to drive than stand. And just as with people, exercise keeps their fitness up to date.

Almost all classics are now - well prepared for the winter - busy hibernating. But such a hibernation can turn into a bad dream or a nightmare. With a really well-arranged classic garage, that risk is virtually non-existent. But there are a huge number of classics in 'semi-official parking'. And to start with: That could well be your own garage.

Did you know that classics parked there with an active license plate are generally not insured with the garage goods? If he is suspended, then he is. So it makes sense to give the classic car a fire and theft insurance as a gift.

Fire is of course always a risk, but the possibility that your classic car is kidnapped from a rustic garage nowadays appears to be considerably greater than the fire risk. And it's amazing how brutal thieves are today. Even the sixties' squares with garage boxes in the middle of residential areas are not safe for them.

If you have brought your classic car under the roof elsewhere, it is also useful to ask the garage giver about the insurance of the saved classics. Because old farmers' sheds, greenhouses and things like that can provide shelter, but the managers of those types of sheds often see their work as a basic source of income. "Just put it there and see". No receipts, no supervision, no story ... "Ah.What can happen?" Quite a lot.

The fact that some of those parking facilities are rather deep in the various green areas plus that the payment of the - pleasantly low - storage costs just go hand in hand does not give bonus points when handling matters if something goes wrong. So remember: cheap is (all too often) expensive.

But no matter how or wherever you have placed your classic: don't leave it alone all winter. Just take off the cover and open the windows / doors to let it ventilate. The cover can also be worth gold while storing in an empty barn or something. Let's see if a smart couple of mice haven't made a nest in the air filter. Close the doors and windows again, because otherwise they can give access to all kinds of animals. Placing a fresh moisture eater can also do no harm.

We were just talking about the car cover. Also look at that during your visit. If it is one that has ever come out of the budget as a joke, then that also deserves attention. Car covers must be 'breathable'. Otherwise condensation will form. And if that water vapor cannot go away, then he does stinky mixed things with varnish, chrome and metal.

Another point of attention: during a winter visit you can also throw a dose of ethanol killer in the tank. That should have been done on the last ride. And if you drive that last ride before the next stop on Aspen petrol, then your classic will start the spring again like a charm. And indeed: the new spring is already coming.