Starting a Classic Car in the Winter – Yes or No?
Classic cars are more than a rarity. They’re a treasure and, more often than not, the pride and joy of their owners. As such, they deserve the best care possible. However, with winter around the corner, many vintage car owners face an age-old dilemma.
If you live in Orange County, CA, should you start your vintage vehicle during winter or leave it in its indoor classic car storage to wait for that perfect California weather? If you’re facing the same conundrum, then this guide is just the thing you need.
Should I start my classic car in the winter?
As with almost anything concerning classic car maintenance, this topic, too, is subject to a fair amount of controversy. Some believe that, once you’ve tucked your car in winter storage, you shouldn’t touch it until spring. Others swear it’s imperative to give it a rev and drive every once in a while.
Without going into technicalities and the science behind it, it’s safe to say that both sides are right - to an extent:
If you properly prepare your collectible car for storing, you can leave it in storage (almost) indefinitely. Your vehicle will remain safe, protected, and ready for use the moment spring rolls along;
If you can’t live without giving your vintage beauty an occasional spin, there’s no reason to deny yourself that pleasure. You will, however, have to do so regularly and make sure your car is ready for winter driving.
Therefore, the answer is more a matter of personal preference.
How often should you start a car in winter storage?
It’s understandable that you want to visit and start your car periodically. After all, nothing compares with hearing that familiar purr and feeling those soothing vibrations. Still, there are a few rules to follow here to ensure your vintage ride remains protected:
Ideally, you should take your car out at least once a week. But, if that’s not possible, once every two weeks will more than suffice;
Inspect the car before driving to ensure everything is in top shape. Even better, let Orange County experts do it for you to stay on the safe side;
Choose a nice day (e.g. sunny, without precipitation) and make arrangements to clean your vehicle after driving;
Let the car warm up first (15-20 minutes) to avoid unnecessary strain on the components.
Whatever you do, DO NOT simply start the car, leave it running for a few minutes, and turn it off. This is the absolute worst thing you can do. The engine (and other critical systems) need a while to reach their optimal operating conditions and “cleanse” themselves of residual moisture and harmful combustion byproducts.
Instead, take your car out for a nice, slow ride. Plan out an easy, undemanding route that will take you at least 20-30 minutes. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. A few laps around Huntington Central Park is quite enough to let your classic car “stretch its legs.”
Ensure the best protection for your ride with the top#1 indoor classic car storage in Orange County, CA
If you’d rather let your vintage beauty rest during winter, you’ll need to ensure it's in a perfect environment. You want a safe place that offers ideal collectible vehicle storing conditions, and there’s no better place for that than Chimera Motors’ vintage car storage.
With ample security, temperature-controlled storage, and regular experts checkup, we have everything your vintage ride needs for peaceful winter slumber. Get in touch with us today and reserve your safe space in one of the best classic car storage in California.
