Prior to retirement, I ran a mobile car washing and detailing company. I can recall many of our classic car customers wanted their cars washed and detailed, and a special detail prior to putting them into storage to protect them from the elements. Our franchisees dealing in colder climates gave each of their customer’s cars a complete full detail and wax prior to the owners putting a cover over them and storing them for the winter.

In areas such as Florida, Scottsdale, and the Palm Springs area, our franchisees would detail the cars in late spring, as the snowbirds went back home and then they would park the cars in a climate controlled facility. There was an interesting article the other day in the Palm Desert Sun which featured a small business owner that owns a climate controlled facility called; The Vault. The article appeared in the “It’s My Business” section and was titled; “Safe, Climate-Controlled Place to Store a Vehicle” by Cathy Strong.

The owner recommended that vehicles these stored at temperatures between 78 and 81 degrees at all times in a humidity-free environment, as this protects the leather, paint, and wood. Yes, that would be my experience as well, and by keeping it indoors, the tires would also be in good shape. And speaking of tires I can recommend that a car be put up on blocks, so it does even better, as does not to ruin the tires if they become deflated over the long storage period.

Just putting a vehicle in any type of storage can be a serious mistake especially in Arizona or the California desert where the interior temperatures of some storage units can heat up like ovens. Realize, that in some places in Arizona the temperature never gets below 100-degrees for weeks on end even in the middle of the night. An antique car just can’t handle that, and you’re liable to ruin the paint, the plastic, wood, and all the rubber inside the car, outside the car, and in the engine compartment.

If the vehicle is kept in the proper type of storage area at the right temperature, then it is just a matter of giving it a light rinse, and a terrycloth towel dry, and perhaps another coat of wax when it’s time to pull it out again. There is a right way and a wrong way to store a vehicle, and you could seriously be hurting the value of your automobile, and over time watch it deteriorate to the point where it isn’t worth anything if you don’t pay attention to the details. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

By Lance Winslow

A true classic car is one that is completely original, and no modifications have been made decades later, including holes drilled, or add-on aftermarket parts replacing the genuine original parts. But have you ever considered that the classic cars of the future are nothing more than the automobiles we are driving today. In other words you are only 30-years too early. Now then, with that said maybe you should consider what you are doing before you drill holes in your center console, or start making major modifications.

Okay so, you probably don’t plan on keeping your car for 30 years, but what if you did? Some of the cars driving around today will be totaled, rebuilt, refurbished, and be in car show someday in the future. Some of the cars driving around today may look like just regular cars, but they may win best of show at a car show in 30 years. Thus, it makes sense to take care of your automobile, keep it in good condition, and keep it as original as possible without too many major modifications if you wish to hold its value over the long term.

» Read more: The Classic Cars of the Future is the Automobile You Are Driving Today