Maintaining and preserving a classic car collection: everything you need to know

Owning a classic car collection is slightly different from owning any others, mostly because they include cars that will never be made again, so you have to go the extra mile to maintain and store such pieces of history.

Classic cars are a long-standing reminder of how far we have come, especially when it comes to the automotive industry.

As some enthusiasts would say, every classic car collection, and each vintage car in it, has a story to tell.

It’s almost like a storybook — but for cars.

READ MORE: Man has to scrap his dozen-strong Alfa Romeo collection in junkyard

Maintaining and preserving a classic collection the right way

We’re not saying that you need a full-blown facility with the latest tech, environment control, and a dedicated person to look after classic cars.

In reality, some steps involved overlap with how you maintain a regular car collection.

Because, in the end, you need to keep them shiny and damage-free.

The extra step involved when it comes to classic cars is preservation.

You need to be super-sure that they don’t age normally with time.

Proper storage is key

Putting all your cars in your garage is certainly not the best course of action.

Yes, they need to be indoors.

But they also need to be protected from moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures.

Moisture is the biggest enemy when it comes to age-old metal parts.

This is why you will need to make sure the storage space is dry and without moisture.

Further, and also, needless to say, it needs to be clean.

If you live in a dusty area, you will have to periodically clean the cars so they don’t look older than they actually are.

For context, this is what a car rotting away and covered in dust for decades looks like.

Places like a brick garage or a concrete unit with enough airflow are great places to store a classic car collection.

Routine maintenance is more important than you think

If you thought you just needed to purchase a classic car collection, store it in a garage, and you never have to drive it again — think again.

These cars are machines, and they need their mechanical parts to be in the right condition to be able to run as they should.

And they won’t stay in the right conditions by sitting idle.

We understand that if you have a classic car collection with hundreds of cars, it might turn out to be a weeks-long task.

But if someone has these many cars, they must be millionaires or billionaires and can always hire someone to do it.

What maintenance do these cars need, you ask?

Just like your daily driver, you would need to make sure to change the oil, check the brake fluid, and check if the battery is working as it should.

Now, you can’t take your old Lincoln to a service station, but any experienced mechanic would do.

If cars like these sit idle for extended periods of time, any of these things could potentially damage the car.

Drive every car in the classic car collection

You will have to drive — or get someone’s help doing it — every car in the classic car collection every now and then.

Again, if you have over 300 cars like Ion Țiriac, you might even forget some cars you had.

But it’s essential to take every one of them out on the road once in a while.

Driving them will keep the oil flow intact and prevent the engine from being damaged.

If you have too many cars, you might need some help, but who wouldn’t appreciate driving something iconic?

Why should you maintain a classic car collection?

Let’s be clear — anyone who owns a bunch of vintage vehicles is probably an enthusiast.

And no enthusiast would like any harm coming to their cars.

Collectors take pride in their car collection, and owning newer luxury cars is relatively easier.

Collecting cars might seem fun and exciting on the surface, but it’s certainly a hefty task.

Despite that, there’s a reason why people collect cars.

However, in the end, if you own a bunch of vintage cars, you should look after them.

After all, they are prized possessions.

If you let your car collection get damaged, it only reduces its value, so there’s the ‘return on investment’ factor, too.