- Classic Sports Cars are an incredible automotive experience, but they come with their quirks.
- Staying on top of maintenance, protecting it from the elements, and making sure to drive your classic sports car will ensure longevity and an unrivaled experience!
Table of Contents
Owning A Classic Sports Car
Once upon a time, the idea of a modern car was a full metal body, minimal electronic influence, and simple but effective engines to propel your car. The automatic transmission was the peak creature comfort and air conditioning was optional. Nowadays, cars come with features only high end luxury cars used to come with such as heated and cooled seats, back up cameras, and a sensor for almost every aspect of your car.
While today’s vehicles are more comfortable, faster, and safer than the cars of automotive past, we in the hobby still am enamored by classic sports cars. Owners across generations yearn for the cars of their childhood. When they get access to adult money, the possibility of owning their dream car as a kid becomes a reality. Before owning a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle, I wanted to have an American muscle of my own. It was a dream of mine since I was a kid. It is a crazy thing to actually live your dreams out.
But what does it take to own a classic sports car? It’s more than just being able to purchase it, it’s about maintaining it over the years properly in order to keep these beautiful machines alive long past their expected lifespan. In this segment of the Powershift Auto blog, we’re going to cover our favorite tips for owning and maintaining a classic sports car so you better follow along if you don’t know what to do!
Best Tips For Owning A Classic Sports Car
#1 Storage and Protection Is Key
Classic sports cars in today’s world average between 40 to 60 years old. That is years of exposure to the elements, wear and tear, and much more. When manufacturers built these cars, there was zero intention of making these to last decades. Yet, here they are still out on the road. One of the biggest factors to classic sports car longevity is how they’re stored.
Storing your car in a garage, or at the very least a covered parking spot, is huge. This allows your car to have protection from the elements, especially the sun that is ready to dry out your car’s rubber components like hoses and weatherstripping.
To make your car even safer, a durable car cover is a beneficial investment to protect your car. This will protect your car from dust and more, especially if all you have access to is a covered parking spot.
#2 Keep Up Routine Maintenance, Even If The Mileage Isn’t Going Up A Lot
Maintaining a car is critical, especially for classic sports cars. Tire age, time between fluid changes, and other normal wear pieces need to be attended to. This is especially important if your car is not currently running. If you did not drain all of the fluids or the gasoline, you can run into issues depending on how long the car sits.
When I tend to the Chevelle, I change the oil and filter in it every four months regardless of mileage. While to some this could be excessive, it gives me piece of mind knowing the big block Chevy V8 is good to go. If you don’t feel comfortable doing your own maintenance (which is totally fine in our book, but there’s fun to be had learning how to do it!), find a reputable shop that works on classic cars often.
#3 Drive It
Driving your classic sports car is key to longevity. Allowing the fluids to move throughout the engine, let the suspension pieces operate, and get the tires going is all too important. Cars that sit too long run into issues like dried up suspension components or gasoline going bad. If you are going to have the car sit for a prolonged period of time, pour in some fuel stabilizer to make sure the fuel left in the tank doesn’t turn into a problem for your car.
The absolute most important reason to drive your car, however, is to enjoy it. Far too often do we see classic sports cars sit in garages or barns for years without seeing the pavement. While barn finds are cool for the finder, it’s not cool for the owner. Sitting around hoping to drive it is not what the hobby is about. If you have a project car, stay on it to get it done to fully experience the feel of driving a classic sports car.
Keep These Beautiful Machines Alive
It is no secret that cars are moving further and further away from analog driving. Self-driving EVs, numb electronic assisted steering, and computer powered nannies governing how your cars drive is the norm. Companies are not going to build pure driver’s cars like we want them to, it’s just the reality. However, we have these wonderful pieces of automotive history still available to us.
Whether its a JDM classic, a vintage European car, or good ol’ American Muscle, these cars deserve to be kept alive. While the tips outlined in this article are not the only things you can do to preserve these cars, it is a fundamental baseline to follow in order to keep the car going for years to come. Take the time to care for these cars and allow yourself to enjoy driving in its purest form.
Want to have your vehicle featured on our website? Contact us on our website, Pinterest, or Instagram!
Keep up with the latest articles, content, and special offerings by signing up for our email newsletter!