If you own a classic car that you don't plan on driving around this winter, you can keep it safe all winter long inside of a storage unit. If you aren't sure which kind of unit would be best, you can talk with a professional, like King Arthur Self Storage. Before you place your classic car inside of the climate-controlled storage unit that you choose, you need to prepare it for winter.

1. Clean It Top To Bottom

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you clean the vehicle out from top to bottom. You don't want to leave dirt or debris sitting on your vehicle all winter long while it is in storage; that could comprise your paint job and the interior of your classic car.

First, make sure that you wash the outside. Pay attention to the wheels and the undercarriage; you don't want to forget anything. Next, you should wax your vehicle as well. This will help protect the paint job on your classic cruiser while it is in storage. You should also polish up your chrome wheels with a specialized chrome polish. 

Then, you need to move on to the inside of your vehicle. Be sure to vacuum top to bottom, including the ceiling of your vehicle as well. Remove all mats and clean under them as well. 

2. Change The Oil

Next, you need to change the oil in your engine. Even if you have not driven it very many miles since the last time you changed the oil, it is always a good idea to change the oil right before you put your classic car into storage. Old oil can contain things like moisture, acids, and little bits of debris that could wear away and eat at your engine while it is in storage. The best way to go is clean oil.

3. Drain Or Stabilize The Fuel

Next, fuel can degrade incredibly quickly. Any fuel inside of your car will degrade before winter is over. You have two choices, you can either drain out your gas tank, or you can add a fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank. A fuel stabilizer will make the fuel last longer.

If you don't do either of those things, the fuel will deteriorate and cause gunk to build up in your engine. 

4. Top Off The Coolant

You also need to make sure that the coolant is full. The coolant will keep your radiator in good condition while it is in storage. If it is not full, your radiator could become damaged.

5. Take Out The Battery

You also need to take out the battery from your vehicle. If you leave the battery in your vehicle, it is just going to become drained while sitting there all winter from lack of use. Once you take it out, use baking soda to clean off any build-up. Next, attach it to a trickle charger in your garage; this will prevent your battery from dying during the winter. 

6. Lubricate All Moving Parts

Before you let your vehicle sit still for multiple months, make sure that you lubricate all moving parts, such as the door and trunk hinges. That way, they will work smoothly when you fire up your classic car next spring.

After you have completed all the steps above, all you need to do is put a cloth cover on your classic cruiser and lock up the storage unit. Your vehicle will be safe for the winter and should drive well when you need it again next spring or summer.