When you own a gorgeous muscle car, you’re going to want to keep it in the best shape possible so that your investment lasts. If not, what was once a beautiful, classic piece of automotive history will deteriorate to the point where it will have to be consigned to the scrapyard, which no one wants to see happen.
You may have heard that the best way to keep your muscle car looking good is to keep it inside and barely use it, but this seems unfair both to the owner and the car. Thankfully, this is untrue, as leaving a car idle for too long can actually cause issues. Here are three essential steps you need to follow to keep your muscle car in the best shape.
Be Responsible With It
When buying a muscle car, there’s usually only one main reason it was ever purchased: it is fast and powerful, and the owner wants to experience that power. Unfortunately, with all that strength under the hood, it can be tempting to be less responsible with your driving and be more reckless on the road.
Driving dangerously and badly is a great way to speed up the deterioration process on your car. Not only does it wear out parts at a more substantial rate, but unresponsible driving can make you more likely to damage your car through scratches, bumps, and in worst cases, crashes.
If you want to test the true performance of your car, make sure to take it to a track, where you will be safe to experience it in all its glory.
Another responsible thing to do with your muscle car is to obtain the right kind of insurance for it. Insurance is a legal prerequisite for any driver to have on their car, but when it comes to your muscle car, you’re going to need to look for the right kind of insurance. It might be that the standard insurance you would buy for a ‘normal’ car just isn’t going to be enough for your muscle car – these cars tend to have much larger engines and are more powerful for one thing, and they are also much rarer and potentially harder to fix if something goes wrong than other cars. This is why specialist car insurance may be necessary.
Speak to a broker who will know what car insurance companies will be best for you and your car; get the right advice from the start so you know you have the right coverage and can keep your car protected at all times.
Keep Fluids Topped Up
If a person doesn’t get enough fluids during the day, they will become dehydrated and unwell. The same is true, in a matter of speaking, at least, with your muscle car. If it runs low on fluids (water, oil, brake fluid, and more depending on the type of car you have), it won’t function well, and eventually, the engine will break down altogether. When this happens, you might not be able to save the car as once an engine overheats, it can be destroyed.
Make it a rule that you check your fluids every time you go out in the car. Pop the hood and check the levels and top anything up that needs to be topped up. In this way, your muscle car will run smoothly, and you will limit the risk of something going wrong with the engine.
Drive It
Driving your vehicle regularly will help to keep it in good shape. One of the problems with older cars is that they don’t get used regularly – they are kept as ‘best’ and used sparingly, often in an attempt to protect the vehicle. This doesn’t actually help your car at all, as not driving it can cause many different parts to get clogged with dirt and other substances, which can greatly impact performance. The more a car is left in a shed or garage somewhere, the more likely it is to rust, or for the brakes to seize, or for the engine to develop a fault. The car was made to be driven, and when it is, you will be ensuring that every part of it is maintained well. It’s also a good idea to make sure you take your car for long drives instead of short ones, as this gives it an opportunity to warm the parts up and, figuratively speaking, shake off the cobwebs.
