How to Properly Store Your Car This Winter

As winter approaches, many classic car owners are getting ready to store their cars for 4-5 months. While the Classic Car Insurance policy we offer does not have seasonal restrictions, you might still be limiting your occasional leisure rides and car shows during this time to avoid the cold. If so, it’s important to know that leaving your classic car unprotected, even inside a garage, during the winter can be damaging.

Below are some tips and ideas that will keep your classic car safe from icy winter conditions.

Clean and wax the finish. Be sure to wash the car first to remove any dirt and foreign particles. Also, be sure to store any waxes and cleaners you use inside your house during the winter since the freezing and thawing process can actually change their chemical compositions.

Check your coolant level. Make sure to correctly mix and fill your radiator with the proper coolant. If it’s been awhile, you might want to invest in a complete cooling system flushing process to ensure the job is done right.

Check your oil level. Some experts recommend replacing the oil and filter upon storage and then once again in the spring when you take your classic car out of storage. Whether you take this step or not, it’s still important to make sure the fluid levels are correct.

Prepare your fuel system. When gasoline sits, it can break down and form gum and varnish, which will clog a fuel system. Add a fuel stabilizer to your gas tank and run the engine for a few minutes to allow the agent to mix in with your fuel system lines.

Adequately cover the car. Invest in a breathable car cover. Don’t rely on a plastic tarp, as they don’t allow rising moist air to pass through. Adequate coverage is also important to prevent critters such as mice from seeking warmth in your vehicle.

Remove or disconnect the battery. When you do so, don’t place the battery on the concrete garage floor, since temperature fluctuations in the concrete will rob the battery and cause premature wear. If you have to store the battery on the floor, put a wood board down first, as this will serve as an insulator.

Bring the car off of the floor. It’s a very wise idea to place the vehicle on four heavy-duty jack stands and make sure you put some padding between them and the cars frame. This will relieve spring tension and will keep your classic car’s tires from flat spotting while resting in one place all season.

At Condon Skelly, we understand that your classic car is your pride and joy, and that you want to do everything you can to retain its appearance for years to come. We are able to insure a wide variety of collector vehicles, from original antiques to brand new exotic sports cars, as long as the vehicle is a true collectible. For more information, please contact us today. (866) 291-5694

We recently attended the 2012 Northeast Rod & Custom Car Show in Oak, PA. The quality and variety of customs and hot rods was impressive, so we thought we’d share some with you. It’s great to get out and visit car shows whenever you can – there are great ideas for your own collection, and an opportunity to meet other and share your passion. Now that spring is underway, we hope to be visiting many more car shows in the upcoming months. We’ll keep you posted!

For more on insuring your collector car or hot rod, visit Condon Skelly today.

The 2010 Explorer was actually the last Ford to use the Cologne V6. What’s interesting about this engine? It was produced, in various iterations, continuously since 1968. With a displacement range from 1.8 to 4.0 liters, it fulfilled a diverse role in motivating Fords throughout the late 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. Early models were mostly European Fords (thus the plant in Cologne, Germany). But later models started making their way stateside, until the Cologne V6 powered every small truck Ford sold. The latter-day explorers are the first and only iteration of the Cologne (aside from the specialty Cosworth) to eschew pushrods in favor of single overhead cams. So even drivers buying SUVs just a few years ago were buying into a family of engines dating back over 40 years. An interesting notion about where we came from, and where we’re going.

1. Do classic car insurance policies offer deductibles? – Yes. Usually there are a variety of deductible options. Because annual premiums are so low, many customers choose to have a zero deductible, but several different options are available.
2. Is coverage available seasonally?  – Definitely! At Condon Skelly we’re flexible to your changing needs. During the off-season when your classic vehicle isn’t being used, we’ll be happy to insure your vehicle for comprehensive coverage only.
3. What are Condon Skelly’s garage requirements? – When you’re not out driving or showing you classic or antique vehicle, we require that you keep your pride and joy in a fully enclosed, locked garage.
4. What is Agreed Value? – Agreed Value policies guarantee that in the event of a total loss – resulting from an accident, theft or anything else – you’ll receive your collectible vehicle’s full value. And you’ll know what that value is right when you file your claim, because it’s the value agreed upon when you set-up your policy.

Horsepower, like many things, continues to grow with the times. Many want bigger, faster, cheaper. Technology and economies of scale are happy to oblige. In some ways, however, it’s remarkable that we’ve come this far, given the effects of the gas crises. The resulting fuel economy efforts devastated the market for power and performance. In the 80s, a typical Ford Mustang had between 88 and 140 horsepower – today’s equivalent of a compact or subcompact economy car. Despite the crises, and the need to clean up our act, the horsepower wars are raging now as much as ever before. Let’s take a look at what five decades will do.

In the 60s, the most powerful production car (by rated net HP) was the Chevy Camaro ZL-1, producing 376 bhp. Today, the list of cars with more power is nearly endless, but let’s focus on the ones that most people can afford. The Camaro ZL-1 was expensive in 1969, but not outlandish – about $43,000 in today’s money. Today’s cars under $43,000 with more than 376 bhp are as follows:

• Chevy Camaro SS – 426 bhp
• Ford Mustang GT – 412 bhp
• Dodge Challenger SRT8 – 470 bhp

It’s nice to see that Detroit has returned to its old hallmark of affordable power for the people. There’s a vast array of European and Japanese cars over 376 bhp, but most of them cost two or three times what these cars cost. The ZL-1 was a rocket ship in its day, and just 5 years ago, none of these cars were around. This decade, however, has marked the return of American Muscle. Not only has the power returned, but fuel economy, engine efficiency, safety, handling, and build quality are all improved across the board in American cars. Truly an impressive feat, and a necessary one. At the current rate of development, even experts struggle to imagine what the next few decades will bring.

For more on classic cars, American muscle cars, and collector car insurance, visit Condon Skelly.

Customs and hot rods comprise a large swath of the collector car market, and come in many guises. Some take a gentle approach to the art of automobile customization. Some prefer to make there’s a bit more evident. And then there are the wild things – cars that are noticed everywhere they go, for the looks, the sound, the performance, or a combination thereof. Here’s a selection of some of the showstoppers we’ve seen lately…

I think we all know this week’s vehicle. It’s one of the best-selling trucks of all time – a household name for several decades. But hardly a collectible, one might say. Especially this model – produced through 2010. What makes this truck interesting, unusual, and in some ways a collectible car at heart? Check back next week to find out.

As always, for more on collector car insurance and collectible cars, visit Condon Skelly today.

Classic cars and classic car insurance are more than just our job – they’re our passion. That’s why we travel around the country attending car shows, and why we know that classic cars are so special to their owners. We’ve been blogging a lot about classic cars, collector cars, and antique cars. Here are the most popular blogs from recent weeks.

• Collector Car Trivia
• New Collector Car Video
• Classic Cars from Pennsylvania

All hail the DAF! The DAF 600 set the world on fire in 1958, introducing several clever design features, but more importantly – the world’s first CVT! A good forty years before CVTs became popular in mainstream vehicles, DAF was blazing the trail with a transmission that had no gears. The CVT, or continuously variable transmission, operated on a belt that would infinitely adjust the transmission ratio to keep the engine in the power band whenever it was needed, and reduce the engine revs for maximum economy when the power wasn’t called for. A brilliant design that can now be found in trucks, sedans, sports cars, and hybrids, owning a DAF is truly owning a notable piece of car history.

There are so many things that can make a car special – the way it looks, the way it drives, the way it was built… and all of these are great reasons to own a classic. What makes this car special? Find the answer next week!