​How to Prepare for a Classic Car Show or Cruise

You read every word on the website and painstakingly filled out the entry form. Now you’re all set.

You have just entered your first car show.

Congrats!

Now it’s time to start preparing – and it’s never too early.

The big clean up

Preparing for a car show is not as simple as taking the cover off your classic and driving away. No, that car needs to be in top notch condition.

And that means super clean, inside and out.

The best course of action is to start under the hood. Move on to the wheels next, then tackle the exterior. When you follow this order, you maximize your clean potential. Make sure that there are no water marks or streaks – your displaying a show car now.

Save your interior for last. Vacuum and clean it well, inspecting closely for any tears or loose stitches that may need mending.

It’s a good idea to bring your cleaning supplies with you. It’s always nice to have to ability to do quick touch ups when necessary.

Year-round care for your classic show car

Classic show cars require a little more TLC than other cars. This means giving it extra special care all year round.

The first thing you want to do is protect it, so keeping it in a garage is a good idea. If you can keep it under a car cover, that’s even better. If you don’t drive it often, remove the cover now and then and roll down the windows so that it doesn’t get stale. You can also leave the windows down if you keep the car inside. That will also help.

Once a month, crank it up and take it for a spin. This prevents the engine from becoming corroded and keeps everything is good working order. If for some reason you can’t take it for a drive, at least crank the engine every couple of weeks.

A good pain sealant will keep your paint job in pristine condition. It’s good for about six months at a time, but well worth it, especially if you live in a humid climate where rust is a problem the sealant will help prevent rust.

The classic car show checklist

Before you hit the road, you might want to pack some things from this checklist:

• Event registration tags
• Any required paperwork (documentation to verify your car is a certain age, was owned by someone famous, etc.)
• Cash
• Information on the car
  • Pictures
  • Awards
  • Documentation
  • Clippings from publications
• Lights to increase visibility, highlight certain features, etc.
• Cleaning supplies (microfiber towels, pre-moistened towelettes for quick detail jobs, etc.)
• Creature comforts
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Folding chairs
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Small canopy
  • Tunes
  • Camera
• Business cards with your contact information

Classic car shows can be a family bonding experience and tons of fun for both kids and adults. If you are looking for a car to take to shows, we can help make it happen. Contact Woodside Credit or visit our site and see how easy it is to own that beautiful classic. See you at the show!