Preserve Today To Make a Classic for Tomorrow
June 14th, 2009
It is a simple fact that some of the cars driven today will become the sought-after classics of tomorrow. If you are driving around a beauty you think might have a chance of becoming a hot item down the road, there are a few things you can do to protect the value of your ride.
While it is always hard to tell what make and model will be the “big deal” 25 years from now or more, there are some indicators. Present makes and models that are popular, sporty, unusual or going out of production, for example, are all decent choices to consider preserving for future antiquity.
If it is your plan to hang on to your vehicle until it becomes a classic, there are some things you will want to do to protect it. They include:
Keeping up with basic maintenance – Make sure to keep your car in good working order. If there are problems, try to seek out original parts for the repairs.
Protect the body – If your car is nearing the 15- or 25-year mark, protect its appearance. Make sure it is kept cleaned and waxed. Garage it in the wintertime if the weather where you are gets snowy.
Put it on “ice” – If you are reasonably certain your car will be a commodity in the future and you are in a position to do so, garaging it now might not be a bad idea. While you will want to fire it up and drive it around from time to time to keep it in good working order, garaging it until it reaches classic status is not a bad idea.
There is no crystal ball that can show what models of today will become the big classics of tomorrow. Still, if you have a strong hunch your vehicle will be one of those collectors swoon over, there are things you can do to protect the value as you bank on the future.
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