How to get your classic car ready for summer

The sun’s (sometimes) out, the nights are long and the temperatures are rising, which can mean only one thing – it’s time to take your cherished classic out of hibernation, back on the road and onto the car-show scene.

But cool your jets for just a second and read our guide on how to get your classic ready for summer. We’ve got ten tips to help you make sure your pride and joy is primed and ready to perform in the sunshine.

1. Give it a wash

Washing your classic is a brilliant way to get the ball rolling on your car’s annual maintenance. Running a sponge over the bodywork will reveal everything from paint imperfections to dents and corrosion that you can attend to before they get any worse. Plus, applying a protective coating – be it wax or ceramic – will keep your classic looking tip top throughout summer.

2. Check the tyres

Tyres are the only part of your classic in contact with the road, so keeping them pristine is crucial. They’ll likely be going flat after months off the road, but it also makes sense to check for any lumps or cracks that could cause trouble down the line. Uneven tyre wear hints at a bigger problem with wheel alignment or suspension. Finally, check the age of your tyres using the four-digit code on the sidewall – the first two digits represent the week of manufacture (1-51), while the second two denote the year – code 0122, for example, denotes a tyre produced in the first week of 2022. Tyres should be refreshed every ten years.

3. Check the brakes

Having a classic car that stops reliably is even more important than owning one that starts, so checking the condition of your brakes is crucial. Examine brake discs and drums for imperfections and wear – a 1mm lip usually means the former needs replacing – and do the same for pads and shoes. Check your brake fluid is topped up and in good condition, and finally, check brake lines for damage and corrosion.

4. Top up fluids

Brake fluid isn’t all you have to worry about – bad coolant (or a lack thereof) could spell disaster for your classic in sun’s beating heat, so checking its quality and quantity should be a priority. However, fresh transmission and power steering fluids are also key.

5. Check engine oil levels

Classics are well known for leaking oil, so a cursory dipstick check makes sense even if there are no tell-tale puddles at the start of the recommissioning process. Most enthusiasts recommend changing the oil every couple of years, even on lightly used classics that can suffer from moisture build-up in their crankcase.

6. Test the battery

Trickle-charging your battery will stop it going flat over winter but, if that’s not possible, it’ll likely have gone flat. Either way, it makes sense to test and replace your battery if needed. After all, a roadside breakdown will mean paying top dollar for an emergency replacement.

7. Test the lights

Negotiating a long drive home in the pitch dark with inadequate illumination is not fun (safe or legal), so we’d recommend going over your lights with a fine-tooth comb before hitting the road. A powerful set of aftermarket bulbs is one of the easiest and rewards upgrades you can make to your classic.

8. Inspect belts and hoses

An annual inspection of your cars belts and hoses is also highly recommended. Check belts aren’t hardening, cracked or perished and check hoses are in good condition and securely clipped in place.

9. Prepare the fuel

While fuel will last up to six months in average temperatures of 20°C, the likelihood is it’ll last even longer in the UK. Nevertheless, it pays to add a fuel stabiliser before tucking your classic away for winter, and we’d recommend adding a high-detergent fuel additive before starting it again in the summer. Also, avoid E10 – its ethanol will eat your classic’s fuel system – and instead use a high-octane fuel that’s low in ethanol.

10. Get a second opinion

With no legal requirement to put a car of 40 years or older through an MOT, it can be tempting, fun and frugal to do all the maintenance yourself. But it pays to have your handywork looked over once a year by a professional. A second pair of eyes might notice things you’ve missed and the experience of a trusted professional mechanic could mean you can nip problems in the bud before they become a more serious issue.

And with that you’re ready to get up and running for a summer out on the road with your classic car. Be particular with your preparation and you’ll vastly reduce the chances of having problems when the sun is shining and you’re raring to get out and about.