How to prep your classic car for a car show

If you’re a classic car enthusiast and have your own vehicle that you enjoy taking to - and showing off at - the many car shows staged throughout the UK, you’ll know how important the preparation time is leading up to the event. You want your classic car to make the best possible impression and leave an indelible mark on every enthusiast who has the opportunity to look over it. If you’ve never attended a car show before with your own vehicle, we’ve got a few tips that will ensure it’s in the best possible condition and capable of making the statement it deserves.

Wash it (yourself!)

This might sound obvious, but with so many options for car washing these days (most of which are at the hands of others), it can be tempting to leave the most important pre-show prep work to someone else. Don’t. Instead, wash the car yourself and spend a good day doing so. No one will be able to clean your car as comprehensively as you, because you know every nook and cranny and the areas which need the most attention. It’s your car, too, which means you’ll take extra care and only use the best cleaning materials to avoid potential mishaps and damage.

Have ‘waterless’ car wash and rags to hand

Picture the scene: you’ve spent a good day cleaning your beloved car and then, on the way to the show the following day, you inadvertently head through a humungous, muddy puddle. Day ruined? Not if you have a ‘waterless’ car washing product to hand. Usually available in spray form, waterless car washes are incredibly useful when you need to get a decent shine without water and in super-quick time. It’ll be ultra handy on the day, too; when you spot a mucky patch or area where you haven’t cleaned quite as comprehensively a you’d thought, a quick whip out of the waterless car wash and a clean rag will do the job - instantly.

Make the interior shine

With so much focus on the look of the car externally, it’s easy to forget the importance of the interior. The cabin can shine, too - providing you use the right cleaning products. The trick lies in focusing on the upholstery by using a rich leather cleaner and microfibre cloth to ensure all door panels and dashboard elements are left shining without streaks (or scratches!).

Ensure everything is mechanically sound

So, your classic car has never looked better… but will it actually get there on the big day? Always remember to check that the car is mechanically sound. Take it out for plenty of test runs on the lead up to the event and, if you think it would benefit, invest in a mini service. The last thing you want en route to the car show is to find yourself pulled up in a lay-by on your hands and knees trying to work out why the thing won’t tick over at idle.

Final thought

Whether you’re attending a car show just for the fun of it or entering your vehicle into a competition, the above tips will ensure it shines on the day - literally. Image credit