Whether it’s a 1970 Dodge Challenger, a 1969 Chevrolet, a 1968 Ford Mustang, or a 1968 Shelby GT350, owning a muscle car can bring a sense of great pride, and often, owners have had to work hard to acquire such an item. Whether it’s displayed front and center on your driveway with pride or carefully stored away in the garage, it’s important to look after your muscle car to ensure its longevity.
Locking it away from the kids and their basketball simply isn’t enough to keep your muscle car running smoothly though. When you own a muscle car like a 1968 Ford Mustang, it often is a collector’s item that offers a sense of nostalgia back to a time when there were fewer cars on the road, and there was a sense of grandeur to traveling in such a vehicle.
Whether you have memories of racing around in it as a teenager, taking your wife on a first date back in the day, or driving your daughter to prom, a muscle car isn’t something you get out to run to the store for milk. Nothing beats a classic muscle car, regardless of whether it is an old or new model. With that being said, below, we’ll look at some simple but useful ways to ensure your muscle car stays in top condition.
Drive it regularly
While a muscle car isn’t something you hop in to go to the grocery store or to pick up the kids from daycare, it is important that you still drive it often to keep the engine ticking over. If you leave your car sitting for too long, the rubber seals and components begin to dry out, and the car could leak fluid. In addition, your car battery will suffer too.
The best way to think about it is like keeping an elderly person’s mind healthy – it’s best to exercise it every day. The same can be said for your muscle, if you have time to take it for a short run every day, you will dramatically increase its life.
The tires you use
The tires you put on your muscle are important in maintaining it and keeping the car and yourself safe. Vision for American muscle is a great option as there are a number of versatile options to suit the type of vehicle you have, including a variety of different finishes on the wheels and rims.
Vision wheels can be installed by a local Vision provider and come in a number of different sizes from 16 to 24 inches to suit your vehicle. Depending on how old your muscle car is, it will also take a part in what tires you use on your vehicle. The wrong tire may affect both the wheels and the suspension, and this will be a very expensive mistake to make.
Don’t make any modifications
While it can be tempting to make modifications to your pride and joy, modification to your muscle will ultimately decrease its value. As a classic car, it is important to preserve the integrity of your vehicle. Otherwise, you may find that it does not get as much attention as it deserves and will be much harder to sell.
It is best to keep a muscle car as its original design and function so you do not ruin the rare beauty of them. It may even void the warranty on other parts that this modification may cause damage to. A key example of this is if you choose the incorrect tires to place on the vehicle. If the tires are too big, they may strike against the sheet metal, and it could even affect the driving component.
As hard as it may be to find muscle car parts, especially for older models. It is best to stick to the original model and keep your muscle car classic. If you’re going to own one, you have to make sure it is an authentic one.
Store it properly
Many Americans have the luxury of being able to store their muscle car in the garage, away from prying eyes. This is because storing a muscle car outdoors can devalue the vehicle much quicker as it is exposed to the elements. Not storing it properly can lead to a build-up of mold within the vehicle and will cause rust throughout. The mold will only occur, however, in long periods of storage in the wrong climate.
Not only this, but a high-value car is also often not safe being stored somewhere where prying is not supposed to go. Leaving it where the public can see or get to it may lead to body damage from people brushing past the vehicle with bags, zippers, and keys. Like any car, a muscle car is also not immune to reckless drivers that may bump it, so make sure not to store it on the curbside. A muscle car is also not immune to vandalism, as it stands out due to its beautifully designed exteriors. You may find people may target to damage the vehicle just out of spite.
Pump the brakes
Pumping the brakes on your car regularly can greatly extend the life of your muscle vehicle. Pumping them regularly will help to keep them functioning, maintain smoothness, and, most importantly, be sure you don’t have any accidents when you take your muscles for a cruise.
Overall, owning a muscle car can be a source of great pride and joy. However, by not looking after your muscle car can be a very costly business, making the monthly cost entirely worth it, and after all, life is short and best enjoyed. The better looked after a muscle car is, the better it will run to its designed high speeds as its power engines should be finely tuned and well maintained. Whether it is a Ford Mustang or a Chevrolet Camaro, they all need maintenance in their own unique ways.
