Basic, Better, Best – Car Covers

The lengths we are prepared to go to when it comes to protecting our beloved classics can be a little astounding to those non-car lot. They just don’t get it. Temperature controlled garages, battery trickle chargers, myriad waxes and paint treatments – the list goes on. While it would be great if we all had our dream garage set up and could keep our treasured cars locked away safely in the perfect environment, sadly, in reality, that’s just not the case. Unfortunately we are not all as privileged as the likes of Jay Leno and the closest most of us can get is by donning our best double denim and making bad jokes. Some don’t have access to indoor car storage facilities at all and I’m sure we all know how devastating the British weather can be when it comes to the more mature metal that many of us are the custodians of. If that is indeed the case then car covers are the next best thing.

Simply put, leaving an old classic outside for extended periods of time will kill it. Dead. Oh to be blessed with the California climate instead of the absolute horror show that is the British weather. Thankfully though there are steps that you can take to preserve your pride and joy, even if you are forced to keep the poor thing on your drive or at the side of the road, and car covers are an excellent way to protect it from the elements. From simple sheet-based coveralls through model specific products to fully climate controlled bubbles there is a cover to suit every type of vehicle, budget and application, so grab a coffee and let’s take a look at three of the options.

Basic

The simple plastic dust sheet. Decorators swear by them, the bad guy from Lethal Weapon 2 wouldn’t be without them and in a pinch they can protect your classic car from a whole host of nasties. We wouldn’t recommend using them for any extended period of time and they are better suited to prevent dust settling indoors in a dirty or busy garage but they will cover your car if you’re stuck for anything better, just be sure to secure them to the vehicle itself or to the ground if outside because they will take off and end up in your next door neighbours garden quicker than you can say “stiff south-westerly”. These plastic sheets can be used as car covers and they are a cheap and cheerful solution. You can even tape them together or double them up depending on your requirements.

Better

A much better option would be to go for a tailored cover designed to actually fit a car, with flaps for the wing mirrors and more of a specific shape. This Topown generic, durable car cover will protect your vehicle from the worst of the weather and also comes with straps to secure it so losing it to the wind won’t be a problem. It comes in three different sizes depending on your particular type of car so finding a decent fit shouldn’t be a problem. It also has zips for the doors so you can still gain access to your car without having to remove the cover entirely. Handy. A 2 year warranty should give you some peace of mind too and at 40 quid it’s not going to break the bank.

Best

At the top end is where car covers get really interesting and one can spend a lot of money on a fully tricked-out car bubble. With prices in the thousands these things are all singing, all dancing protection for your classic but for that kind of money you could build an actual garage or rent space somewhere. Therefore, for our ‘best’ pic we’ve gone for the Coverseal 210 car cover. It is essentially the same design as the cheaper Topown cover but of a much higher quality and with the added benefit of fitting snugly to the ground to prevent any debris being blown under the car and rodents from setting up shop in your engine bay and causing all kinds of havoc. It is weatherproof and UV proof as well as windproof as the entire base of the cover is weighted. Yes, it is expensive for what is basically a sheet but then it will effectively protect your car should you not have adequate indoor storage options.

If you can justify the price then by all means splash out for a climate-controlled carcoon but a more conventional car cover will still do the job of protecting your classic from the dust, debris, weather and heat with the added bonus of disguising your car from the undesirables. Is it a Ferrari 348 under there or a Volvo 480? Who knows? Just bear in mind that although a car cover will help it’s not a be all and end all solution and it is still necessary to periodically assess the condition of your classic and maintain it correctly to keep the dreaded tin worm at bay.