Store it Safely – Car ‘Lay Up’ Kit

The country is still on Covid-19-enforced lockdown, so obviously our classics aren’t going anywhere at the moment. Plus, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that we’re going to get full freedom of movement back any time soon. And yes, this makes for sad times, but sad times needn’t see your classic suffer. You can’t just stuff it in the garage and wait. If you’re going to temporarily retire your classic, you need to do it properly. That way, when the time comes to hit the road, you can do so without issue. 

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up five bits of kit that will help your classic get a good sleep. Use some or all of this, and you’ll be onto a winner come that eventual sunny day when we’re once again allowed to go for a blast. 

1) Cosmos Car Cover

The first thing you’re going to need is a car cover. Yes, your garage might be dry and warm, but dust and dirt can still float about and land on the car. Get yourself a cover, and you’ll keep the car fresh. You should never ‘cheap out’ on a car cover though. Cheap ones won’t breathe, and the car will ‘sweat’ which can encourage paint damage and corrosion. This cover from Cosmos is breathable, it’s lightweight and it can be fitted by one person. It is an indoor cover though, so do be aware of that. 

2) CTEK Battery Conditioner

We’ve spoken about the importance of a battery conditioner in the past, but that importance hasn’t diluted over time. You still need one if you’re planning to put the car away. Not only will a battery conditioner keep the battery charged, it will also run it through cycles to keep it healthy. This unit from CTEK has cut-outs built in, and the charging cycle is automatic. You simply connect it and leave it plugged in, and that’s it. Then, when you want to use the car, you’re good to go.

3) Sealey Axle Stands

You might think it to be overkill, but really, if you’re storing your car for long periods, you should take the weight off the suspension and the wheels. This will leave the suspension in a relaxed, rather than compressed position, preventing components from warping or settling into compressed shapes (think about bushes etc). Furthermore, it will prevent the car’s tyres from developing flat spots over time. And trust us, the last thing you want is to drive a car with four flat-spots. It’s a noisy affair. Just note that this is a pair of stands, so you’ll need to double up. 

4) Wheel Tree

If you’re going to do the right thing and put the car up on stands, then it won’t hurt to take the wheels off. However, you shouldn’t just take them off and stack them, as all you’re doing then is giving yourself a new problem. Stacked wheels can, over time, sick to each other (well, the tyres can). A way to avoid this would be to use a wheel tree. This clever device suspends your wheels from the actual metal. It also has wheels and a handle, so you can move it around. Furthermore, the mounting points are adjustable, so it’s perfect if you have skinny tyres or wide, racy meats. 

5) Meguiars Whole Car Air Freshener

The old classic might be a tad musky after being sat in the garage for a couple of months, so you’ll want to give it a freshen-up before you hit the road. This is where this whole car air freshener from Meguiars comes in. Simply put it in the car, have the fans running, activate the can, then leave it to circulate before airing out the car. This stuff will eat up any nast smells permanently. It leaves no residue and it cleanses the entire air system. And all for a tenner. Bargain.