As any automotive enthusiast can confirm, a classic car is best viewed as an investment. Parts for these vehicles can be very difficult to come by, and finding mechanics who are able to properly service them is often equally challenging. That being the case, it’s in your best interest to treat antique autos with as much care as you can muster. Fortunately, this isn’t as daunting as you may think. Provided you put the following tips to good use, you can keep your classic vehicles up and running for years to come.

Consistently Drive It

Both American and European classic cars are often regarded as high-profile collectors’ items. This means that many of the people who own these vehicles make a point of driving them sparingly. However, when classic vehicles aren’t driven on a regular basis, their internal components rust out and deteriorate at a fairly expedient rate. A car serves no purpose if it isn’t driven, so for the sake of your antique auto — and your personal enjoyment — take the old ride out on a regular basis. — and your personal enjoyment — take the old ride

Properly Store It

Modern-day vehicles are considerably more resilient than their antique counterparts. As such, storing them outdoors generally doesn’t result in rapid deterioration or other significant damage. Classic cars, on the other hand, aren’t nearly as durable. If you don’t have a garage in which to store your antique auto, look into vehicle storage facilities in your area.

Perform Regular Maintenance

The routine maintenance tasks performed on modern-day vehicles are doubly important for classic cars. Skipping oil changes, fluid top-offs, tire checks and other cumbersome but entirely necessary upkeep procedures stands to significantly shorten your antique auto’s life span.

An antique automobile requires a great deal of care and upkeep. Since they’re far more difficult to repair and replace than modern-day vehicles, classic cars should be treated with far more reverence than their decidedly more high-tech contemporaries. In the quest to preserve the vehicles of yesteryear, regular driving, proper storage, and routine maintenance are your most valuable allies.