I’m a Wheeler Dealers’ host – don’t ignore 5 ways to protect your car in winter…here’s where you should never leave it
WHEELER Dealers' Mike Brewer has unveiled five things every classic car owner must do this winter - and the spot you must avoiding leaving your beloved motor.
The TV star has stressed owners of classic cars made by the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes can't be left idle all winter.
, Brewer notes five things owners should do to take care of their vintage cars.
Most pressingly, the expert warns owners should never leave their cars in the garage through the winter months as this can allow the motor to fall into disrepair.
Instead, he recommends owners should head down to the garage and turn the keys over at least once a month until they get a bit more action in spring.
He advised: “You should regularly go down to your car once a month and sit in it and start it up and just let the engine get up to temperature and let it cool down again."
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Plus, giving the car a drive will ensure everything runs smoothly and that it doesn't fall into disrepair while you wait for the warmer months to go for a drive.
Mike Brewer also warned drivers should open and shut the doors so that the rubber doesn't compress and "stays supple" - avoiding it drying out.
He said: “Roll the car forwards five inches and then roll it backwards ten inches just so you roll the tyres around, you don’t square the tyres.
"Put your foot on the brake pedal, put your boot on the clutch pedal, switch the lights on and off.”
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Brewer said: “It may sound ridiculous sitting in your garage doing this.
“But if you do it once a month you will realise that when you come around to the spring there is nothing wrong, your car is ready to go. And it's a really simple practice to do.
“Every single person has a phone in their packet that has a calendar reminder on it, so just set a reminder date.”
Meanwhile, classic cars could be shooting up in value as many of them swerve London's ULEZ charge.
Dealers across the city have seen a surge in sales of motors made before 1983, which are exempt from the £12.50 charge as they are deemed to be “historic vehicles”.
“A lot of what we sell is very driveable early 80s [and] late 70s and where they are [ULEZ] exempt a lot of customers are looking to buy that as their sole London car.”
