The timeless design and structure of classic cars retain not only their aesthetic quality, but also their monetary value as well. Americans, in particular, love investing and collecting classic cars, so much so that there are over 5 million classic collector cars in the United States of America. With classic cars growing in value, take the time to implement these 3 ways to protect your investment and asset.

Put a Cover On It

Although placing a cover over your car may not seem like a big deal, it can have catastrophic effects in the long run. Airborne dirt and dust particles will settle on the surface of the paint with time. If you are not going to be regularly taking your car out for a drive and for a wash, the dirt and dust may end up dulling the car's shine and even corroding away the surface of the paint and the metal. Wash, dry and wax your car before you put a cover overtop.

Make sure the cover you choose is breathable and keeps out moisture. In addition, avoid plastic car covers, as they tend to scratch up the paint. Most car experts recommend shelling out the extra money for custom-fit car covers, as they offer more protection than universal alternatives. Custom-fit car covers also prevent insects and rodents from making a home in your car.

Dump Fuel-Stabilizer Into the Tank

If the gas in your car will be sitting there for three weeks or more, dump a fuel-stabilizer into the tank before you store your car. Understanding what a fuel-stabilizer is at a chemical level can be rather complex. To make it simple, the fuel in your car will degrade overtime. The water will separate from the ethanol. As water is denser, it will sink and the ethanol will float.

The separation of the fuel components is not the issue. It's what happens next that you should worry about. The separation produces harmful, sticky resin. This resin has been known to not only clog the carburetor and other essential parts of your car, but also corrode away at the metal. Ultimately, stale fuel may end up damaging the car beyond repair.

To prevent this resin from forming, the chemical component of a fuel-stabilizer will bond to the gasoline and preserve its chemical composition and prevent it from degrading. This prevents the water from evaporating or from separating. The fuel-stabilizer will also act as a lubricant.

Protect Your Tires from Deflating

Temporal changes will cause tires to lose pressure over time. Inflate your tires to a higher air pressure before storing it to account for fluctuations. Never exceed the maximum air pressure recommended by the manufacturers.

If you don't plan on taking your classic car out for a drive any time soon, consider the option of putting your car on jack stands. This will alleviate weight and pressure from the tires, and will also help preserve the suspension of the car. Putting your car on jack stands will also help you avoid getting flat areas on older tires and wheels that may be difficult to repair later on – especially since the parts for some of the more classic cars are rare and expensive.

Conclusion

It would be a shame to see a classic beauty waste away inside a self storage unit. Make sure you properly implement the advices mentioned above to preserve the beauty and the condition of the car. Not only are classic cars a wonderful asset that tends to increase in value with time, but they also a piece of history that provide a brief glimpse of the past.