Protecting Your Interior in Wet Winter Weather

Winter can be harsh on any vehicle, but for classic car owners, maintaining the interior during wet and damp months is crucial to preserving your investment. At Unrivalled Coachtrimming, we know how important it is to protect the unique craftsmanship of your classic car’s interior. Here are some expert tips to keep your interior in top shape throughout the winter season.

1. Install High-Quality Floor Mats

If you drive your classic throughout Autumn and Winter - water, mud, and snow can wreak havoc on your carpets, leading to dampness, mould, and wear. Installing high-quality, waterproof carpet mats will act as the first line of defence, keeping moisture off your original carpets and making it easy to remove and clean any dirt or grime.

 2. Condition and Protect Leather Upholstery

Cold, wet weather can dry out leather seats and cause cracking over time. Regularly applying a high-grade leather conditioner will keep your seats soft, supple, and resistant to moisture damage. Leather protection sprays can also create a water-repellent barrier, helping to prevent stains and water marks. We have developed our own unique range of leather care products that gently, yet thoroughly clean and protect your classic car interior. Talk to us for more info!

3. Keep Windows Sealed and Free of Condensation

Ensure that your window or soft-top seals are in good condition, as aging seals can let in moisture, leading to damp and musty interiors. Check for any cracks or gaps and replace seals if necessary. Additionally, regularly cleaning your windows with an anti-fog product can help reduce condensation buildup, which is a common problem during the winter months.

4. Use a Dehumidifier

Storing your classic car over the winter? Using a car dehumidifier or moisture absorber can prevent mildew, mould, and unwanted odours from forming inside. Even small amounts of moisture trapped inside your car can lead to long-term damage, so it's important to keep the air inside your vehicle dry.

5. Regularly Clean and Ventilate

During the winter, it can be tempting to leave your classic car untouched in the garage. However, regular cleaning and airing out your vehicle is essential to prevent moisture buildup. Open the doors on a dry day to allow fresh air to circulate and wipe down all surfaces with a microfiber cloth to remove any dampness or condensation.

Taking these steps will help safeguard your classic car’s interior from the winter elements, ensuring that it stays in pristine condition for years to come.

At Unrivalled Coachtrimming, we specialise in restoring and preserving the interiors of classic cars, ensuring they stay as timeless as the day they were crafted. If your car’s interior has already suffered from winter damage or is in need of a fresh look, our expert team is here to help.

Good Golly! Unrivalled Are Off to Goodwood Revival

Goodwood Revival (8-10 September 2023) is racing around the corner, with this year’s celebrations set to be grander than ever. 2023 marks 75 years since the Goodwood Motor Circuit opened in 1948 and 25 years since the first ever Goodwood Revival was held.

This year there is another first to celebrate….Unrivalled are in attendance!

After many years of attending the event as a fun day out with the family and a chance to catch up with customers and contacts, Jamie and the team are proud to be exhibiting at this year’s event.

The team are beavering away with a thrilling project which is being kept firmly under wraps until the big day. Make sure you are following us on Instagram or Facebook to see the progress after the event.

Goodwood Revival is the pinnacle of classic car events in the UK, so it is incredibly exciting (and overwhelming!) for Unrivalled to be a part of such a prestigious and large-scale event. Nonetheless, the team will be there embracing the Revival heritage, fashion, music and of course, the beautiful classics over the entire long weekend.

If you are attending, please do come and say hello. Unrivalled will be on plot 210 – near the ‘over the road’ North Entrance. Sunday tickets are still available, as well as some hospitality packages, but Friday and Saturday are sold out. For more information or tickets, please visit: https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/goodwood-revival/

 

How to Maintain Your Classic Car

If you have invested in the classic car of your dreams, you want to ensure that it is kept in tip-top condition all year round. Classic cars need more maintenance and nurture than modern cars, and if they are not being driven regularly, then this can be an onerous task.
Essentially, the more time and effort you put into taking care of your motor, the longer it will last, its value hold better and you can take more enjoyment from it for years to come.

Get Regular Checks & Services

As you would with your runaround vehicle, make sure that you put your classic car into a garage for regular checks and maintenance. Having an expert cast their eye over it regularly will help to ensure that problems are discovered before they become major (and expensive) jobs to put right. Find yourself a specialist in classics, or your particular model, that you trust.

Top up Fluids

Plenty of fluids are needed to keep your classic performing. That includes engine oil, coolant and fuel. Make sure you check your levels frequently and top up as and when required to avoid condensation and mould, spot any leaks and keep your car temperatures running safely.

Keep it Clean

Cleaning your car regularly and using the right products will help ensure that your paintwork looks vibrant and protect it from any erosion or damage. Even if you don’t think your car looks dirty, it is an important part of the maintenance process to give it a good clean inside, outside and underneath to keep it looking good at all times. If you have the time, you can do this yourself, but you may wish to book it in with a specialist detailer at least once a year to ensure that it gets a full service.

Keep it Moving

If you have a classic car that doesn’t get much drive-time, it is crucial to make sure that you are firing up the engine and taking it out for a short drive every month – even if it is just around your local streets or up and down your driveway. This will stop the tyres from deforming by sitting static for long periods of time and will give you peace of mind that the engine is working OK.

Re-Charge the Battery

Batteries on classics can lose power if they are not being used regularly or if they get too cold during the winter. It is a sensible idea to charge the battery before Spring, or before you know that you will be using your car more frequently again. You could consider using a trickle charger, which plugs into your mains and keeps your car battery topped up by lightly charging constantly.

Store It Safely

Make sure that you are storing your car somewhere secure, clean, and free from damp. If possible, keep your classic car somewhere temperature controlled to avoid the car overheating or getting too cold. There are car storage specialists to consider if you do not have a suitable space on your property.

If you have any concerns over the condition of your car or want some specialist guidance on how to maintain the carpet, leather and interior fabrics of your classic car, then please speak to the Unrivalled Team who can guide you on what is best and discuss the products that we recommend.

Call us on 07942 347 007 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a time to come and see us.

12 Tips for Classic Car Storage

Let’s face it, if we had the choice, our beloved classic cars would take centre stage on a rotating floor in our homes so that we could see them at all times. But the reality is, that you need to find a garage, outbuilding or external storage facility to keep them in.

Whether you are a first-time classic car owner, or are looking for some useful reminders, here are our 12 top tops for making sure you have selected the safest space to store your classic motor.

 

  1. Give Yourself Enough Space

You need to be sure that you can carefully manoeuvre your vehicle in and out, open doors and work on your car without running the risk of scratches and damage. Many classic cars are longer or wider than they appear, so a standard size garage may not be sufficient.

 

  1. Think About Security

Most owners are concerned about the safety of their vehicle – make sure that you have valid, sufficient insurance but also consider how you can best store your car in the most secure way. Think about the location, visibility, the use of alarms, cameras and trackers. Another idea is to regularly take photographic evidence of your car in its storage space, should you ever need to make an insurance claim.

 

  1. Opt for Dry Conditions

One of the biggest risks to classic cars is damp. Ensure that wherever you are storing your car is free from damp, mould, humidity or any flooding risk. A dry environment, with some ventilation works best. A humidity level of 55% is recommended. You could consider placing silica gel packs in footwells or dehumidifiers in your storage space if you know that it can get humid in the Summer.

 

  1. Structure Choice

Bricks do a great job of maintaining a stable and moisture free environment and are definitely the recommended choice of structure for storing your classic car. Concrete buildings can reduce airflow, allowing mildew or damp to linger, so it is important to combat this by ventilating the space as frequently as possible. Metal structures or metal roofs can get hot quickly and wooden sheds or barns do carry the risk of damp and can be less secure.

 

  1. Be Aware of Animals and Rodents

Rodents, insects and even animals such as cats and foxes can cause considerable damage to your car as they enjoy them as comfortable spaces to sleep (and do their business!). Make sure garage shutters, windows and doors are secured and free from damage that allows unwanted visitors inside. You should also avoid storing your car in the same place you store any food, hay, or animal feed. If you do live in the countryside where rodents are plentiful, you can close air vents and block your exhaust, as they will be tempted to gnaw on insulation, seat foam and air filters!

 

  1. Park it Clean

If you are tucking your classic car away for the Winter or know that you will not be using it for some time, it is a good idea to give it a good, thorough wash and tidy up before putting it away. This will help protect the paintwork and the interior from any erosion, discolouration or damage.

 

  1. Temperature Control

Depending on the structure of your garage or outbuilding, the temperature can fluctuate throughout the seasons. It is a good idea to get a temperature gauge so that you can keep an eye on the conditions.

 

  1. Protect Your Tires

Over time, tires can lose air naturally and they can become distorted if they remain still in the same position for too long. You could invest in some tire pads or ‘flatstoppers’ to protect the shape of your tires, but you can also make sure you are regularly moving your vehicle to avoid this from happening.

 

  1. Handbrake Off

It might go against all instincts, but if you leave the handbrake on your classic motor for long periods, you could be risking fusing the brake pads to the discs. This is not an issue with modern cars that are being driven frequently, but can be a problem for older, less used cars. Instead ensure you are parked on a level surface, use wheel chocks and leave the car in gear.

 

  1. Open Windows

It is important that air circulates through your car to reduce the risk of condensation, mould and musty odours. Leaving a couple of windows open slightly can aid this, as long as your storage space is dry and secure.

 

  1. Lift Wipers off the Glass

A small, yet significant tip that you will be pleased you listened to when it comes to taking your car out for a spin. Rubber can react and fuse to glass when it is left unattended. So, lifting your wipers off the windscreen or placing a piece of cloth between the wiper blade and the glass can remedy this. Deteriorated rubber will be useless at wiping away the rain and can leave marks on your glass.

 

  1. Carefully Consider Car Covers

A cover can help to preserve your classic car, keeping it clean and protected from the harsh ultra-violet rays, rain, dust and pollutants. If you have no choice but to leave your car outside or you prefer to keep it on your drive because you use it regularly, then a proper-fitting car cover is a good choice. However, it is worth being wary of the downsides to car covers too. Many are only intended to protect from the worst elements for short periods of time and will not completely seal your car from damage. Moisture can get caught and retained underneath a car cover, eventually causing more harm than good. To be on the safe side, always follow instructions, try to purchase a car cover that is bespoke to your model and only use a car cover on a car that is clean and free of any sharp objects. Think about the weather conditions and the environment your car is being stored in when choosing whether to apply a cover or not.

 

If you are taking your pride and joy out of storage and notice that your interior could do with some TLC or it is time to invest in a full re-trim, then please get in touch with our friendly trimming team. Call us on 07942 347 007 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..