Protecting the most precious parts of your car collection requires season-specific care, shelter during the hottest parts of the day, and a tailored car valeting service to help protect the paintwork and interior.
Whilst there is a joy to driving down beautiful country roads or mountain passes in a luxurious sports car like the beginning of The Italian Job, there is a price to pay to ensure that your car lasts the summer without any lasting and potentially expensive damage.
Given the cost and complexity of finding the right paints to respray a vintage car in the autumn, the focus of summer car care is on prevention rather than cure.
Alongside booking a valet session, what else can you do to protect your car from the damage a heatwave can do to it?
Why Do You Need A Car Cover Or A Shaded Parking Space?
In 2013, there was a notorious incident where the combination of a heatwave and a poorly designed building in London caused a Jaguar to melt, causing nearly £1,000 worth of damage.
Alongside the lessons learned in architecture and dubious planning decisions, this incident also highlighted the importance of choosing shaded parking spaces.
If you have a garage, use it where possible during the middle of the day, and consider packing an all-season car cover to put over your car if you cannot find shade.
Why Do You Need To Protect Your Dashboard And Upholstery?
Most dashboard materials will respond to extreme heat in one way or another. Leather seats will crack, wood will expand, and synthetic materials can fade, warp or crack depending on their compositions.
You can buy special sprays that will provide UV protection, but make sure you know which one is right for your car, and get in touch with a valet service if you are not sure.