If you have a collector car I am sure it is your pride and joy. You drive it and you likely show it some. Likewise, you don’t drive it every day and you like to keep it clean. I enjoy washing and waxing my cars but not all the time. I am fortunate to have several cars and some of them have not been washed for years! They get driven on nice days and they hit the show field regularly.
I do wipe the cars down when I take them out, and not with a dry microfiber cloth. I use a high quality detail liquid spray and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. Then it goes into a climate controlled garage and sometimes I even ad car cover. When at shows, a car cover may also be used until the show starts or judging begins if the environment is not bad. They might include threatening rain, bird droppings, leaves, and acorns falling from trees or lots of bugs.
The secrete to not washing the car, (The more water you spray on your car the more water that collects in areas that are prone to rust!) is not to drive them in bad weather and keep them protected when in storage. If you really love your collector car, you likely don’t let it sit out in the elements. Even if you have a garage to store the car(s) if it is a working garage or not climate controlled you are going to get dust.
Over the years I have purchased a number of car covers. I have always had a love-hate with these products. Although, for the most part, they do help but putting them on, taking them off and storing can be a real issue.
As the Coronavirus stay at home social distancing takes its toll, my thoughts for the need of a car cover reappeared. I decided it would be good to have a quality cover for three of our cars that see the most shows. None of the three are the common standard car that car covers and other parts are readily available for. The first is a 1967 Corvette Sting Ray coupe, the second is a 1969 Ford Talladega and the most difficult, a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. The last is extremely hard to find a cover for. I did some research and eventually ended up ordering three from one company. I wanted to keep it simple and not have custom made covers for each car. I also wanted covers that would work equally well inside as well as outdoors.
When you go shopping for a car cover, take your time and decide why you want one. They are not all the same. There are two basic types, indoor and outdoor (some higher-quality ones will work for both, that is what I got.) Once that decision is made you need to consider fit, price, material, and warranty.
1969 Dodge Daytona
When ordering a car cover for any car that is as rare as these you expect complications. The Talladega is obviously very similar to a Torino but just a little longer. How does that impact the fit of a car cover? The Daytona is much longer than a standard 1969 Dodge Charger, but it is the huge rear wing that causes the real problem. The 1967 Corvette coupe is slightly more common but still rare in the real world. I was able to order all three covers from CarCover.com.
I DID NOT rely on the web site to place my order. I emailed the company described my cars and explained my fit concerns. Very quickly I received a callback and worked out all my issues to my satisfaction. I placed the order and within one week I had all three covers.
Very few companies make fully custom tailored fit car covers for all three cars and those that do are very expensive. Car Covers.com has semi-custom covers that they made for us. Because the Ford Talladega basically a Torino with a slightly longer more aerodynamic front end they have the ability to add a little extra length to fit the car. I had 3 or 4 inches added to mine and I really like the way it fits the car.
As for the Dodge Daytona, a little more imagination was required. The front end is 19 inches longer than a Charger and there is the rear wing. Simply making a longer cover was not the answer. To go over the rear wing without making a completely custom cover they were able to be creative and put together a station wagon/hatchback style cover. I will admit it is not as attractive but it remains functional and does the job intended for it. I do have a little concern about how it may react to high winds outside or heavy rains. For indoor use, such concerns are not a worry.
The cover for the 1967 Sting Ray Corvette coup there were no issues. They had a nearly perfect semi-custom cover for it with no modifications needed. I might add that there were no additional charges for the Talladega or Daytona covers.
There are a few things to remember with a car cover.
- Never use a car cover on an open trailer. The flapping of the cover on the car will rub the paint off!
- In high winds, a car cover will blow off.
- Never install a car cover on a dirty car, the inside of your cover will get dirty and it can scratch your paint.
- If you are putting the cover on your car outside with even mild winds you will likely need a helper.
- A car cover will help protect your car from dust and dirt etc. It may help prevent some door dings and prying eyes but it is not a shield. Hail, branches, and other hard objects can still harm your paint and body. And, don’t forget those nasty bird droppings!
