It’s cost a lot of time, money, blood, sweat, and sometimes tears, but that vintage vehicle you decided to restore is finally road-ready. Show it off in the proper context: an antique car show. But before you do, make sure you’re showing it in the proper condition, context, and setting. Here’s how to display a classic car at a car show and get the compliments and commendations you deserve.
Give It a Once-Over the Night Before
The night before the big car show, give it an all-points inspection, inside and out. Clean it thoroughly, ensuring that the body is free from dirt, the wheels are polished, and the engine bay is sparkling. Use water and car cleaning products for the exterior and interior—no household cleaners allowed since they can damage the finish. You might remove the wheels and gussy them up with a gel or foam cleanser. Don’t clean under the hood with water; use a degreaser to remove built-up oil and grime. Vacuum and polish the cabin, seats, and dashes as well.
Get It to the Show in One Piece
When you selected the car show to show off your vehicle, you likely considered the logistics of getting it there. If your car is street legal, you could drive it to the event, of course, but then you risk the possibility of it getting dirty or, even worse, into an accident. Most classic car owners haul their cars to events on a trailer or hire a transportation company to do so. Either way, it’s best to tote the car to the event in an enclosed trailer to protect it from the sunlight, weather, and road conditions. If you hire a transport company, make sure they have liability insurance. Find a reputable company through recommendations from other classic car owners.
Presentation!
Remember, the show in car show should stand for show business! Pose your car so to highlights its best features. Raise the hood to let the other car enthusiasts get a gander at that perfectly polished engine. Leave the car doors open, and accentuate the interior with glam and glitter (though never use real glitter; it’s a pain to vacuum up afterward). Hopefully, you recorded the process of turning a wreck into a regal piece of machinery. Blow up and display before-and-after photos of the vehicle nearby so that people get a better sense of the work that went into it. Write up a history of the car and display that too. And, of course, be ready to give tours and answer questions.
Protect It
When considering how to display a classic car at a car show, be sure to protect your investment. Most attendees know enough to see with their eyes, not with their hands, but add a polite note that spectators should ask permission before getting too close. If you’re outdoors, set up a canopy to protect the finish and yourself from rain and the hot sun. Then, sit back in a folding chair and await the inevitable oohs and ahhs as show attendees pour in and shower you and the vehicle with compliments.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
