Preserving Classic Cars in Self Storage

The joy of restoring a true classic car can extend far beyond horsepower, nuts and bolts. The history and soul of a machine that revolutionized the lives of the majority of the world's populous speaks volumes; it's a shame to see such beauty squandered. Unfortunately, many of us don't have the adequate space to store a seldom used vehicle on our own property, and many of us don't want to see a classic go solely because of the space it occupies.

Self storage is becoming an even more viable option for owners of classic and vintage vehicles looking for a safe haven for their pride and joy. Not only does a self storage unit save you room on your property, but it also greatly decreases the likelihood of vandalism and crime. It prevents the kids from giving the car the "love tap" in the driveway and greatly reduces the chance of car thieves snooping around.

Self storage also ensures that the elements aren't harming the sitting vehicle. Even if you have personal garage space, most garages cannot compare to storage offered at storage facilities. These units are often insured and guaranteed to prevent any extraneous damages to your property.

There are a few things to consider when putting a car in self storage:

• Am I going to be using this car frequently? If so, make sure to find a storage facility near to you.

• Does my insurance offer discounts for cars that are stored off-road or in a storage unit? Some insurers might offer you a reduced rate on your vehicle for being stored safely which could offset some of the cost of storage.

• Will the storage unit be accessible enough for me to check on the car intermittently? The car still should see some use, even if it is solely running the engine for a few minutes a month (with your unit's garage door open for safety, of course!)

• Do I have time to completely prepare the car to go into storage? It's always best to clean the car completely inside and out, do any repairs necessary to the vehicle, change the oil, fill the gas tank and seal off any engine openings to prevent corrosion.

Why Is Automotive Glass So Special?

Automotive glass is a remarkable material. This fascinating material has to go up against the environment and its forces in order to keep you safe. It is manufactured in a special and particular way so that it provides maximum safety and security to you and your automobile. So why is automotive glass so special?

Automotive glass is made in two different ways depending on where it is placed in the car. Your windshield is made out of what is known as laminated glass. It goes through a meticulous design process to ensure that it is secure and resistant to its environment.

It is made through a combination of two pieces of glass that are fitted on either side to a substance known as polyvinyl butyral or PVB. Once the laminated glass sandwich has been arranged it is completely sealed with pressure rollers and then continually heated. This process allows the PVB to be mechanically and chemically bonded to the glass.

This layer of polyvinyl butyral is what makes auto glass stronger. The bonding process of PVB to the glass means your windshield is much more resistant to impact damage because the PVB absorbs the transfer of energy. It also improves the visibility and clarity of the glass by deflecting up to 95% of the ultraviolet rays that strike your auto glass.

The innovative and secure design of laminated auto glass means it performs two absolutely vital tasks for your automobile. First, it allows for the safe and correct deployment of the safety airbag on the passenger's side of the car. Unlike the driver's side airbag, the passenger's airbag will collide with the windshield when it is deployed. The laminated glass withstands the forces of collision with an unbelievably fast and powerful airbag in order to protect the passenger.

Modern Car Body Repairing Techniques

The car may be in a very good condition, and fuel efficient, but after some years of use the car might need some necessary repairs. Its paint might be faded and it might have some scratches, cracks and dents that no amount of waxing can cover. There are some modern techniques used for car body repairs.

100% Auto Paint Match:
Whether the car needs whole body painting, spot painting for covering dents, or others, the new paint should match the original car paint 100%. To achieve this, the technique of photo spectrometer is used to analyze the original paint of your vehicle. Then, a computerized auto paint color match system is employed to find the true color that will match the original color of the car. After this, the painting is done carefully to achieve a flawless finish. Once the paint has dried, your car will surely look like it's just freshly taken from a showroom.

Paint less Dent Repair (PDR):
Dents are commonly caused by impacts when your vehicle comes in contact with other cars or other hard surfaces. And the problem is, dents can sometimes occur at or near the angular or curve surfaces of the car, in this case they are very noticeable and harder to repair. Today, paint less dent removal method is already in use to solve these problems. Special tools are used to press, knead, or rub down on the affected part until it is back to its normal shape. This should be done while ensuring that the paint does not get damaged. And for those dents on hard-to-reach areas such as the edge of the car's floor, fill and spray methods are used.

Body Frame Straightening:
For cars that experienced collision with another vehicle or object big enough to cause a longitudinal or lateral damage on the car's frame, body frame straightening is required. A computerized tool is used in this process. An ultrasound technology measures the discrepancy of the frame alignment and then a laser is used to accurately align the frame back to its original shape.