To keep a classic car looking great and to hold its market value true enthusiast owners really have to take excellent care of it. Not only is it important to maintain the body work, take care of the exterior and interior but you also need to keep an eye on the engine. If you settle into a routine and regularly polish the paintwork and interior trim, add to that regular specialist car servicing and make small adjustments to tyre pressure, oil pressure and the timing as required, you can not only keep your classic car in top driving condition but also looking like new.

Owners with classic cars in daily use would need to take additional care to protect their vehicles from the elements as they may even be left in an open bay at work or on the drive at home. The summer sun's ultra-violet light attacks paint work; in winter the additional road salt, spray from gritting trucks and regular rain storms rot and corrode the metal work.

We all know firsthand that the cost of motoring can be expensive; however, with a bit of preventive maintenance you can keep your classic car in mint condition. Even if your car is going into storage, you should ask your local car service centre to carry an annual MOT test on your classic car.

There are a variety of things you should do before you store your car for any amount of time. Classic cars that sit inactive can start to deteriorate if not properly prepared before being put into storage.

You must give your classic car a good detailing before you put it in storage. The car must be squeaky clean. You need to wash all of the road grime and salt from the undercarriage as well as all the body parts. One important thing to do is to make sure every inch of the car is dry before wrapping the covers around it and putting the vehicle into winter storage. If you are going to use a cover make sure it is a high quality blanket made from soft fibres. You need to store your classic car out of direct sunlight and in a dust free area if possible.

If you plan on storing your classic car for a short time only, drain the entire cooling system and then refill it with pure antifreeze. When planning to store your car for an extended length of time drain the entire system and leave the cap off of the radiator so that the air can circulate around the cooling system. Also change the brake fluid, oil and the oil filter before the vehicle goes into storage.

Your local classic car specialists will be able to advise you on the best practices for taking the best care of your vehicle.

Barrett-Lee service centre in Sudbury, Suffolk have a fully qualified team of expert mechanics who can help you with all aspects of caring for your classic car, including repairs, maintenance and MOT testing.