Hi.........Criminals love classic cars just as much as we enthusiasts do – which is an excellent motivation to keep your classic safe, secure, and out of their hands.
Old Locks, Old ProblemThe first thing you’ll need to consider is that old cars have pretty shoddy locks, for the most part. Car thieves are very much aware of this, so unless you plan on sticking an expensive security system into your classic, complete with lots of decals advertising what you’ve done, you’re at high risk. So what can you do?
The most obvious thing is to keep your classic completely out of their sight. Locking your car in a secure garage helps; just make sure that the entrances to the garage are both well lit and lockable. If you don’t have a garage, and you aren’t able to store it anywhere other than your driveway, you’ll definitely want to keep it as unappealing as possible, using lots of light and maybe scattering some “beware of dog” signs nearby.
If you need to leave your car alongside a road for any length of time, let me be the first to encourage you to never leave it unattended for long.
Car AlarmsInstalling a car alarm is a great idea, as there isn’t any way you can stay beside your car every moment of every day. Just be aware that many older cars don’t use 12-volt batteries and ignition systems like their modern cousins, so some alterations or adaptations might be required. Be sure you know the polarity for your car, otherwise you could end up damaging the alarm or the battery.
If you aren’t sure what kind of electrical system your car has, ask an electronically-inclined friend to test it for you to find out. A multi-meter and an experienced operator can tell you all you need to know in short order.
