How to Make Your Classic Car Look Good at a Car Show

One of the most exciting things about owning a classic car is entering a car show. It's a chance to get to show off all the hard work you put into your vehicle. Additionally, if the hard work impresses the judges enough, you get to have the joy of winning a car show trophy. There are a few things you can do to help have your vehicle look the best. Here are some tips to make your classic vehicle look good at a car show.

1. Detail your car.

While this tip may seem obvious, people often neglect the importance of doing a good detail job. Judges can notice when car owners haven't taken the time to do that, and it will cost you some points. Beyond just washing and waxing your car, it's important to pay attention to the smallest details. An extra step you can take is to use a Q-tip to clean your classic vehicle's air vents. In addition, consider using a toothpick to get out any crumbs you see in the dash. Be sure to also clean any stains that are on the ceiling fabric, clean the wheels, and shine up the engine bay. If you're unsure if you're doing things right, you can always look up videos of people detailing their car, or take your car to a shop to get professionally detailed. Cleanliness is one of the most important things to getting judged well at a car show.

2. Bring basic cleaning supplies with you.

You should clean your car before a car show, and be prepared to clean it when you get there. In all likelihood, there will be a few dirt specs that get on your car on the way to the show. Having cleaning supplies with you will allow you to have it all cleaned up before any judges evaluate it. Bring supplies such as microfiber towels, Windex, and polish. You can use the Windex to clean your mirrors and windows, and the polish and microfiber towel to touch up any smudges on the exterior. Be sure to check inside the wheel wells, the grill, and the front bumper for any dead bugs to remove. Additionally, bring a tire shine with you. A tire shine can give your tires a shiny look and help make the rest of your classic car look clean overall. Shining the tires should always be done after you've parked your car at the car show.

3. Open the windows.

The way the car is displayed is just as important as how it looks. Making your car open and accessible will encourage people to look at it longer. Having the windows open can give the judges a great view of the interior of your car. If you keep the windows closed, it may potentially make some people assume you don't want them looking inside. You won't have to worry too much about anyone touching things inside without your permission, as most car enthusiasts are generally respectful of not damaging someone's work.

4. Show people what's under the hood.

While you might not have the most powerful engine, it can still be a joy for the judges to see how your engine looks. You may even give some people an idea of what they can with the engine in their classic cars. Remember that if you plan on having the hood open, make sure it's clean inside. Take the time to detail it and shine up the chrome inside. Another thing you can do to impress car judges is to have minimum wiring inside to give your engine bay a clean look. Keep in mind that you'd have to do prep work a few days or weeks in advance to hide some of the wirings. Additionally, don't have any brittle or cracked hoses inside. If you've used electrical tape, be sure that it's in good condition and not peeling off. You could even wrap some new tape around the wires to create a cleaner look.

5. Display photos of your classic car.

Judges and spectators like to see the process a classic car went through to be restored. You can show some pictures of what it was like in the beginning, and each change you made to make it into the car they see now. In addition to having pictures showcasing the transformation process, you can also show some photos of it in really nice places. It's a small way to make an even more lasting impression with the spectators and the judges.

6. Make a poster listing the modifications.

Another nice extra touch you can do is to create a poster board that lists all of the modifications done to your classic car. It can be helpful if you don't have enough time to explain all of the modifications you did with your judges. It's also good to have in case you aren't near your car whenever the judges are there, judging your car. Be sure you're honest about the modifications you did to your car. Car show judges are pretty knowledgeable about cars, so they'll know if you're misleading them about the work you've done.

7. Place mirrors underneath the car.

While the main focus is usually the interior and exterior of the car, it's not wrong to give the judges a look underneath the car. Placing mirrors below will keep the judges or any spectators from having to get on their knees to look underneath. If you've really put in a lot of work into the suspension and other components, it can be another way your classic can have that extra wow factor.

Presenting your classic car to spectators and judges at a car show can be a lot of fun. You get to interact with other classic car owners, receive compliments from fellow car enthusiasts, and potentially win a prize. You can keep these tips in mind to present your classic car in the best way possible. If you're interested in customizing your engine, you can learn about the coyote swap kit at this link: https://shop.revologycars.com/collections/coyote-swap-kit.