{"id":13071,"date":"2023-07-11T23:56:23","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T06:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/?p=13071"},"modified":"2024-02-06T07:04:30","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T15:04:30","slug":"celebrate-collector-car-appreciation-day-on-july-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/celebrate-collector-car-appreciation-day-on-july-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day On July 14: Show Off Your Wheels Or Start A New Hobby!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The car is part of the American Dream. A symbol of freedom and achievement, it has helped workers find jobs, salespeople impress clients, families see their country, and of course it let youngsters get romantic when that was impossible anywhere else! Maybe that\u2019s why so many Americans cherish their cars\u2026. and collect them.<\/p>\n

Collector Car Appreciation Day has been official since 2010, thanks to U.S. Senate resolution S. Res 513. It sparks off hundreds of events nationwide and this year falls on July 14. You can meet fellow fans and professionals, whether you are a serious collector or have just been maintaining your beloved old Chevy and could use some expert tips. Or if you simply love the look of chrome and the smell of gasoline, attending an event could be the start of a new hobby. With vintage car values almost tripling over the past decade<\/a>, car collecting is more popular and rewarding than ever, enjoyed by both the famous and the rest of us.<\/p>\n

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A Line Up of Classic Collectable Cars<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/span>5 top tips for aspiring car collectors<\/span><\/h2>\n

So that you can participate in Collector Car Appreciation Day \u2014 perhaps next year if you haven\u2019t yet quite gotten up to speed with your restoration skills and your collection \u2014 here are some tips to get you on track.<\/p>\n

1) Calculate all the costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even if you are already adept at car maintenance, this hobby can be expensive. The first thing to consider is the price of any old vehicle you wish to acquire. You might not be able to buy your dream car yet, even if you fancy your chances with one that doesn\u2019t run. Equally importantly, the parts for it may be hard to find. We hate to say it, but, unless you are a millionaire, compromise may be necessary.<\/p>\n

2) Calculate the time you will need<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless you can afford to employ professionals for every task, this hobby will also take up a lot of time. And while it can be a great opportunity for bonding with the kids, all that time spent in the maintenance pit can sometimes put a strain on family life. In addition, if you only have weekends free, restoring an old car can take many years, so you should calculate the likely time required.<\/p>\n

3) Get the right tools for the jobs<\/strong><\/p>\n

You probably already know that having good tools is a joy. And restoring an old car means you are dealing with something delicate and beautiful, so you don\u2019t want to cut any corners. By buying brand new tools you are getting the latest designs, but sourcing old equipment can actually get you items of timeless quality \u2014 check out auto forums and see what the experts say.<\/p>\n

4) Source your car parts sensibly<\/strong><\/p>\n

As collectable cars are often old and rare, not too many spare parts may be available in your local shop. Visiting a salvage yard means you can inspect items yourself, but online marketplaces where old parts are traded are more likely to come up trumps for you. Don\u2019t dismiss aftermarket equipment instead of original parts, which may have suffered over the course of time.<\/p>\n

5) It\u2019s a learning experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any work you do on your collectable cars obviously strengthens your skill set. And if you have kids who want to come along, it\u2019s a superb opportunity to teach them practical skills that might benefit them later in life. To help, if you can\u2019t get a user\u2019s manual, look online: there may be useful videos out there and a bunch of enthusiastic mechanics who have been there before you.<\/p>\n

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Father and Son Working Together on a Classic Car<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/span>Find a safe space for your collection \u2014 try self storage<\/span><\/h2>\n

Super-rich car enthusiasts have huge showroom-style buildings for their collections, but if your passion exceeds your budget, building more garages on your back lot may not be an option. The best solution of all can be self storage, which always costs much less to rent per square meter than any residential-zoned space. With the increasing popularity of the service there may well be a self storage facility just down the road, and many companies offer specialist storage for cars.<\/p>\n

The commonly found standard 10\u2019x20\u2019 unit size is ideal for most vehicles, with a storage unit in Houston<\/a>, Texas, costing just $171 per month, for example, though it could be more than twice that in New York City<\/a> or Los Angeles<\/a>. There are also climate-controlled units<\/a> for elderly and delicate vehicles, so the chrome, tires and leather trimmings will be kept in pristine condition. For the 10\u2019x20\u2019 size, Chicago, Illinois, climate-controlled units<\/a>\u00a0cost $267, for instance, while similar climate-controlled storage units in Phoenix, Arizona<\/a>, rent for an average of $241.<\/p>\n

Your car will also be safe at a storage facility, well secured with surveillance cameras, electronic locks, perimeter fences and so on. If it is not (yet) road-worthy it may need to be put in the unit on a trailer, while larger vehicles like RVs may need a larger unit or can be kept outside under a roof. You will also want to have full insurance on your vehicle<\/a> \u2014 the storage provider may offer this, but there are also third-party insurers with specialist policies for your valuable vehicle.<\/p>\n

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Classic Collectable Cars in Storage<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/span>USA\u2019s top car collectors include some funny guys<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei has famously had the world\u2019s foremost car collection, exceeding 7,000 vehicles and including rarities such as the Lamborghini Urraco and the BMW Nazca M12, plus hundreds of Ferraris and Rolls-Royces. In the US, some top collectors are not only very well-known names but also demonstrate good taste \u2014 and a few quirks! Here is a famous five of America\u2019s top car collectors<\/a>:<\/p>\n