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By far the best way to prepare your classic car for winter storage is to take it to an appropriate storage facility, and let them handle the details! One with a full maintenance schedule to keep your car from being damaged by sitting is best. But not everyone wants to take that step. If you plan to store your classic car in your own garage for the winter, there are steps you can take to minimize the possibility of storage damage. A few easy things can make sure your car's ready to roll come spring.
 Be sure to thoroughly clean the car, inside and out. Wash it and apply a few coats of wax to protect the exterior, then vacuum the interior, even in the tiniest creases and cracks, before you shampoo it.. Why worry about getting a car spic and span when it's only going to sit in a garage for weeks or months? Because you don't want to get in the car several months down the road to find a family of rodents has set up house in your classic car, lured there by tiny crumbs and scraps of food. Be sure your car is completely dry before you store it.
Change the oil and top up the fluids. Dirty oil left in the car for long period can cause rust inside the engine. Bleed the brake and clutch systems if you can, but at the very least make sure brake fluid fills the master cylinders. Even if your area's winters are mild or the weather is warm, fill the radiator with anti-freeze. Fill the gas tank and use a gas treatment to inhibit water absorption. Then don't neglect to drive the car for about a half an hour before you store it, to evaporate any moisture in the engine, or the exhaust system.
Spray a lubricant on the engine, taking care to hit all the exposed metal parts. If the car might be stored for a very long time, remove the spark plugs and spray lubricant into the cylinders to inhibit rust from forming between the piston rings and the walls.
If your classic car has a vinyl top, use an appropriate treatment on it to keep it in good shape. And never store your car with the top folded. It can leave permanent creases and unattractive fold lines, and it leaves the car open and exposed to rodents, dust and humidity. Be sure the windows and vents are tightly closed to further protect against those hazards.
Be sure the tires are slightly over-inflated to protect them, then unhook the battery, and disengage the brake, using blocks to keep the car in place. If you live in a humid environment lay plastic on the garage floor to put a barrier between the floor and the undercarriage. And if the floor is pitted or uneven, lay boards on top of plastic and drive the car onto the boards.
Now your classic car is ready to be stored safely for the winter.
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