How to Get Your Classic Car into Great Shape for a Parade

Every city has its own parade. And in a parade, cars are mandatory. When you have a parade to participate with your own classic or antique car, these are the things you will need to know.

First, pay attention to the theme. Parades usually have themes. As a member of the parade, your car will also have to embrace the theme. Do not deviate from the theme or just participate without decorating your car. This will make your participation become pointless. Why would you participate in a parade if you do not make your car agree with the theme?

There are three ways to make you blend into the theme. You can decorate your car with a look that just suit the theme, play a music that describe or give reference to the theme, and post a sign or banner that shows words or picture that refers to the theme. These will make the crowd love your car and even have your car as their favorite in the parade.

To make the crowd even merrier, have candy or trinkets tossed around from your car. Adults love parade, but children definitely love it more. It can be guaranteed that there will be lots of children around watching the parade. Make their day by throwing away candy and see the smiling faces as the result.

The second thing to consider is the weather. Do not force your car to participate if it will not be able to stand the cold. You will have much trouble later on if it turns out that your car cannot make it. If your car is convertible, make sure you have all things necessary to deal with the weather such as blankets or jackets.

If the weather forecast predicts that it is going to rain, make sure you have made adjustments for your decoration. Rain water will most likely wipe away the glue used to attach some of your decorations, and some paints will be swept away by the rain. So make sure you use the particular paint and glue for your decoration.

The third thing to do is to always have emergency phone numbers programmed in your cell phone. Call the parade organizers to check if there are any changes in the plan. The numbers will also be useful if you face some troubles during the parade.

Before you join a parade, there are things to check too. First, check the route first. Do not participate in a parade with the field your car cannot handle. Classic and antique cars are sensitive, so pay attention to the route of the parade before you decide to join in. Second, check all the parts of your car and make sure that they are working in the best condition. Do not go into a condition where you have to pull up your car in the middle of the parade. That will not be a great thing to watch. Last thing, check that you have brought all the things you need. The poster, signs, giveaways, blankets for cold weather, etc.

If you have done all the things above, it means that you are ready to participate in your parade. Be the great participant and enjoy the parade fully!

How to deal with chips in your car paint

Nobody likes the paint chips in his/her car. The chips make the car looks old and ugly. Fresh and flawless paint is the dream of every car owner.

There are many things that cause chips in cars. It can be caused by a small bump in the parking lot or flying small rocks when you are driving on the rocky the road. Here is a method to deal with the chips in your car paint in the easiest way.

First thing is to know whether the chip in your car is just a nick in the paint surface or it comes with a dent. You also need to know if the chip has stayed long enough and rusts have been developed there. If that is the case, then it will need a more advanced treatment than the method that will be explained here. Please be informed that the method will take quite a long time to carry out and involve painting process.

Below is the list of the things needed to do the repair:

• Sand paper - wet or dry
• Metal Glaze – get the best glaze of metal to fix paint chips.
• A Paint Match – have the paint that matched your car color.
• Masking Tape & Paper - and possibly plastic sheeting.
• A Paint Spray Gun
• Paint Reducer
• Paint Hardener
• Mixing Cups
• Razor Blades
• Metal Prep Cleaner
• Lint Free Paper Towels
• Fine Grit Scotch Bright

After completing the items above, now we are ready to start the process.

First, cover the area around the chip with sand. Make it around 2 inches and use 220 grit wet sand paper around the chip. Now mix up the metal glaze with a line of hardener to make it harden faster. You can put the metal glaze on a cardboard and mix it there.

After the mixing is ready, use a razor blade to take and put the metal glaze on the chip. When it is already dry, use 220 grit sand paper to smooth it and then finish it with 440 grit wet sand paper.

Clean the area and mask the area you don't want to paint. Use prep cleaner or scotch bright. Never paint to the mask line since the line will not be out of your paint forever. You can also back mask to make the painting easier. Put the tape down, pull the edges closest to your work then fold it back gently. Hang your paper off on the fold back.

Now you can start the painting. Remember, if it involves a big chip, have a primer to get the best result. Sand your primer with 400 grit once it is dry and re-mask it again.

Don't forget to get the settings right on your spray gun. Put three coats of paint and wait for at least 15 minutes after each coat. If you use a base coat clear coat paint, use the clear coat next and wait 15 minutes between each coat.

Do not rush the process to get the maximum result. Be patient and do the process accordingly or you may fail the whole effort.

Restore Your Classic Car : Bring Back the Good Old Days

People always love to remember how they were in the good old days. One of the ways to remember the memories are by restoring the old cars. The memory of how people hang out with their friends when they are young can be brought back by the cars.

Yet it is quite tricky to have an old car in your garage. Time changes and there will be many things to fix. Simple tools such as wrenches and sockets will not be enough. However, the struggle and sacrifice made by people in doing car restoration usually pays off.

Classic cars will give their owners the pride and a sense of accomplishment because it is so unique and stand out among all the cars in the road. The car will get the attention of most people when it is pulled up into the parking lot. Classic cars are always special, and therefore many people love to restore and drive them.

Why people always restore classic cars can be understood if we are looking back to the 1960's and 1970's era when people had their first cars. A person will always remember his/her first car. With me, it was a 1969 Z/28 Camaro, a muscle car that I truly love.

I remember hanging out in the boulevard one Saturday night. It was a place where I was behind the wheel, racing my car with other racing cars. The fun and joy that the car generated would not be able to be created by today cars like Honda or Toyota.

Now I am desperately looking for a 1969 Z/28 to buy just for the old time sakes. I want to feel it, taste it, and drive it to bring back old good memories when I was still driving it. I believe there are many people who also feel the way I do, longing for the very car that will bring them to the memories of the past.

This is the reason why people do car restoration. There are lots and lots memories with classic cars. It will bring back the old days when car made someone feel important. The moment when he took his first date with the car. All the memories that scattered along the way to present time. And for that reason, car restoration will never die.