How to Show Off a Muscle Car

Preparing your classic muscle car for public viewing can be time-consuming, but once your car is fully restored, you can proudly show it off to your friends, neighbors and other car enthusiasts. Muscle cars are an important part of American life, and many people find owning a gleaming, show-ready vehicle is a truly rewarding experience.

Things You'll Need

• Tools, for removing car seats
• Soap and water
• Soft, white rags
• Leather cleaner, for leather car interiors
• UV dashboard protector
• Carpet stain remover
• Carpet shampoo
• Car glass cleaner
• Baking soda, optional
• Toothbrush or cotton swabs, optional
• Spray fabric protector, optional
• Non-detergent cleaner, for car exterior
• Sponge or hand applicator, for cleaning car exterior
• Chamois cloth
• Polishing agent, for car exterior
• Carnauba wax
• Aerosol spray lubricant, optional

Instructions

Clean Your Entire Car Carefully

1. Remove the car's seats. Although this step can be difficult, it allows for a thorough cleaning you can't otherwise do. Besides, you may find hidden treasures (or car parts) underneath the seats.

2. Clean your car seats with soap and water and a soft, white rag. If your car seats are made of leather, use an appropriate leather cleaner.

3. Apply a UV protector to your car's dashboard. Show-worthy muscle cars never have cracked dashboards.

4. Pre-treat carpets with a stain remover, and then clean them with a gentle carpet shampoo. Consider treating the carpets with spray fabric protector to keep them clean in the future.

5. Clean your windows with glass cleaners made specifically for cars.

Restore Your Car's Existing Paint Job

1. Determine whether you can restore your muscle car's existing paint job or whether you will need to repaint the entire car.

2. Clean your car's exterior if you determine that its existing paint job can be restored. Use a non-detergent cleaner to protect the paint still on the car. Use only a clean sponge or soap applicator, as any residue on either one can scratch your car's surface. Wash the car in sections, and rinse each section before moving on to the next.

3. Dry the car thoroughly with a chamois cloth.

4. Polish the car, using whichever polishing agent is appropriate to the paint surface.

5. Apply carnauba wax to your dry car. This will make the paint shine like new.

Repaint Your Car

1. Decide whether to repaint your muscle car in its original factory colors or whether to use more modern paint colors. Some companies specialize in selling classic muscle car paint colors.

2. Have the painting done by a professional. This is the best way to protect your car's surface and ensure that the paint job is smooth and neat.

3. Apply carnauba wax.

Show Off Your Muscle Car

1. Cruise the streets in your like-new muscle car, and show off all of your hard work.

2. Join a muscle car club to meet other car enthusiasts and learn about shows and events in your area.

3. Take part in a muscle club show where you can display your car for others to admire.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use a white rag when washing the seats of your car with soap and water. The dye from colored rags can sometimes leave streaks on the material.

• Keep a soft toothbrush or some cotton swabs handy for cleaning tight spaces.

• Baking soda can remove tough stains from your car's interior. It's safer on your car's interior than harsh cleaning chemicals.

• When you repaint your muscle car, remember to have any rust repair or detail work done at the same time.

• Remove bumper stickers or other adhesives with aerosol spray lubricant. Allow it to soak into the sticker for a few hours and then peel off the sticker.

• Remember to store your car properly when you're not driving or showing it. Proper storage is important to your car's engine, fuel system and paint job.

• Apply UV protector only sparingly to steering wheels and door handles, as it can make these surfaces slippery.

• Regular glass cleaners can leave streaks on car windows. Use cleaners made specifically for cars.

• Repainting a car can be very expensive.

Resources

• Find a match to the original paint color of your classic muscle car.
• Join a muscle car club.
• Show your car at one of the biggest muscle car shows in the country.