6 Simple Winter Projects for Every Vintage Car

BY KYLE SMITH / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 23, 2026

The changing of the leaves can be beautiful, but it also brings the changing of seasons to front of mind. For those of us in the snow belt, it has come time to begin mentally preparing for winter storage, and while it is possible to simply store your car for the season, it is also the perfect opportunity to knock out a couple small projects—stuff that every vintage or aging car will not only appreciate but will likely need, if you can’t remember the last time it happened.

We aren’t talking about re-sealing an engine or hanging a new headliner here; those are involved projects that need special skills, tools, and techniques. Instead, these six should be approachable projects that can be completed in one weekend. They will leave you both with a better car and a solid sense of accomplishment for having done even just a little work to keep your vintage ride safe and road-ready ahead of next year’s driving season.

Inspection

Let’s start with one that generally doesn’t even require removing parts—and maybe not even tools. Taking the time to do a deep inspection on the condition of the important bits of a car is something ignored during the driving season, because there is driving to do. Winter is the perfect time to put a car up on jack stands and get familiar with what everything looks like, keeping an eye out for items that look worn, broken, damaged, or otherwise less than ideal.

Focus on stuff like brake lines, steering components, and also items with expiration dates, like tires. Take a note of anything that needs attention or even a second opinion and use storage season to plan the trip to the shop or to research how to do the job yourself. If everything checks out nicely, consider this inspection a quality re-familiarization with your car. That rarely hurts.

Fluid Flushes

Your inspection should also include checking fluids and topping up appropriately, but if you can’t recall the last time the brake fluid, coolant, or oil were changed, it is likely smart to roll up your sleeves and swap those out for fresh fluids prior to another driving season. Most brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water, and that is not a good thing for the internals of your brake system or its overall performance. Flushing the system with fresh fluid can be as easy as pumping the pedal and keeping the master cylinder topped up.

Also take the time to inspect the coolant (if applicable.) Test strips are available at most parts stores to ensure the coolant has not gotten too acidic, which might cause problems internally. Of course, if the car is in a place where freezing temperatures will occur, ensure the coolant is mixed at a proper ratio to keep any ice on the outside of your engine block and heater core. They might be called freeze plugs in the side of an engine block, but more often those plugs are just covers for holes left over from the casting process and are not designed to “pop out” if things freeze inside. Proper insurance is making sure things don’t freeze in the first place.

Deep Wheel Cleaning

Those who pay attention to wheels are quick to notice if they are actually clean or not. Keeping wheels clean can be tough if driving is more of your thing than scrubbing, but now that driving is off the table, it’s time to get those wheels spiffed up. Some brake dust can be corrosive and eat the paint, or even metal of the wheels, so while it might seem a little overboard to pull the wheels and clean everything, inside and out, that might be the difference between replacing wheels after a decade or two and retaining the original wheels long into the future. I have been told that wide shoelaces make cleaning wire wheels easier, for those of you already dreading this task.

Drain Clean Out

This one comes from recent personal experience, as my 1985 Corvette has lost its garage spot to a new project and thus has been enjoying the cool rain that signals the approach of winter in Northern Michigan. Although the weatherstripping has been trustworthy for the entire time I’ve owned the car, a few weeks ago I went out in the morning after some overnight rain to find the passenger floorboard flooded and holding standing water. The culprit? The air-conditioning system drain located on the firewall.

The drain likely clogged from sitting outside a fair amount over the last few years and getting leaf matter and other debris in it, making the flooding and subsequent carpet cleaning something that was 100% preventable if only I had taken the time last winter to clean out that drain. Vacuuming out the water and getting everything dry again surely will help remind me to keep up on this. Hopefully just seeing my misfortune reminds you.

Full Lubrication

There isn’t an Osteo Bi-Flex pill for your car, so keeping things moving freely requires a little more effort. That doesn’t mean it’s particularly difficult, and honestly, pushing some fresh grease into the suspension pivots is a great way to get more familiar with your car and how it all works—and to assess the condition of the components. All you need is a grease gun to push some fresh grease into the various zerk fittings located on many pivots, links, and bushings throughout the chassis. Also consider places like the pedal pivots and heater cables. Those can be more involved, but it is worth the effort to keep things moving freely.

Leather Conditioning and Interior Cleaning

If you’ve got the luxury of leather seats, be sure to take a minute to condition them during what is often the driest season of the year. Rubbing a small amount of conditioner will keep the leather hydrated and pliable and supple for many years, with little effort. Test in a small inconspicuous spot first to ensure there won’t be any discoloration from the product you’ve chosen, and then go to town cleaning and refreshing those seats, dash, and door panels.

If you are like the rest of us and have cloth or vinyl seats, there is treatment for those as well. A good vacuuming goes a long way, and while you’re at it, go ahead and clean the windows. It’ll give you a better view while you are sitting inside for the next few months daydreaming about driving.

Oh, it’s only me doing that?

This article has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder, Hagerty. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Click here for more automotive tips and stories, or here for more information on the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show.