A Guide To Driving Classic CArs
In order to get the most out of your classic car experience please do bear in mind some of the following points. Most of our classic cars are around 50 years old and therefore demand to be treated with respect and care. If you have not driven a classic car in a long while or ever before then you will note some obvious differences whilst driving in comparison to modern day cars, technology has come along way since the 1950s when most of these cars were designed! We will go through all of this on the day before you head off:
Traffic:
Classics are designed to be driven, not to sit in the modern worlds traffic so we do ask our drivers to avoid city centres at rush hour and heavy traffic to prevent the car from overheating especially on hot days. Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination bearing this in mind. They are also not suited to driving at 70mph for long periods so please do give yourself time to compensate for a 55mph cruising speed with time to stop for breaks.
Steering:
They mostly do not come with power steering however the steering lightens up when driving but manoeuvring can take some muscle! Give yourself twice as much time to stop and twice as much time also to pull away at junctions, don’t worry, people smile fondly upon classic cars on the road and should give you plenty of time and space!
Brakes:
The brakes are often drum brakes and ABS had not been invented so stopping will take some getting used to as good pressure is needed on the pedal to get the most out of the brakes.
Gears:
Some gearboxes do not have synchromesh in 1st gear so you cannot change into 1st until the car is at a stand still. Reverse can often be a lift or a knock across the gate. Work your way through neutral between gears and take your time changing gear, it is not to be rushed.
Pedals:
Classic pedals sometimes are spaced close together or offset to the right because of limited space in the cockpit, some fold down towards the floor also, we therefore recommend narrow shoes and take your time to familiarise yourself with the pedal locations.
Seatbelts:
Please note that not all of our classics have seatbelts as there are no anchorage points and were made before the seatbelt law was in effect. This is not illegal today as classic cars are exempt from this with the law stating ‘if seatbelts are present they must be worn.’ If you are planning to have small children with you please do call us to double check the seatbelt situation before booking your car.
If you have any questions at all about the car before or whilst you are on hire please do contact us, we would rather you did then didn’t; there is no such thing as a silly question. We are here to help you and guide you through the whole classic car experience. All our cars are safe and thoroughly checked prior to each hire by our classic car mechanic to ensure that you have a seamless driving experience. With a little time and patience, classic cars are very rewarding when you get it right. Go with the cars quirks and challenges rather than against them and you will find the sweet spot on each corner and through each of the gear changes! Remember it is not just getting from A to B but all that is in-between that counts, feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and make some memories to last a life time.