C3 Outdoor Car cover

[Todd L.]

Will any one recommend an outdoor cover for my 74 coupe? I am looking for something which will handle the elements well. Right now it will have to be stored outside until I get a place with a garage or just get a garage to live in.

[Ron H.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

California Cover makes some great covers

[Thomas H.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

Todd,

I don't like it, but my C6 is outside late spring through early fall since I don't have enough garage space for all three cars.

I use a "Storm Proof" cover by Cover King on it and it works real well. It is light weight and really sheds the water keeping the car dry.

One drawback to the light weight is that if it get really windy, they tend to blow off. I use some spring clamps and secure it to the tail pipes in the rear and the spoiler in the front. I also use the standard center - under the car- tiedown with some bungee cords.

Tom

[Paul J.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

There are some good outdoor car covers out there and I'm sure that some others will chime in. Surprisingly, I did'nt find anything in the archives about this.

I only use outdoor car covers as a last resort. They will chafe the paint when the wind blows, and they trap moisture under them, yes, even if they breath. However, they are good at protecting the paint from dirt, rain, and ultraviolet radiation, so I guess it's a trade-off.

[Thomas H.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

I only use outdoor car covers as a last resort. They will chafe the paint when the wind blows, and they trap moisture under them, yes, even if they breath. However, they are good at protecting the paint from dirt, rain, and ultraviolet radiation, so I guess it's a trade-off.

Paul,

I did find that the storm proof cover was leaving some minor rub marks on the rear of my C6 (I have an open westerly exposure so I get a fair amount of wind). Nothing a little wax and elbow grease couldn't remove, but I didn't like it so I bought a Noah cover and tried it.

There is more "cushion" to the Noah cover, but I found that it let more water through and the moisture stayed longer under the cover, on the car. After a rain storm I would lift the Noah up and there would be water on the car and it seemed like it took a long time to dry out. Very rarely did I find water on the car with the storm proof cover. When it did get wet, it dried very quickly.

So now I use both covers. I put the Noah on first for some cushion and the storm proof over top. I have monitored it closely and there is very little, if any, moisture build up on the car even after a long, heavy down pour.

Tom

[James N.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

Don't park it outside. Rent a storage garage if you have to. I learned the hard way, you don't have to. Don't park it outside.

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Outdoor Car cover

Todd

I picked this typhoon class car cover up at Carlisle from Mid America and it works great when my C5 is outdoors. Most times its under a carport but at times, it does sit outside under the typhoon cover. I looked at a lot of different covers even custom but than you pay for that as well.

But I can also appreciate Jim's suggestion to rent a garage and keep it inside. Car covers protect the surface but moisture degrades the chassis which is greater on a C3 than C5. C5 has lots of stuff that is rust resistant but the C3...everything deteriorates and will rust as moisture gets to the underneath. When I first got my C3...I did as you are considering. So it sat out for maybe a year, 18 months don't recall but the degradation was significant. At that time I used a Wolfe 3 layer cover but once it gets wet...it gets wet and heavy. If you don't get it off the surface, the moisture stays in touch with paint for too long and will affect the finish.

Having said that the typhoon is nice and with the "show special" was a nice buy.

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-car-cover+1963+2011-typhoon-1-311-9990.html