Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Outdoor Cover

I'm new to this - new CX only a couple of months in - but here's what I'm trying as my car lives outside and there is no room for any structure around it:

- outdoor car cover ordered from the Morgan factory (quality is good; it comes with two retaining straps which can be removed for non windy locations)
- on return from a dirt-inducing trip, gently pressure wash and blow/towel dry before covering
- on return from a normal, less punishing trip, go over any obviously dirty bits with Quick Detail spray before covering
-- I'm now about to start using Optimum No Rinse instead (apply with spray bottle, wipe off with microfibre cloth -- it's a "waterless wash" product which allegedly gets under the dirt and lubricates so you can wipe off safely). The idea is to have a very quick routine on return, while the car is cooling, then apply cover.

We also have a John Taylor storm cover that lives in the back of the car for when we are out, and will go on temporarily if it rains when we arrive home.

The main issue with the outdoor cover is that it is long and unwieldy, and our driveway can get damp in Autumn and Winter -- so the cover is usually wet and handling it is quite messy. There are also two areas either side of the boot where water pools several inches deep. My routine is to towel dry the cover gently (blow drying doesn't work as it just pushes the water in) to remove most of the surface water; fold the cover carefully inwards; put in bath so it doesn't leak all over the carpet! Requires two good car towels which then go in the wash.

Generally I've found almost no moisture on the car underneath the cover (so far) - just a couple of spots which air-dry very quickly. Nevertheless the car is going into a garage storage facility tomorrow for a couple of months to reduce risk of mildew internal to the cabin; we will take it out when the sun shines!

We had a further surprise last week with the suddenly sunny cold day -- the cover was frozen solid. I gently used room-temperature water, followed by the garden hose, until it had defrosted; then towel dry and cover off. I was pretty cold by the end of that routine (and therefore acclimatised for a nice drive with the side panels off :-) ).

Have you got room for one of the inflatable covers, a friend has one inside a garage because it's damp has leaky doors and suspect rodents get in & having borrowed his 'space' earlier this year was very impressed

I think the brand was Carcoon ?

Car under this cover 5 years plus.



https://www.classicadditions.com/en..._lYevctUSKTx41BDapy5Ed1H6hxoCAsMQAvD_BwE

Blimey, is it worth all that effort. I certainly could not be bothered to that extreme. All mine lived outside until I built a garage for the last one and even garaging it was all a bit of a faff. Still if you able and want to do all that I am sure it will pay dividends .
I wash the Volvo once every 6 months even if it doesn’t need it.
Hope you enjoy the car. MM
PS I did wash the Volvo a good few times in its first year but now. I just regularly clean the insides of the two back doors that get caked in mud - apparently “this is an XC60 design issue” sir from Volvo . To me it’s a design/manufacturing cock up !

Afternoon Anonymouse,

Well its good you have both covers. I have for the storm cover, one I bought from Williams' Morgan and it fits super well. ( Morgan wings on the front).

Occasionally I need my lift in order to work on our other cars and as its where the Morgan normally sits in the garage, raised in the winter to ease tyre and suspension problems, the MOG has occasionally to stay outside and I live in rainy wales! This is how I do things in that situation. I have found that if you cover a dirty car it will scratch, guaranteed! but to lesson this happening I use the storm cover first and then the outdoor option on top so when the wind moves the cover about it's moving on the storm cover. I also use this method in the garage with an indoor cover as dragging the cover on and off I can have the same effect but the storm cover rolls off cleanly when on your own. Now here's the big thing. Buy yourself a guardX kit it is easy to apply to a fully cleaned car but make sure the car is really clean, That's pristine! as when you seal it, it really will seal it as is! It is a Ceramic coating system and is truly remarkable. Primarily for its ease of application, a two part kit that you just literally wipe on with an applicator a bit like a woman's powder puff, then wipe of. You can almost treat the car how you like after this and it won't scratch and yes no swirling micro scratches either from cleaning, especially useful on dark colours! These detailing cleaners will scratch the car eventually I can guarantee it but if you ceramic coat it ....well, I have treated several cars now one being ten years old and its still as good as new and that's a daily tin top!

In the winter I don't cover the car in the garage. Temperature changes will create condensation and that condensation will also occur on interior surfaces of the car. I always leave the hood fitted correctly to prevent shrinkage and I cover the hood area with heavy bubble wrap with the smooth side facing outside and the bubble on the car side, This allows air flow between the two yet still offers protection from dust and damp. This I have found the best option if having an unheated garage which has air breathing eaves,