My neighbor in Phoenix kept his Monte Carlo under a tarp for 3 years and the paint came out worse than if he'd left it in the sun

Shane Ross · 2026-11-01T06:50:03.780147+00:00

I helped him pull the cover off his 1979 Monte Carlo two weekends ago and the roof looked like someone took sandpaper to it. He thought the tarp was protecting it, but a cheap blue tarp traps moisture underneath, and in Phoenix that means the car sweats every night when the temp drops. All that condensation sat on the paint for 3 years with nowhere to go. The real kicker is the dirt that got in under the edges and just rubbed around every time the wind kicked up. His paint guy quoted him $2,800 for a respray, which is more than he paid for the car. The thing that got me was my uncle in Yuma parked a truck outside for 8 years with no cover and the paint held up better than this. So if you're storing outside and covering, you need a breathable cover or nothing at all. What cover do you all use for outdoor parking, and has anyone had luck with a carport over a tarp?

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My neighbor in Phoenix kept his Monte Carlo under a tarp for 3 years and the paint came out worse than if he'd left it in the sun | Car Storage - HW Forums