Update: my neighbor said my tarp job on the Chevelle would trap water, so I changed how I cover it for winter

Nathan Bailey · 2026-10-11T01:00:06.061566+00:00

I've been storing my 1971 Chevelle under a cheap blue tarp in my driveway in Buffalo for 3 winters now, and my neighbor Dave, who's been messing with old cars for like 30 years, watched me strap it down last October and said flat out that I was asking for rust. He said a tarp that sits right on the paint traps moisture underneath and it can't breathe, and come spring I'd have cloudy spots and maybe worse. I argued with him for a bit because the tarp was only $40 and I figured it was fine, but then I pulled a corner back in March and saw condensation beaded up on the roof. So this year I switched to a cheap breathable cover from the parts store and put a box fan under the car for a few hours before I wrapped it, and I also threw a couple of those moisture absorber buckets inside. Two sides here though: Dave says you always want air moving and never let anything touch the paint, but my brother in law swears by sealing the car up tight with plastic and desiccant so nothing gets in at all. Both of them have cars older than mine that still look good, so I really can't call it. Anyone out there storing a car through a real winter, do you go breathable or sealed?

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Update: my neighbor said my tarp job on the Chevelle would trap water, so I changed how I cover it for winter | Car Storage - HW Forums