As classic car owners, one question we get asked frequently is, “aren’t you worried someone will steal your car?” Of course the answer is yes. The good news is, most car thieves target late model cars that can be disassembled easily and sell the parts quickly. Classic cars tend to be harder to resell, and the parts are more difficult to market. Still, we don’t leave any of our cars unlocked or unattended for very long when outside of our garage.
The bad news is, many of the anti-theft devices that could stop would be thieves will create visible changes that may not be acceptable if you intend to enter your car in judged contests. Certain clubs make originality concessions when it comes to safety features, such as seat belts or turn signals, but usually only allow battery cut-off switches for theft prevention. Etching the vehicle's VIN into the windows or applying theft deterrent decals are good options for modern cars, but not for winning Concours events.
Some of the inexpensive solutions you could consider to deter a thief that won’t leave a lasting impression on your car are:
- Steering Wheel/Brake Pedal Locks
- Removing distributor Cap or Ignition Rotor
- Removing Fuel Pump Fuse
- Remote Battery Cut Off Switch
- DataDots
If a thief really wants your car, sometimes there’s nothing you can do to stop them. As a precaution, always make sure you have your license plate number, VIN or chassis number, engine number and all relevant identifying information handy to assist the police.
