Car Covers--A good supplier or manufacturer?

[John_S_in_Penna]

I'm asking this for a friend, but I may use your advice too:

 

What is a good source or manufacturer for well-made car covers?

They don't need to be custom fit, as long as they fit.

 

In years past, I have used Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories.

I have gotten an "outdoor" type because it's thicker and may

offer more protection--even though the cars are stored inside.

Today, they're $400 to $500.

 

I have also gotten "outdoor" pre-made non-custom covers

from a vendor at Macungie, Pa.--Cover Up Enterprises--

but the phone number I have is old, and in the past they've

been hard to reach by phone anyway.  I always bought in person

at flea markets.  Sometimes the size they said to use was too small,

so I've returned them or put them on another car.  The cost

was under $150 typically.

 

I doubt my friend wants to spend $400, so your advice is needed.

[Trulyvintage]

A cheap car cover will ruin the paint

on your car - if your car is worth covering

then don’t be a Che@p@ss ….. 🤔

 

@ https://www.calcarcover.com

 

 

 

 

Jim

[Mark Shaw]

Plushweave Premium Cotton Flannel Car Cover | Dust Stop Soft Indoor Custom Fit Car Covers | Best Soft Car Cover Fabric for Sale (calcarcover.com)  This is what I have.....

[John_S_in_Penna]

 

 

3 minutes ago, Trulyvintage said:

A cheap car cover will ruin the paint on your car...

 

Of course, no one is looking for a cheap cover

that will ruin the paint.  As experienced car collectors,

we know better.

 

But the $150 pre-sewn cover material was just as good

as the $400 custom material.  So all experiences and

references are welcome.  And thank you, Mark, for a 

specific link.

[TAKerry]

I second Bill and third Mark. I have a Cal Car cover for my Trans Am. It is 'custom fit', very soft and flexible def worth the price. My car is parked exclusively indoors so I didnt need an all weather cover. I think mine is the middle of the road product which is VERY nice. I dont think I paid more than about $250 for it. 

I bought a cover from BHMA for my then brand new 1982 Firebird. Its still in use to cover my project car in the shop. A bit worse for the wear but still doing its job.

[mrspeedyt]

all i need is a cheap $40 cover that is made for a suburban. my paint is original but in really bad shape. hard to find now… now that i could use a replacement. the first lasted ten years. 

[Trulyvintage]

Go check out the auto departments at Walmart Supercenters 💡

 

 

Jim

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, Trulyvintage said:

Go check out the auto departments at Walmart Supercenters.  💡

 

Jim, do you recommend them?  Do they have covers of

good quality?

 

Several years ago, I saw Pep Boys' covers, and they were very thin.

[charlier]

Years ago I purchased a California Car Cover for one of my vehicles at Fall Hershey. That year they offered a Hershey Discount and included free shipping. I received the cover 4-6 weeks later. The cover was custom made for my vehicle and fits like a glove.

I do not think that the California Car Cover Company themselves still vend at Fall Hershey but someone else might sell their products there.  

[Trulyvintage]

8 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

Jim, do you recommend them?  Do they have covers of

good quality?

 

Several years ago, I saw Pep Boys' covers, and they were very thin.

No way would I put a cheap Walmart 

car cover on a vehicle I cared about 👎

 

I was offering a solution for a cheap car cover that is readily available.

 

 

Jim

[John_S_in_Penna]

Please make recommendations only that may

be helpful to our fellow AACA member.

 

There must be some ready-made covers that

are of the same good quality as the custom made.

Has anyone used one of those?  On the car-cover

websites, I've seen some references to them,

but no prices, and evaluations of the quality would

be welcome.

[Bryan G]

I've tried all manner of under-$100 covers and have yet to find one I really liked, or that would last 2 years. Most would rot or tear, or the seams would come loose. A couple of the thicker ones started leaving hard-to-remove white specks on the paint. I've tried Budge, Rain-X, something from Advance Auto Parts and probably some others. I was going to splurge and buy a custom cover from California but they didn't make one for my model. Daydreams of a the garage I'll have someday...most recently I bought one off eBay that is rather thin but the water beads off okay and it dries pretty quick. Remains to be seen how long it will last. At least it was cheap.

[STEVE POLLARD]

On 9/22/2021 at 7:57 PM, Bills Auto Works said:

California Car Covers are about the best in the business these days!

Yup, that's all that I've been using.... never had any issues

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, Bryan G said:

I was going to splurge and buy a custom cover from California but they didn't make one for my model. 

 

Bryan, most car-cover companies will make a 

custom cover to order, for your specific car, if

you give them the dimensions.  Telephone them

and ask someone knowledgeable;  or try a different

reputable company.  For example, if someone has

a 1920 Apperson, the company wouldn't know the

dimensions unless the car's owner provided them.

[60FlatTop]

I just ordered a carcovers.com cover for my '86 Buick Park Ave convertible, basically a coupe. I like my cars visible in the garage, but I need to get my driver truck in for a couple of weeks for some work and thought I would try the cover instead of renting a storage unit for the short period, about the same price. Carcovers.com was recommended by a friend who has used them on a few cars and been happy. I trust his judgement.

 

My motivator was a number of small touch up paint jobs and one big one. I am concerned about sanding and spray dust so I can see the value of three covers. I also picked up two 11'X22' tarps to cordon off a paint area with ventilation. I bought the rain shedding one but only plan to use it outside for two weeks.

 

If someone is buying a car cover to use as a garage for long term outside storage they should rent or build garage space.

 

I inquired at carcover.com over a year ago and keep getting emails from Henry@carcover.com offering me $10 off. Makes me feel kind of sad for Henry, thinking about him writing those emails to drum up some business. Maybe I felt a little guilty about not buying one. Tony, who has been renting me storage units for a little over 15 years will understand. I try to spread my business around.

[Trulyvintage]

16 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

Please make recommendations only that may

be helpful to our fellow AACA member.

 

There must be some ready-made covers that

are of the same good quality as the custom made.

Has anyone used one of those?  On the car-cover

websites, I've seen some references to them,

but no prices, and evaluations of the quality would

be welcome.

There doesn’t seem to be any CHEAP 

car covers that are of quality.

 

You might not want to 👂that 

but that is how it seems to be.

 

Jim

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, Trulyvintage said:

There doesn’t seem to be any CHEAP car covers that are of quality.

You might not want to 👂that but that is how it seems to be.

 

Not true at all, Jim!  We're not talking bottom of the barrel.

Reading my original posting, you'll see that there

are pre-made covers of the same sound material, but

the supplier I've used I can't reach.  The savings must

be in making quantities, rather than single cuttings made to order.

[Paul Dobbin]

 

Buy a good one, you never know how long the car will be covered.

Photo taken on a AACA tour in the woods near a indoor car collection.

[TAKerry]

Paul,  that one reminds me of a fellow a town over that has a 65sh mustang in his side yard. He had it shrink wrapped in plastic like they do the boats around here for the winter.  I have kept an eye on it for about 5 years now. I can only imagine how rusted that car has become.

[Paul Dobbin]

Like Christine, the car protection device can become a burial vault.

[Dave39MD]

As many of the other responders I would recommend California Car Covers. I have at least three different styles and they all have been excellent.

 

Dave

[BearsFan315]

love my covercraft

they are not cheap, but they are good quality

 

they offer various levels depending on vehicle. simple slip dust covers, rain proof, breathable, etc. mine fits and has the soft inner layer to protect the car paint. worth every penny.

 

everyone wants quality cheap, those dont work together in that order only in this order cheap quality !!

 

and i bought a cheap cover for around $40 for daughters car from walmart, decent cover, and keeps out most of the gunk. but like most dont live long in the sun UV kills them. good for about a year or so