INQUIRER Sports

FOR A CAR COLLECTOR, acquiring and restoring their beloved cars is one thing, keeping and maintaining them is another issue. One can easily surmise that prized collectible cars whether classic or exotics are merely kept in home garages as some collectors even invested in humidity controlled car ?cocoons,? similar to professional camera cabinets or humidors for Cuban cigars, only on a much bigger climate-controlled storehouse environment.

But real estate is only one side of the challenge, there are other concerns as well. Aside from parking space issues, most collectors require periodic maintenance and car care specially for the vintage and classic cars. Since most collectors also do a lot of long distance traveling either for business or leisure, entrusting their beloved investments becomes a concern and most family drivers are not usually knowledgeable in providing quality care nor have the mechanical expertise in handling even minor upkeeps.

Home Car Garages
Some car collectors have drivers and handymen in their household payroll who provide regular cleaning, waxing and even minor detailing jobs. It is also not unusual to see cars regularly being ?exercised? around posh subdivisions and neighborhoods early morning, avoiding the rush hour traffic. These cars need to get their ?cardio? workout at least once a week, to make sure the car remains in top form. Just like our own bodies, vehicular exercises are necessary, particularly for older cars with carburetors, so they do not go out of tune. Suspension and steering parts are like our own body joints and muscles, they would need a regular stretch and tension so they do not go out of shape.

Our very reclusive resource person is a typical car aficionado and collector who has a penchant on classic as well as high performance cars. Over the years, his own home garage has become too crowded so he decided to build another storage area in a property outside but nearby his exclusive subdivision home. He installed lifters to double up his parking capacity as well as provide underchassis access to his cars to see if there are any leaky hoses or worn parts underneath.

Professional Car Storage?First of its kind in RP
For car collectors who do not have the extra room or manpower, Alex Storage is probably a good option. It is a new car storage concept recently formed by renowned car restorer Alexander Isip, who also owns Alex Car Restoration, an enterprise known for producing award-winning classic and vintage showcars. He is in the business of car restoration for over 17 years and has recently put up a modern indoor automobile storage facility located in the heart of Quezon City, along Roosevelt Avenue. The facility is built on a 1,000 square-meter land that accommodates up to 40 vehicles. It is believed to be the only storage facility of its kind in the country and perhaps the region.

With his highly trained team of technicians and mechanics, customers can be assured of timely and professional work giving it a total one-stop car care solution. The storage facility is equipped with high tech security cameras that allow online viewing anytime by the customers, anywhere in the world via internet connection. Its double gates and security alarm system provide maximum protection from theft and vandals. It also has a general liability policy and a ?Garage Keepers? policy as an insurance against damage or other risks.

While most home garages have a common roof and is not fully enclosed and well-insulated, this facility has an insulated roof and ventilation to avoid the harsh weather of summer and also weather-proofed against the rainy season as well. Home garages are also at risk of paint damage from pets, children and other household accidents that commonly occur.

The cars are assured of timely cleaning and storing every time a car is checked in and out of the facility. Its office has a cozy lounge complete with a mini library and home entertainment system including WIFI connection if car owners wish to hang around the area and chat among car enthusiasts who frequent the area. With Alex Car Restoration?s pool of clientele, customers who store their cars also get to assess the current market value of their cars as they interact with other enthusiasts and collectors. Storage rates vary depending on the length of stay and type of services rendered on its tenure. For more information, one may visit alexcarrestoration.com