How to safely lift and support a classic car

Elevate and secure your classic without damaging it… or yourself

What’s the first step in a most classic car maintenance tasks? And what’s the most hazardous thing most of us do with our classics?

The answer, of course, is obvious: lifting the car off the ground and crawling under it. The consequences of a mishap could be catastrophic: it would be fortunate if only the car was damaged if it slipped off a jack.

Garages are equipped with two- or fourpost lifts that make raising cars above head-height easy and safe, simplifying maintenance no-end. But for most enthusiastic DIY classic owners like us, space and cost usually preclude the luxury of a professional lift. However, we still need to get our cars up in the air and work beneath them safely.

Working out how and where to lift a car is more complicated than it sounds. If your classic has a separate chassis, the main chassis rails and crossmembers are normally suitable for jacking, but some jacks won’t fit underneath or reach the centreline of the chassis. Unitary construction cars can only be lifted at certain speciallystrengthened places on the bodyshell. Almost every car was supplied new with rudimentary jack in the boot for roadside wheel changing. These are strictly for emergency use only and can’t be considered suitable for maintenance.

A basic DIY lifting kit comprising a small hydraulic trolley jack and a pair of axle stands costs less than £100. Extend your budget a little and a high-spec trolley jack will make lifting simpler, adding a longer reach and more height. Step up to £500 and drive-on hydraulic ramps can really take the stress out of lifting. Follow our guide on safely raising your classic and banish those expensive dreams of a two-post lift.