Setting up a classic car for a road trip requires a level of preparation that modern cars don't need. The system margins that modern cars build in — the warning systems, the fail-safe modes, the redundant sensors — don't exist.

My pre-trip checklist for a long-distance drive in a classic: full fluid check including brake, clutch, differential, and transmission. Cooling system pressure test. Belt tension and condition. Battery terminals cleaned and tightened. Brakes checked front and rear. Tire pressure checked cold, including spare. Spare parts inventory confirmed.

This takes two hours. It prevents the kind of roadside stop that ruins a trip and potentially damages the car. The preparation is part of the experience, not a burden to be minimized.