Classic Cars Hide 6 Health HazardsRyan Lugo - MotorTrendMost people are aware that classic cars aren't known for their five-star crash safety. Those who drive old-school automobiles on modern highways do so knowing the elevated risks associated with a potential collision, and people balance their love for these vehicles with the potential risks that come hand in hand with enjoying them as intended.But more than just the obvious safety concerns, restoring, repairing, and even riding in older cars can expose you to other health hazards that you probably never thought about, the type of issues that are almost entirely absent in today's vehicles. There's a chance that your classic car might be making you sick without you even being aware it's happening.Here are six ways that driving a classic car could have a negative impact on your health and how you can best protect yourself in each situation.1) Asbestos Lurks In DIY-Accessible AreasPhoto credit: Getty ImagesAsbestos followed a tragic arc from miracle material to top-tier health threat over the course of roughly 100 years of American industrial use. Prized for its ability to resist heat and flame, fibrous asbestos was eventually linked to cancer and lung scarring, which led to it being mostly (more on that later) phased out of use by the early 1980s.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnfortunately for enthusiasts, that means there are decades upon decades of classic cars that incorporate some form of asbestos in their construction. Most of these applications focus around heat insulation, which means you'll most often find asbestos lurking in underhood pads, brake pads and linings, and clutches. It's also occasionally used in gaskets and internal transmission components.Anyone who's ever popped the hood on an old car and seen the tattered state of a hood pad flapping in the wind is at risk of inhaling the "dust" that contains microscopic asbestos fibers. Cabin insulation on older models may also feature asbestos to protect occupants from heat or flame. It's always a good idea to wear a respirator when replacing this type of material on vehicles built prior to 1980, especially since tearing can occur when tugging old insulation out of place.Brake pads and liners present another very real point of exposure. In fact, asbestos has remained a near constant presence in some types of brake pads as recently as 2025, despite the partial ban on the material's use. It's unlikely you'd be exposed to asbestos in the air simply driving your car, but replacing brake components is another story, as the dust from pads and linings can contain the material. Again, a respirator is a good idea, and the EPA recommends using wet wipe cleaning methods to avoid aerosolizing asbestos dust.2) Hantavirus Isn't Just for Cruise ShipsPhoto credit: Hot Rod ArchivesHantavirus has been in the news lately due to an outbreak on a cruise ship that sickened a number of passengers with this potentially deadly respiratory virus. You don't have to set sail to accidentally come into contact with hantavirus, however, as this illness is spread primarily through exposure to mouse and other rodent droppings—a vector classic car fans often come into contact with, in two specific instances.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe first is long-term storage. Putting a vehicle away for a winter or tucking a project in a garage for a few years while you track down parts and clear the time needed to get to work are common scenarios for old car owners. They're also an open invitation for vermin to sneak in and set up shop, chewing wiring, packing nooks and crannies with leaves and detritus to make nests, and generally treating cars like toilets. Then there's parts hunting itself, a practice that for some involves prowling through mouse-ridden scrapyards in search of elusive components that aren't available off the shelf.In each of the above scenarios, the chances of disturbing a rodent's nest are high, which can expose you to hantavirus. Breathing in nest particles containing mouse droppings presents a serious risk, but even touching these nests can cause infection.Luckily, you can easily protect yourself by wearing a respirator and gloves while cleaning out the mouse condo in your classic, or when you're combing through an old car that's been sitting in a field for decades. Remember to wash down any potentially contaminated surfaces with bleach afterward, too, and avoid using a vacuum to keep from spreading particles of mouse doodoo throughout your garage or storage space.3) Mold Is Serious BusinessPhoto credit: Getty ImagesMouse nests aren't the only respiratory health hazard to be found in car storage spaces or recycling yards. Any enclosed space that's not properly protected from moisture can, over time, lead to the growth of mold. Although it might look harmless, the spores produced by some types of mold can trigger severe allergic reactions, pose a threat to those suffering from asthma, or in the worst-case scenarios even poison you after inhalation. Common symptoms after exposure to hazardous types of mold can range from skin rashes to sneezing fits to headaches and brain fog.AdvertisementAdvertisementAll of the above is serious business, but it's also very easy to protect against while cleaning. If you suspect the presence of mold in an old vehicle that's been exposed to high levels of humidity, or if you can see it growing on upholstery or carpet, you can take the same precautions as you would when dealing with mouse nests in order to reduce the chance of exposure.4) Crumbling Plastics, Flaking Insulation, Ancient Off-GassingPhoto credit: MotorTrend ArchivesOld cars weren't built to last forever, and natural wear and tear combined with environmental exposure to things like UV radiation, heat, and humidity can all take their toll on a vehicle's various components over a long enough span of time. This often leads to crumbling and cracking, as anyone familiar with the gentle shower of ceiling dust from an '80s GM product with a droopy headliner can attest to.While this might seem like a sneezing hazard, at worst, chemicals found in old plastics and foams can pose a risk to owners over time. Volatile organic compounds unleashed by aging plastics, on top of inhaling the dust itself, can irritate the lungs and throat and potentially lead to more serious respiratory conditions. If your interior is on its way out, don't sit there and watch it happen a little bit at a time while driving—be proactive about replacing crumbling components before they lead to a sneezing fit or chronic lung issues.5) Fire Hazards Linked to Old Wiring and Yesterday's Safety StandardsPhoto credit: Getty ImagesInterior components aren't the only plastic materials that can wear out over time. The insulation that protects your vehicle's wiring harness from shorting out or overheating is also at risk of growing brittle, cracking, and potentially sparking a serious conflagration. It's a threat that grows more serious with each passing year, especially for automobiles that hail from the 1970s and 1980s when the amount of wiring found inside the average automobile spiked due to the introduction of fuel injection, computer controls, and more advanced electronic accessories.AdvertisementAdvertisementSometimes the culprit is bad design—witness Jeep's decision to send the full output of its electrical system through an overheating ammeter in the dashboard instead of the much safer voltmeter in many of its SUVs. Typically, though, the culprit of a serious short-induced fire is simply time. Getting ahead of potential wiring harness wear-out is the best protection against unexpected electrical conflagration in a classic.6) Carbon Monoxide Can't Be DiscountedPhoto credit: Getty ImagesOld-school manufacturing and design processes weren't all that good at sealing a vehicle's cabin from the elements, which means there are many cracks, gaps, and poorly thought-out vent designs in antique automobiles that allow outside air to infiltrate a vehicle's interior. Combine that with the general entropy that attacks a classic vehicle—rust, shrinking seals, cracking ducts—and most models are far more open to the outside world than they were when they left the factory.Taken together, those gaps offer the chance for not just fresh air to enter the cabin, but also engine exhaust. If your classic's emissions system isn't up to snuff, carbon monoxide can silently make its way inside and sicken you while you're sitting in traffic, when there's no outside air movement to help pull exhaust gases away from its underside.Exhaust issues should always be taken seriously. It's a lot easier to patch up potentially leaking mufflers, headers, and piping than it is to hermetically seal a 40-year-old vehicle. Even a perfectly functional system, however, can cause problems with some classic car designs. These include body shapes that form a vacuum that can suck exhaust in from the rear of the vehicle through existing seals (an affliction Datsun Z car owners are all too familiar with), or side pipes that send gases toward open windows.