Maintaining a classic Ferrari
Whilst we look after every car we work on as if it were our own car working on classic cars requires a little more care and attention.
The Client and The Car
Our client has a fantastic collection of classic cars, one of which is this beautiful Ferrari 365 GTB grand tourer. The Ferrari Daytona was only built for 5 years between 1968 and 1973 but its stunning body lines and V12 engine have turned it into a timeless classic.
Over the years this car had picked up some minor swirl marks and paint defects from general use. The paintwork was in good condition but we were asked to machine polish the car to give it a new lease of life.
The Detail
Although we had worked for the client previously on other cars in his collection the process started with a thorough inspection of the car with the client to assess both the condition of the paintwork and any areas that may need extra care or attention. We also discussed protecting the car after polishing and it was decided to finish the paintwork with a quality wax as this was period correct.
The process
As with any detail or paint correction service the starting point is a good wash to remove any grit and grime from the paint. Wheels, wheel arches, door shuts are cleaned and the bodywork snow foamed to release the grit from the car before a traditional wash and dry using drying towels.
With any old car care must be taken to maintain the originality of the paintwork. Polishing a car is an abrasive process – in order to remove the paint defects some paint must be removed from the car and so a balance must be made between achieving as much paint correction as possible and removing as little paint as possible (hence the need for a consultation with the client prior to starting the work).
Starting with a light grade polish and a light grade polishing pad a few test patches were carried out and the grade of polish and (or) the type of polishing pad can then be changed in order to achieve the best finish to the paint without removing paint unnecessarily. Working around the car with a mix of 5, 3 and 1 inch polishing machines and pads every inch of the car was carefully machine polished.
Once the car was polished the paint was protected with a quality wax and the interior of the car given a minor interior detail.
The Results
The results can be seen in the photos. The car looks fantastic and ready to take out and enjoy for the summer season. The client was happy (to say the least) and immediately booked in two more cars from the collection for a similar treatment.
Looking after older classic or vintage cars can be a difficult task with older paint, plastics and materials behaving differently from their modern counterparts- having years of experience is essential.
We cover Surrey and the surrounding areas of Sussex, Hampshire and South London offering a full range of valeting and detailing services to modern, classic and supercars of all types. If you have a classic car that needs a lift then please give us a call on 07836 665955. Advice is always free!
