Todays Detail vs. 1957 Chevy 2-Door

GlossyTundra

GlossyTundra

Tractor Detailer
This is my best friends uncles pride and joy. A 1957 Chevy Bel-Air, just restored 5years ago. He wanted me to "just wax" it, but I explained that to get the full benifit of waxing, other steps had to be taken to ensure the paint look it's best. I got him to spring for my full detail service, to be done this afternoon.



I arrived to a clean car (always nice). I noticed the paint looked very good in the garage, but when I pulled it out in the sun I was like :hm what the hell am I gonna do with this thing. It had swirls, water spots, scratches, etc. The swirls were medium, but the water spotting was terrible. I remembered that he said the car hasent been waxed in 5 years, but garage kept, so no paint contaminates. I did like the color however. In the pics, it looks red, but in person it has a orange tint to it that makes it look a little different.



I ended up with these products used.



#34 to wipe down at first



EC on a polish pad via rotary @1200rpms.



IP/SSR2.5 on a polish pad via rotary @ 1200rpms (this worked really really well)



VM on paint/chrome/glass/wheels via rotary @1000rpms



Natty's Blue to seal and AW for a final wipedown.



I finally got the keys to pull it into the sun, so no befores in the sun, just afters. The swirls were about 80% gone, a huge improvement on this ride. I just did not feel comforatable removing any more clear off this one, so I left it at that. No interior either, just outside.



Here ya go!



Befores

100_0581.jpg


100_0582.jpg


100_0583.jpg


100_0584.jpg


100_0585.jpg


100_0591.jpg




Afters

100_0586.jpg


100_0587.jpg


100_0588.jpg


100_0589.jpg


100_0590.jpg


100_0592.jpg


100_0593.jpg


100_0594.jpg


100_0595.jpg


100_0596.jpg


100_0597-2.jpg




Thanks for looking.
 
Kevin, I wanted to use the 85, but my buddy left it at the shop, but I got it today, thanks again.



Nah, no new truck, have to use my fathers, mine is still getting things worked out.



Thanks for the compliments guys!
 
Nice work on the Chevy.



Just my opinion here but looking at some of the pictures in the garage. The finish looked to have a good amount of OP to it. Not so much on the hood but the sides.

I would talk your buddy into removing the trim and giving it a good wet sanding with 2000 grit to flatten out the finish. I bet you have more to work with then you think. Repaints tend to be thicker then modern factory finishes.
 
Yeah, there was a fair amount of OP on the whole car. He is selling it in a couple of weeks though, so he may not want to spring my cost for wetsanding the thing.



Thanks guys.
 
Beautiful car! Paint looks pretty good for not going too nuts on it. :)



I am glad the '57 I did a few years back was nearly flawless. :nervous2:
 
Just got done with the customer, he was extremely pleased with the condition of the car and when I told him how much I charged, he was like "is that it". I charged $120 for this one, maybe he thought my work was worth more. All I care that he is happy, and that makes me happy.
 
Thanks mose, I wished I could have driven it, but the guy was away on vacation this weekend, so no go.



It was fun though.
 
Brandon nice job.



I am kind of curious at your statement, removing any more clear off this one . Would you say the car had its original paint work? If so FYI they did not have base coat clear coat technology in the 50’s, it would have been a single stage paint process.



All the best.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top