Detailed: 2001 Ford Mustang - Zinc Yellow

[Marc08EX]

Wheels/Tires:
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner and Meguiar's Deep Crystal on wheels
Meguiar's APC on tires
Meguiar's Hyper Dressing on tires

Wash:
CG Citrus Wash and Gloss via 2BM
Meguiar's Microfiber Wash Mitt

Clay:
Meguiar's OTC Clay
Meguiar's Last Touch

Paint Correction:
Meguiar's G100 / 3.5" and 5" LC Backing Plates
Meguiar's M105 / LC HT Tangerine Pads
Optimum Poli-seal / LC White Pads
Craftsman 500W Halogen Lights

LSP:
DP Poli-coat / LC Black Pad

Engine:
Meguiar's Super Degreaser
Meguiar's APC
Meguiar's Hyper Dressing
Various Brushes

Trim:
Meguiar's Ultimate Protectant

Interior:
Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer


The owner of this car wanted to to have the car detailed in preparation of selling it. The owner said that the car had been sitting outside for who knows how long and it definitely shows. The paint has been severely oxidized and stained from sitting outside the hot Arizona sun. It had a lot of water spots and scuff marks as well. The paint was like faded yellow and the reflections were dull and lifeless. Needless to say, the car has seen better days.

Here are some before shots of the car:

I'm sorry as I don't have any pictures during the wash process. I washed the car at night to get away from the Arizona heat. However, here are some pictures of the claying process:

After 1/4 of the hood

After 1/4 of the roof

The paint was indeed very contaminated especially with the horizontal surfaces. I threw away my clay bar after using it with this car. It pretty much trashed my clay.

 

[Marc08EX]

The owner of this car opted for the 1 step AIO polish package. This has been the first customer who picked this package and I was planning to use Optimum Poli-seal with some LC White Polishing pads. I tried using it but boy it barely made a dent... The oxidation, water spots and scuff marks were etched in the paint pretty deep. I can do some improvement but it required multiple passes. Being the OCD me, I stepped it up even if the owner will be paying for the 1 step AIO package. I just wanted to make a difference where the owner will leave impressed. I chose to do a hybrid where in I'll be using M105 with some LC HT tangerine pads followed by Optimum Poli-seal with some LC white polishing pads on the top 3/4 of the car. I pretty much used the Optimum Poli-seal with the LC white polishing pads on the rocker panels and the lower parts of the bumpers. That's right, M105 to the rescue!!! :woot2

Here are some polishing process pictures:

50/50 shot of the trunk

Rear Passenger Quarter Before: Scratches and Water Spots

Rear Passenger Quarter After: GONE!

Another Rear Passenger Quarter 50/50 Shot

Rear Passenger Quarter 2 Before: Scratches

Rear Passenger Quarter 2 After: GONE!

Rear Passenger Quarter 3 Before: Nasty Scuff Marks

Rear Passenger Quarter 3 After: GONE!

Passenger Side Door Before: Nasty Scuff Marks

Passenger Side Door After: GONE!

Passenger Side Door 50/50

Passenger Side Front Fender Before: Swirls and Scratches

Passenger Side Front Fender After: Clarity Restored

Passenger Side Front Fender 2 Before: Some weird stains and water spots

Passenger Side Front Fender 2 After: Clarity Restored

50/50 Shot on the hood

50/50 Shot on the Driver Side Rear Quarter Panel. You can see the water spots on the right half of the picture which distorts and dulls out the reflection. Polishing the paint restored the clarity and gloss of the paint.

Another 50/50 shot of the same spot using halogen lights.

Front Bumper Before: Nasty Scuff Mark

Front Bumper After: New bumper???

Driver Side Headlight Before

Driver Side Headlight 50/50

Passenger Side Headlight Before

Passenger Side Headlight After

Applying Ultimate Protectant On The Front Honey Comb Grille

50/50 Shot of the Trim with Ultimate Protectant

 

[Marc08EX]

Afters / Photoshoot:

Approximate time: 10-12 Hours.

What do you guys think? Opinions, comments and criticisms are welcome! The owner was very thrilled when he first saw the car.

 

[slickooz]

Great turn around! Good write up with lots of pics.

 

[Marc08EX]

Great turn around! Good write up with lots of pics.

Thanks Gary!!! How's it going? Used the Poli-coat yet?

 

[slickooz]

Thanks Gary!!! How's it going? Used the Poli-coat yet?

Everything good. I haven't had the chance but I have been reading and found out you said it didn't last after 3 washes? Maybe I can use it on my free details or maintenance cars.

Going be doing a free detail on a friend's car and got a black TL on Monday.

 

[Elite Pro]

Awesome Job!! :dblthumb2:
Looked like a lot of fun....

 

[2kredbb6]

Awesome work.

 

[BobbyG]

No criticism here Marc, one nice job!

I like to see folks not rush through things, taking their time and doing it right the first time. You paid attention to detail and there's quite a difference in the before and afters. I'm certain who ever owns the car was shocked when they picked it up.....

Fabulous work!! :dblthumb2:

 

[Flash Gordon]

Nice job Marc. Your hard work paid off rops:

 

[Marc08EX]

Awesome Job!! :dblthumb2:
Looked like a lot of fun....

Thanks a lot Elite!! Meh it wasn't fun especially doing it in the 110F heat.

Awesome work.

Thanks.

No criticism here Marc, one nice job!

I like to see folks not rush through things, taking their time and doing it right the first time. You paid attention to detail and there's quite a difference in the before and afters. I'm certain who ever owns the car was shocked when they picked it up.....

Fabulous work!! :dblthumb2:

Thank you Bobby!!! I really appreciate the kind words. I allotted 8 hours for this job but as you can see, I went over like 50% of the allotted time hahaha!

Nice job Marc. Your hard work paid off rops:

Thanks Flash!

 

[baddna3]

Great job. How did you find the paint to be hard, soft? I have an 01 Focus with the same paint, not as bad shape as the Mustang but still needs work.

 

[cutter]

Great job!!! Very nice reflectivity in that paint now!!!rops:

 

[dad07]

Very Nice work Marc!!!!! the car looks awsome! MY 03 convertible is the same color and next for a full correction.

curious as to how you felt the paint was to work on soft or hard?

Again Awsome work!

 

[Ted S.]

Awesome job! Was it a bit tougher to correct that lighter paint? I noticed som of the 50/50 shots were a little hard to make out.

Sun shots don't lie though, awesome job!:xyxthumbs:

 

[Marc08EX]

Great job. How did you find the paint to be hard, soft? I have an 01 Focus with the same paint, not as bad shape as the Mustang but still needs work.

I would say that the paint is in the medium range. The paint didn't really have a lot of swirls. The defects are mostly oxidation, waterspots, scuff marks and a lot of RIDS. I was able to fix most of the first 3 problems but the RIDS were just too deep. I wasn't getting paid enough to spend time removing them.

Great job!!! Very nice reflectivity in that paint now!!!rops:

Thank you Cutter!

Very Nice work Marc!!!!! the car looks awsome! MY 03 convertible is the same color and next for a full correction.

curious as to how you felt the paint was to work on soft or hard?

Again Awsome work!

Thanks Dad07! Please see my first response. I'm looking forward to seeing your show and shine thread!

Awesome job! Was it a bit tougher to correct that lighter paint? I noticed som of the 50/50 shots were a little hard to make out.

Sun shots don't lie though, awesome job!:xyxthumbs:

Thanks Ted! Lighter paint is no harder to correct than darker paint. I just had a harder time capturing the defects and its afters. I'm not sure if that's what you meant. I'm sorry if the pictures aren't as clear.

 

[dannythekid]

Wow what a great turnaround!

 

[Slava]

Great job.

 

[Midnight Blue]

Hello Marc,

As the owner of a 2002 Mustang that I purchased in 2008 I can appreciate all of the hard work you put into detailing this car back to it's current condition.

I'm sure that the owner had to be pleased with the dramatic transformation. Your detailed article along with the great photos is a real learning lesson and something that you should be able to show other prospective customers. Most people have no idea of the amount of work and knowledge is necessary to accomplish what you have done.

Originally I did a lot of detailing on my Mustang and I made it look really good, however there were issues with the body that only a professional auto body shop could address. I took that opportunity last year to have all of my body work issues fixed and had the car repainted to its original factory color, True Blue.

To my surprise the car came back several shades darker than when I bought it but I was looking a 8 years of faded, neglected paint. Today my car is a daily driver but also a show car.

I'll include a few pictures to show what I have done so far.

Anyway, you can be very proud of the wonderful job you did for this customer and I would not be surprised if he did not refer other people to you. That's how you make a name for yourself!

Midnight Blue

 

[Flannigan]

Awesome turn around! Your hard work really paid off! I'm sure the customer was blown away!