Good answers from everyone...
Big picture difference? You don't want to thoroughly wet down the Corvette since it is an all original show car
Cars like this Corvette usually don't get washed as that would put water into places that cannot be dried and owners of cars like these are cautious about doing anything that could promote rust.
This Corvette was purchased new by the current owner is always garage kept, I'm pretty confident the only cleaning it needs and gets is with a spray detailer. I know the guy that buffed it out too...
You can see that same soft blanket on the engine of this car...
To protect the very shiny engine from getting any splatter dots on it...
Yes The ranchero would get a good scrubing to get ready for polishing.
Correct.
The oxidation on the neglected finish was extreme and because it received a multi-step buff-out using a rotary buffer I washed it aggressively to ensure any and all dirt particles were removed from out of all the cracks and crevices so the
air-current created by a spinning pad on a rotary buffer could not pull any particles into the machine compounding and polishing step potentially instilling swirls.
The point is, and I hope most of you will agree, that the way you take care of the finish on a car in which the paint is in Show Car Quality or Excellent Condition is very different than the way you wash a car that is neglected and about to undergo a major paint polishing session.
This topic is one covered in my first e-book as it states,
Washing Your Car
Believe it or not, washing is the most important step there is when it comes to machine polishing your car and the reason why is because you need the car to be
surgically clean for two primary reasons,
1. To properly evaluate the surface
Whether you want to create a true show car finish or just wash and wax your car to maintain the factory finish, you need to evaluate the condition of the paint and in order to do this it needs to be thoroughly clean and dry. When evaluating the condition of the paint you’re going to both inspect it visually in good lighting and you’re going to feel the paint with your sense of touch using your clean hands. For both of these steps it’s vital that the paint is completely free of contaminants.
2. To ensure all loose dirt, road grim and any abrasive particulates are removed
Modern clear coats are incredibly stout when compared to the single stage paints used before the 1980's. Their chemical make-up enables them to last longer than traditional single stage paints and thus maintain the appearance value and monetary value of your vehicle. The problem with clear coat paints is they are scratch-sensitive, that means they are easily scratched, so to make sure you don't put swirls into the paint while you're machine buffing you start by making sure there's no dirt or any abrasives particles on the car. In this context, washing is the most important step.
Later in this chapter it goes on...
Two approaches to washing your car
The idea behind washing your car is to remove any built-up dirt, road grime or other loose surface contaminants off the exterior finish, trim, windows and other components.
There are two very different approaches to washing your car and the condition of your car's paint is what determines how you approach the washing process.
- Aggressive Approach - Washing before a detailing session – Neglected Paint
- Careful Approach - Washing after a detailing session – Show Car Finish
:detailer:
