Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
- 645
Earliest memory detailing a car
- Thread starter LEDetailing
- Start date
KiwiTrev
New member
- Sep 2, 2014
- 28
- 0
My interest in detailing came about in an odd manner.
As a youth, ever Christmas we camped at the same location, along with a lot of other regulars.
Next to us was a Mr Johnston and he kept his 1970 Ford Falcon looking amazing.
He was a government limousine driver, so keeping things looking sharp was what it was all about.
I was taken by his methods, in the days before specialised products were about. The nugget that got his tyres, mud flaps and bumper overriders gleaming. That he built up numerous layers of wax to achieve a high gloss.
Mr Johnstone has stayed with me through my 40 years of car ownership and evolved with time and technology.
What was once a fascination, moved into a form of pride and now into a form of relaxation.
It's like having shinny shoes I tells people, it says something about you, as dose a shinny car
As a youth, ever Christmas we camped at the same location, along with a lot of other regulars.
Next to us was a Mr Johnston and he kept his 1970 Ford Falcon looking amazing.
He was a government limousine driver, so keeping things looking sharp was what it was all about.
I was taken by his methods, in the days before specialised products were about. The nugget that got his tyres, mud flaps and bumper overriders gleaming. That he built up numerous layers of wax to achieve a high gloss.
Mr Johnstone has stayed with me through my 40 years of car ownership and evolved with time and technology.
What was once a fascination, moved into a form of pride and now into a form of relaxation.
It's like having shinny shoes I tells people, it says something about you, as dose a shinny car
If my mind can remember correctly...I must have been 13 or 14 years old and I 'attacked' my Dad's new '55 Chev with good ol' Simonize Kleener (green can) and Simonize Wax (yellow can). I just slathered the stuff on and attemped to remove the cleaner and wax.
The key word is, "attemped," as a young sprite, I just didn't have the horsepower. Pop came to my rescue and he was able to get everything corrected. Never gave me any grief, but I know he worked his butt off.
One thing I did learn, even back then was that "thin is in!"
Bill
The key word is, "attemped," as a young sprite, I just didn't have the horsepower. Pop came to my rescue and he was able to get everything corrected. Never gave me any grief, but I know he worked his butt off.
One thing I did learn, even back then was that "thin is in!"
Bill
Back then there was a easy way to get off Simonize Paste Wax off the paint , and that was with corn starch.You sprinkled the corn starch on the Simonize and you wiped it off with cheese cloth.The only problen was that you had a very dusty car , and have to hose it down and wipe dry. The hoseing down would also harden the Simonize.
Jaretr1
New member
- Jan 29, 2011
- 2,391
- 0
I think I was about 10, and would help my dad wash our new citation x-11. My job was the wheels and tires. It had outline white letter goodyear eagle gts. I took so much pride using eagle 1 tire cleaner and tire dressing to make those white letter jump and the tires shine.
Dusty is/was the understatement!
I've done the corn starch thing in the past, wife was about to wonder what kinda nut job she had married. Now, 50 years later she knows, and it's too late for her to back out...LOL!
Bill
Britsdaddy
New member
- Jan 7, 2015
- 156
- 0
6 or 7 years old, it was my job to do the wheels and tires. My guess my dad gave me that job since I was closer to them then he was. He would wash the wagon while I scrubbed the white walls with comet to brighten them up. Drying was with old rough bath towels.
JWilliams.RadiantDetail
New member
- May 29, 2013
- 710
- 0
I was 13 or something, dad wanted me to help him wax my step mom uhh'87 Taurus SHO. He had one of those lovely pizza buffers. The big monster machine with the 10 inch or however large plate on it with the stupid microfiber bonnets. I remember it vibrated like crazy and was just horrible in every way. If that was still the detailing tool of choice, I definitely wouldn't be into it today lol. I think in 87 it was probably all the rage as my dad had pretty nice things. 30+ years later every time I go to Pep Boys, I see the same looking polisher for sale. And every time I shutter as I walk out. HOW do they still make and sell them? I almost want to buy one just so I can relive being 13 again.
UncleDavy
Active member
- Aug 22, 2017
- 1,609
- 16
I moved in with my grandparents in June of 1968 when I was almost 5 years old. When my grandfather picked me up at the bus station I commented on how dirty his white 1966 Chevy Impala was. When we got home we worked on the car together. I worked on all of the lower areas. I remember using Brillo pads on the white walls. It worked quite well.
PaulMys
Active member
- Jan 14, 2014
- 10,772
- 3
The very least he could have done to thank you was to bring you to Woodstock the next summer to see Jimi Hendrix, UD.
Jay's 128i
New member
- Sep 8, 2011
- 73
- 0
Earliest memory I have is "helping" my mom wash and wax her car at my uncle's house. My cousin and I thought it was fun, especially when it came to waxing. We loved waxing so much that we ended up waxing the paint, the windows, the tires, the convetable top and some of the inside!! Needless to say, it was some time before I got to help again!! Oh, it was Turtle paste wax and we basically used the entire can....