Mustang GT Car Show Prep - TLC Auto Detail

Flannigan

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So I was lucky enough to be asked to have a booth at a local Mustang show. This show is put on by the Northern VA Mustang Club at one of the Ford dealerships in the area. At first I wasn't terrible excited since I thought there couldn't be that many people there, but the turnout was amazing. There ended up being well over 100 cars in the show and I'd say about 300 people at the show. Overall it was an amazing day, and I got to talk to a lot of cool people and gained some new customers.

So, my thought was to bring me people by my booth I would detail a Mustang and have it in the show. After a little looking around a friend of a friend said she would be interested in getting her Mustang detailed for a discounted rate in return for hanging out at the booth for the show. The Mustang was a 2006 GT that was in good shape, but hadn't been truly detailed before.

The plan was to get the paint as close to perfect as possible for the show. Here is how it went. I was under a huge time crunch so I didn't get tons of pics, but I got enough to show the work that was done.

The wheels and tires were removed and detailed, but they are black and didn't really show a huge difference. The wheels were cleaned with Wolfs Decon Gel and the tires with Blackfire APC. The wheels were protected with BFWD and the tires dressed with Blackfire Tire Gel. You can see how they turned out in the final finished photos later in the write up.

Next I turned my attention to the paint. It was pretty dirty and dusty since it had just been taken to a concert that was down a dirt road the weekend before. here is how it looked.

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To start i foamed the vehicle with a mix of Meguiars Gold Class and Blackfire APC. While the foam dwelled I agitated the emblems, body seams, and fuel filler area with a RG Detail Brush to make sure no dirt was left behind.

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After the the vehicle was wash with Blackfire Shampoo and a Griots MF Wash pad. It was then clayed with the Ultima Clay block and Wolfs Decon Gel was used to remove any iron deposits left behind.

With the paint clean we could see it's true condition. It had a good amount of Swirls and a few rids, but nothing crazy. What I would find later is that this paint is ROCK hard so the swirls that were there were fairly deep and hard to remove.

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After a good bit of testing a three step approach was decided upon. First step was Scholls S03+ on a wool pad on my Dewalt 849x. This was the only thing that would get out all of the swirls and rids on this rock hard paint.

The next step was Menzerna FG500 on a Cyan pad also via the Dewalt 849x. Here is how the paint looked after the second step. It was free of all the rids and swirls, but wasn't 100% clear of haze.

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To finish it out I used Menzerna 106fa on a green BS pad via my Meguiars G110v. This gave almost perfect correction. I would say 95%+.

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I know it looks like a couple swirls/rids in this picture, but it's actually tons of pitting (solvent pop) in the hood. I'm assuming it's from a bad repaint since the paint readings were much higher on the hood than the rest of the vehicle.

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After the correction was completed the vehicle received three coat of UPGP for protection. Each coat was allowed to cure for a full hour before the next one was applied. Here are the reflection and final pictures. Some were taken before the show, and some at the show.

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That about does it. The trim was dressed with Auto Finesse Revive, the glass cleaned with Auto Finesse Crystal, the wells dressed with CG Barebones, and the exhaust tips polished with Swissvax Metal Polish.

This was a big job, but I am very happy with the outcome. Many people at the show we drawn to my booth just from looking at the vehicle, so it certainly was worth the effort. I can't wait to work on some Mustangs soon! Thanks for looking and I look forward to your feedback!
 
Looks good hope you generate some good business off your efforts.Do you think a 50/50 split of the hood would have generated a bit more interest as well as good gauge for people? Its great for people to see a clean car but even better to see what you brought it back from.
 
Looks good hope you generate some good business off your efforts.Do you think a 50/50 split of the hood would have generated a bit more interest as well as good gauge for people? Its great for people to see a clean car but even better to see what you brought it back from.
I thought about doing a 50/50, but the customer was intent on getting the entire vehicle done so she could compete in the show. I did have the before and after pictures running on a loop on my ipad at the table so people could see the transformation. Thanks!

interesting!
 
The car looks terrific Dave! You really showed those pesky waterspots who's boss!
 
Looks like the show was at Kip Killman's in Tysons, yes? And great job on the before and after.
-Chris
 
Great job as always Davey!!! BTW, since you "can't wait to work on some other Mustangs soon"! I just happen to know of a black one (w/rock hard clear as well) you could work on, assuming the discounted rate of course ;)
 
Nice work as usual.

I'm going to be doing a 4 day car show/event the week of the 4th. Any advice? I plan on having the tent, table, sample hood, brochures, business cards, a TV playing a constant loop of my work. Oh and my banner.
 
The car looks terrific Dave! You really showed those pesky waterspots who's boss!
Thanks Flash! :dblthumb2:
looks like hard candy-sweet work
Thank you John! Due to the fact that is was a show and it was metallic paint, that is why I chose to go with UPGP. I wanted a super glossy candy shell look to attract people.
Looks like the show was at Kip Killman's in Tysons, yes? And great job on the before and after.
-Chris
Thanks man! Yes, the show was at Kip Killmons in Tysons. I'll be there again next year for sure!
Sweet. Can't wait to get mine swirl free
It is a great feeling! lol
Great job as always Davey!!! BTW, since you "can't wait to work on some other Mustangs soon"! I just happen to know of a black one (w/rock hard clear as well) you could work on, assuming the discounted rate of course ;)
Thanks TADMAN! I'd offer to do that black Mustang, but I know the guy who owns it takes great care of it!!! LOL Im the MAN
Nice work as usual.

I'm going to be doing a 4 day car show/event the week of the 4th. Any advice? I plan on having the tent, table, sample hood, brochures, business cards, a TV playing a constant loop of my work. Oh and my banner.
Thanks Jason. I hope the show works out great for you. I would just say prepare for people to not be 100% receptive of what you are trying to tell them. This show went awesome for me, but I've been to shows where people have actually come over and tell me that I'm a crook and that they can do just as good of a job with windex and paper towels. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but at car shows sometimes guys like to act like they know everything there is to know about cars, including detailing.

That said, there are shows, like this one, where there are just a nuch of chill guys who like cars hanging out. I was pulled away from the booth at least 30 times to go look at people's cars with them and give them an on the spot estimate for correction work. It was a great feeling to know that these guys really had faith in me, and trusted what I was telling them.

The only other tip I would have is to hire a booth babe for a couple of the days. It certainly couldn't hurt, and if no one comes to your booth at least you have someone to talk to :D
 
Great work Dave! The before pics on the iPad was a good idea too! :xyxthumbs:
 
Thanks Jason. I hope the show works out great for you. I would just say prepare for people to not be 100% receptive of what you are trying to tell them. This show went awesome for me, but I've been to shows where people have actually come over and tell me that I'm a crook and that they can do just as good of a job with windex and paper towels. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but at car shows sometimes guys like to act like they know everything there is to know about cars, including detailing.

That said, there are shows, like this one, where there are just a nuch of chill guys who like cars hanging out. I was pulled away from the booth at least 30 times to go look at people's cars with them and give them an on the spot estimate for correction work. It was a great feeling to know that these guys really had faith in me, and trusted what I was telling them.

The only other tip I would have is to hire a booth babe for a couple of the days. It certainly couldn't hurt, and if no one comes to your booth at least you have someone to talk to :D

I do know that some car guys are stuck in their ways and are not willing to even hear about certain processes or products.

And I'm not sure if my girlfriend would appreciate me hiring a booth babe...lol.
 
The end results are awesome :dblthumb2:
Thanks Fred!
Great job!
Thank you!
Great work Dave! The before pics on the iPad was a good idea too! :xyxthumbs:
Thanks Chad! I much prefer to do like Jason said and bring a 19-20 inch monitor to shows, but that only works if they have power outlets available, and this one did not. So the ipad is the next best thing.

I do know that some car guys are stuck in their ways and are not willing to even hear about certain processes or products.

And I'm not sure if my girlfriend would appreciate me hiring a booth babe...lol.
Yep, I've had people tell me I'm wasting my time at car shows because true car enthusiast like to take care of their own cars. I would love to just tell them that they don't know what they are doing, but instead you just gotta smile and nod.

as for the booth babe, my wife had no issue with it at all. she knows that I am WAAAY too lazy to try and start another relationship...lol. Also she knows that if that booth babe even brings one person over to the booth that gets a detail, that is more money for both of us. I certainly don't want a bunch of naked chicks representing me, but hey, you gotta play to your customers...lol
 
Looks awesome!!! I can't wait for my 2 shipments of product coming tomorrow, cause anytime I see Mustang detail pics I have to give mine a good detail even if she needs it or not! :)
 
Hey Davey, just out of curiosity, are those swirls right below the rubber/plastic?

Beautiful job, pal.:props:
Thanks Mark. That pictures was taken at the show, and that is actually a smudge on the pillar from someone leaning on the vehicle. I didn't even notice it until I had already taken the picture.
Nice depth in that paint. Love the work man!

Thanks for sharing
Thanks you!

Looks awesome!!! I can't wait for my 2 shipments of product coming tomorrow, cause anytime I see Mustang detail pics I have to give mine a good detail even if she needs it or not! :)
Thank you! Good luck with yours!
 
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