For compounds I have just been using cheap stuff. I'm just a backyard mechanic with no detailing experience that's why I came to you guys
And that was my guess but I like to be sensitive to everyone from all walks of life.
From time to time we have people join the forum that take a cheap compound and rub it on their car's clearcoat finish with the best intentions of removing some type of defect only to end up here to ask how to remove the scratches the cheap compound inflicted into their car's paint.
When it comes to compounds, polishes and cleaner/waxes, what separates the good ones from the bad ones is the abrasive technology they use.
Good abrasive technology cost more but it does the job right the first time and saves you from having to buy a new paint job.
The pictures show the paint condition to be absolutely horrible. I just posted an brand new article that includes a caution about getting too aggressive with single stage metallic paint because you can change the appearance of the paint in a negative way, it's called Tiger Stripes.
Single Stage Metallic & Clearcoat Metallic --> Same Car
If this 1989 Mustang or more specifically the paint job on this 1989 Mustang is important to you... then I'd suggest you start by rubbing the paint down by hand using a terrycloth wash cloth and a product that's been around since the time of the Ford Model T formula unchanged, and that's #7 Show Car Glaze. This is basically a rich feeder oil that if it's at all possible, will bring this paint back to life.
#7 Show Car Glaze
Then get some Wolfgang Uber Compound and buff out the paint by hand or machine.
Wolfgang Uber Compound
Like I said, if the paint can be saved this is the best approach. See my article here...
The Secret to Removing Oxidation and Restoring a Show Car Finish to Antique Single Stage Paints
If it's not important to you, as in not like classics and antiques are important to serious car enthusiasts because these are the people I wrote the above article for, then just compound it.
But the paint looks incredibly dry...
