Kurt

Typically, I would usually be categorized as a "driver's" type of owner as I really only wash or wax the p-car when it absolutely needs it, preferring instead to just drive the heck out of it!

However, this Saturday is the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and our region of the PCA has a huge gathering, meet, lunch, and a Concours. I figured what the heck, I may as well try it out just for fun.

So I'm wondering what sort of advice and tips anyone would like to offer for a Concours rookie, beyond the obvious wash & 3-step wax. I have a decent amount of car care materials and am ready to attack the detailing tonight.

Thanks in advance!

epbrown01

This Saturday? That's not much notice...

Let's assume you're in the wash & shine division, meaning they will only check the interior, exterior, and trunk.

I'd start with the interior. For accessibility, disconnect and remove your seats and steering wheel. Vacuum and clean the headliner, dash and parcel shelf, wiping them down with the appropriate treatment (Lexol for leather or Vinyl as the case may be). Clean the lenses to your gauges and all the vents, and use a small soft brush to clean around switches, stalks, and stitches (soft-bristle tooth-brush is good). Don't forget speaker grills as well. Your rule of thumb is, if you can, remove it, clean where it came from, clean it, and put it back. Don't forget the undersides of things like the dash, door handles and pocket bottoms, and so on. Shampoo the carpets and floormats, use a brush to bring grime up in the fibers, then vacuum thoroughly (by which I mean 2 or 3 times), and while waiting for these to dry start on your seats. I like to work the stitches and seams with a toothbrush first to bring out dirt, vacuum, then clean and condition paying special attention to crevices. Clean all inside windows, watching the overspray. Replace steering wheel. Brush and clean the seat bottoms, replace the seats.

Similar procedure for the trunk: remove everything you can, clean crevices, wipe down painted surfaces, shampoo and vacuum. Clean the spare, give it some rubber dressing. Spray tools with Simple Green, scrub with brushes, spray with WD-40, wipe off. Simple Green does well on the interior of the tool roll, Lexol Vinyl condition for the exterior. Replace tools. Clean inside of glass if hatchback.

For the exterior, you'll want to do a thorough wash, preferably removing the wheels and pressure-washing the wells after spraying them down with Simple Green or Castrol Degreaser to loosen up the grime. I tend to wash the car twice - the second pass shows up lots of stuff you miss or areas that need more work. Again, watch the low areas - under spoilers, valences, rocker panels and door bottoms. This is also a good time to clean your wheels thoroughly front and back.

Now you're ready for the paint. If the paint surface is rough, use a clay bar and detailing spray for smooth the surface and remove impurities. Wash the car again with a wax removing soap (Dawn's good), dry it, and move to your polish, wax, and glaze. Now pop the hood, doors, and trunk and work on all rubber trim to remove wax residue, condition it, and return to black if needed (Back to Black, Black Again). Clean the tires, dress them, and hermetically seal the car before show day.

This is by no means a thorough, class-winning job, but the car will be clean enough to keep from embarassing you around the big guns.

Emanuel

cobalt

That was very informative.

I have a question. I will be showing my car this weekend and did most of what you said. My one concern is getting the car there. I will be driving about 40 miles to the event. What do I need to do once I get there? Do I need to remove the wheels and clean the wheels and wheel wells again? Do they also check the sunroof tracks, etc? I also am having a problem with the weights on the wheels. The glue pad has dirt that I can see but cannot remove, any suggestions? I don't plan on winning, I am going just for the fun and would be happy to show the car without embarassment. Although I know the clear bra is a no no, I don't plan on removing it since I need the protection and it is rather costly. Any suggestions on how to clean it?

epbrown01

If you're showing in Touring or Show & Shine, they're more forgiving of road grime. Most people show up early and clean until the judges drag them away from the car. I've heard of people that check the route to the concourse and plot one that avoids puddles, gravel roads, and so on...

As far as cleaning around the wheel wells, a quick going over with Simple Green and water should do it but removing the wheels would be the most thorough. For the wheel weights, I'd hit them with some concentrated degreaser, let them sit, scrub with a small brush or toothbrush to loosen the dirt up and then pressure wash them.

I've had no experience with clear bras - sorry.

Good luck showing your car!

Emanuel

cobalt

Emanuel,

Thanks, you have been very helpful. I have the car to the point were I think I am ready. I have done everything you mentioned. It is amazing to see what clean really is. When I started I thought the car was clean. Boy was I mistaken. I now have it to the point were it appears to pass the white glove test. But being a novice I am sure I have missed something.

I figured I would start with this event since it is only Interior, exterior & storage compartment. I think I will show up at 8:00 and clean until the 10:30 Judging starts. I am sure the exterior will get rather dirty on the drive over.

I know I will be shot down on the clear bra. I may remove some sections and replace them later. They have received substantial scaring, but have protected the paint perfectly underneath.

Thanks again,

emilios

Best of luck at the event Anthony, please remember to post some pics of the sparking/gleaming Cobalt beauty!

Best regards

Emilios

cobalt

Thanks Emilios,

Will do on the pictures.

I can't believe how many hours I have spent cleaning and not driving. It is amazing to see how much dirt you can find on a clean car. Right now she looks better then the day she was delivered. No more cosmoline and I can run a white glove everywhere without getting it dirty.

Can't wait till this is over so I can take her out and test out the new Escort Gmeter. Curious to know what all this Hp does.