As a newbie Im looking for advice.

1. Should my tools be spread open in the bonnet or contained in the pouch?
2.How much of a subtraction will the addition of my radio/CD in the glove box be? I have the original box but its ratty.
3.How can I clean my headliner...its got some grime and dust imbedded?
4. Should I armor all the tires?

Thanks all.

 

The original concept behind Concours d’élégance in most instances is about the vehicles originality The judges are assessing the vehicle for authenticity, correct restoration, and historic significance; .so it wouldn't have anything to do with the wax, it would have nothing to do with the paint finish, or what was used to polish or protect it.

But most owners who own and show Concours d’élégance vehicle also take pride in how they look and would naturally want their paint etc to be protected against the elements. I know when I used to enter cars I’d always present them to look the best I could, did it win BOS because of its shine, doubtful but I think it had something to do with the overall marks, I know later on as a judge I took it into account when awarding a score.

Some concours events have different criteria, check before you enter...

 

1. Should my tools be spread open in the bonnet or contained in the pouch?
Contained in the open tool roll in the trunk

2. How much of a subtraction will the addition of my radio/CD in the glove box be? I have the original box but its ratty.
See above post (i.e. most subtract points for non-original parts)

3. How can I clean my headliner...its got some grime and dust imbedded?
Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment and use very light pressure

4. Should I armor all the tires?
Most judges prefer a matte finish for tyres

 

I'm going to assume that this concours is a PCA Concours. Assuming that there are three classes, show and shine, partial and full. My responses are based upon my experience with full concours. I have competed in 20+ concours and judged about 6.


1. Should my tools be spread open in the bonnet or contained in the pouch?
Keep the tools completely enclosed in your pouch and place them in the correct location inside the car. The car should be completely closed before the judges arrive, this includes windows, doors, hood and trunk.

2.How much of a subtraction will the addition of my radio/CD in the glove box be? I have the original box but its ratty.
Most PCA regions do not judge for originality unless you are competing in a national event. Having said that I would try to choose something that is period correct, doesn't look out of place and doesn't require modification to install.

3.How can I clean my headliner...its got some grime and dust imbedded?
Spray a gentle interior cleaner (griots has a good one) on a microfiber towel and gentle rub the liner. Don't directly spray the liner as it can weaken the adhesive underneath.

4. Should I armor all the tires?
I typically will use a High Quality vinyl/rubber protectant on the tires. It gives it a satin finish which is uniform and clean. Judges will definitely look at the tires and I don't remember seeing an undressed tire before. By the way, Armor All isn't a great product, I would look at Einzett or Griots.

Make sure to get into all nook, cranny's. Judges put on white gloves and put there hands in places that are hard to reach. Pay special attention to the door jambs, seat rails and the entire engine bay. You may also need to clean the wheel well liners and inside the wheels.

Good luck!

 

Great info....just what Im looking for. Thanks again.

Marine...where would the tool pouch be stored in the bonnet? And yes it is a PCA contest at our annual get together.

 

Honestly I don't know the answer to that. When I had the 928 the tools had a very specific location in the rear hatch. You need to talk to your fellow 356 owners and ask them where the pouch should be placed. Make sure the tools are clean, judges will look at them.

 

Looking to darken and seal all the rubber trim around windows,bonnet,doors....is there a better product than armor all? I used some today applied with a small paintbrush but was not happy with the results. Any advice?

 

Griots vinyl and rubber

 

First off I am a PCA Concours Chair for the NNJR region. There are many different ways to judge your car and assuming you are competing in a Goldcoast Region event I can not say for sure how they like things displayed. But here is how I set up our events.

1) I require all tools including the spare tire be removed from the storage compartment so we can judge the area empty. The tools will be judge laying in front of the car for correct kit and condition of tool bag. Put a towel down on the ground as not to scratch the bag.

2) We do not judge correctness on a regional level (Zone and National do based on class). Just make sure the area is clean and remove all personal items in the car. It is basically a clean car competition.

3)As mentioned a vacuum will remove the dust and if you are careful with a damp Magic Eraser you will get out the grime. Just don't rub it too hard as not to remove the color. Follow behind the Magic Eraser with a dry towel. Watch your patina, the factory never delivered a car with a shiny dash or headliner. It should be dull.

4)Armor All is for ghetto car washes. Not only does it make your tires dirty it slings silicon all over the car. Clean your tires well with a PH balanced solution and apply Aerospace 303. It gives the tires a nice black sheen but no shine. Also, never apply tire dressing the day of the Concours event. You are sure to lose points for that. Remember the idea is to have the car look original. The factory did not apply armor all when they built the car.

If you want your moldings to perk up use the Aerospace 303 or Mothers Back to Black. Never Armor All. Be careful not to get the product on the paint or the glass. Cut up a kitchen sponge into a small piece an apply the product to the sponge. Never put the product directly onto the molding. Then treat your moldings with the sponge. A paint brush will make streaks and apply the product in an uneven manner. Plus a hair or two will eventually fall out and lay on the molding.

Lastly, the 356 class is by far the most competitive class in PCA Concours. There will be guys competing with you that have 300K plus restorations. Since you have not competed before, do not get discouraged. You will learn a lot and be able to turn out a far better product in the future.

Craig

 

It seems every region is different.

I would contact the concours chair in your region to determine proper procedure.

 

One of their better products.

I like Gummi Pflege also

Pat headliners are tough. If its white I got noth'n.

 

Periodically clean using Iz einszett 'Plastik-Reiniger' an intensive, non-corrosive, non-acidic two-phase deep cleaner for that removes grime build-up thoroughly and effortlessly, these chemicals restore the original texture, tactile feel and resiliency

Protection – using 1z einszett Vinyl Rubber Care & Potectant "Tiefenpfleger” for use on clean or pre-cleaned vinyl or rubber, it provides a temperature-resistant seal and a low-shine matte finish Dust-resistant and retards the fading effects of UV rays to keep exterior ‘rubber’ and vinyl looking like new.

Headliner- if there are areas where your head touches the ceiling you will probably notice that these areas accumulate dirt and the like because of the oils that come from your hair and your skin that are now on the headliner.

Vacuum the headliner making you apply pressure, but not too much. Not only can you set the stains in this way, you may tear what can be very fragile upholstery if you press too hard. Vacuum thoroughly to make sure that you get all of the loose dust fragments

Cleaning - Duragloss 451 Fabric & Carpet Cleaner Aerosol Foam (FC) is a blend of surfactants, which gently foam away soil, oil and grease from fabric and carpet surfaces. Spot cleaning can be done without leaving rings on fabrics, carpet and velour. Use Dr Joe dedicated Lint-Free 100% Cotton Blue Huck Surgical Towels, using very light pressure and wipe the headliner following the cleaning with the water based cleaner (do not soak or use hot water on the headliner fabric as it may delaminate) Dry by blotting with a clean, dry surgical huck towel

 

How can I lose with this sort of advice....Im going in confident as hell.

The sponge suggestion....Ill be doing that. Too bad I spent 10 bucks on a tiny brush.

 

And don't forget to clean your seat belts. I got 4th place last year in a regional event. Wondered why and asked the judges. I forgot to clean my seat belts and they found a few stains. Can't believe with all the time and prep I forgot to look at them!

 

I'll share two tricks I have learned that have served me well in concours and detailing in general.

1. Applying vinyl/rubber treatment on trim and moldings using a foam applicator. It's the same as using a sponge but the pores are a little tighter so it doesn't drip as easily and leaves a nice uniform finish.

2. Apply conditioner to tires using a microfiber applicator. Yes you will only get a few applications since they will get dirty. The benefit here is that the you are not only protecting but you are also cleaning and removing surface contaminants. I have used this technique to apply conditioner at the show and have never had points deducted.

There are tons of other tricks you will learn too, just pay attention to the guys that are frequently winning trophies and you will learn a ton.

Most importantly, listen to what Craig said at the very end of his suggestions. Do not get discouraged if you don't win. Ask the judges to provide suggestions on how to improve your car and you will do much better the next time. Also ask them to provide the score sheets so you can see where they docked you, you can focus on improving these areas for next time.

Good luck.