Detailing A Neighbours Corsa

[Molehill_Mike]

Hi All,

Before washing my own motor yesterday, I also gave some much needed TLC to a neighbours 1998 Corsa. She is around 90yrs old, and sadly had a fall around 8-9 months ago. Her car has sat, getting faded and covered in moss for months.

After full recovery she is starting to drive again (she is pretty good for a 90yr old...mind of a 50yr old still!)... I thought her car should look nice.

I am not a detailer, I have no qualifications, or specialist equipment. Just a bucket, some water... lots of car cleaning stuff, T-Cut & Polish A SHED LOAD of Microfibres, and lots of elbow grease.

I did the Passenger wing first, so I could see what I needed the rest of the car to look like, below is a shot compared to the 'pink' bonnet which also represents the colour on the rest of the car

From here I moved onto the bonnet. Before:

After:

..and then the drivers side wing:

I now started down the passenger side of the car. Here is a before shot:

 

[Molehill_Mike]

From here I moved round to the rear. Couple of before shots:

and the rear after:

I did the whole car in about 3 1/2 hours, but towards the end I took less pics as time was getting on and I wanted to get on with the Stang!


Here is the car finished, bar the wheels, it is the last pic I took:

For anyone else who is thinking of using T-Cut on a car this old, beware, it can remove number plates


Thanks for looking..

Mike

 

[Crafoo]

Outstanding work fella, how did you manage to get it looking red again?

 

[Molehill_Mike]

OK this is what I did (whether it is correct or what the detailing industry recommend is another thing...)

Rinse car with hose to remove loose dirt and moss
Wash car with cold water and turtle wax Bug/Tar remover (great stuff IMO)
Dry car
Apply T-cut with a microfibre pad (I T-cut the whole section at a time eg wing/bonnet etc)
Buff T-Cut with a diff microfibre
Decide on whether any areas have been missed, re-apply if neccesary.
Apply polish with another microfibre
Buff polish with et another mirofibre

Repeat

Finish with Meg speed detailer if you so wish


Mike

 

[Crafoo]

I bet you were well pleased with the end result. Main reason I asked is I will be looking to try and brighten up my old MR2 at some point in the near future so it's nice to know what techniques others have used and what results they have gotten. Once again superb work dude

 

[Cupra137]

Amazing out come buddy. Bet she was well chuffed with your work. Brilliant how you got it so red again!

 

[Molehill_Mike]

Cheers, she was pretty happy... she is doing her Tesco shop today, so no doubt I'll get a phonecall tonight... lol

I really enjoy doing it to be honest, its a whole world away from the office, or any other stress... its just you, the car... and the sun...

Mike

 

[Stealthdave]

Thats awesome Mike.....

 

[Molehill_Mike]

Thanks Chap. Sadly it turns out it is quite painful for her to brake, so currently has only used the car twice. Frist time unaware of the pain, and the second time was off her drive, and back on it to see if it still hurt...

Mike

 

[UncleFester]

I actually like polishing 'turds' i.e. cars that have just been left to rot - it's satisfying seeing the transformation and that's a good job especially by hand

 

[Molehill_Mike]

Yeah I agree. A change from the office or normal life...

So when are you coming with your machine to work on the Mustang? NOT that it is a "turd" lol


Mike

 

[Brummy]

thats a bloody good job on the old Corsa, Mike.

*makes notes ref T Cut removing No-Plates for future ref

 

[knight85]

looking really good! bet she was pleased with the result!

where bouts in beds do you live?

 

[UncleFester]

Yeah I agree. A change from the office or normal life...

So when are you coming with your machine to work on the Mustang? NOT that it is a "turd" lol


Mike

I still need to pop over and see your new gaff and catch up with you both

 

[MK8]

Looks good! what did you use on the black plastic trim around the wheel arches etc?

Have you got any general tips on removing dried polish on plasic trim?

 

[Gooner_Mike]

What a kind soul you are... helping out the oldies! Vauxhalls all go red to pink and their black bumpers all go grey... its shocking!

 

[Molehill_Mike]

looking really good! bet she was pleased with the result!

where bouts in beds do you live?

Bedford itself now mate, but grew up in good ole Luton!

I still need to pop over and see your new gaff and catch up with you both

Yeah I am sure we can find the room lol

Looks good! what did you use on the black plastic trim around the wheel arches etc?

Have you got any general tips on removing dried polish on plasic trim?

Cant remeber, but it was a spray...maybe a Halfords job...I know it wasn't "Back to black" (in my experience that looks good but the minute it rains it goes streaky). Best stuff I've used was a turtle wax gel I think....

As for removing the polish, a small brush and water with a drop of cleaner, then use the spray stuff over it. Works for me anyway

What a kind soul you are... helping out the oldies! Vauxhalls all go red to pink and their black bumpers all go grey... its shocking!

As said, it made her feel better, and gave me some time away from normal life.. lol

Its the crappy paint, but shows with some TLC is can come back (if only for a short while lol)

Cheers,

Mike

 

[lil3520]

Great work.

 

[Molehill_Mike]

Thanks