Show Cars...yeah right

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

It's hard to cold call a prospective customer with a special interest car, they just won't let anyone touch their baby even though they themselves don't know how to touch it.

If that makes sense...

They are often sitting by their cars, so finding them isn't hard. They may not know that it can be fixed. It just hurts my eyes to look at cars like that, when you know they could be better.

If you catch my drift.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

Mike, not approaching them isn't going to help. Besides whats the worst that can happen, they say no? :-)

Don't get me wrong, I approach them too, have been approaching them for 20 plus years and I'm just posting what we've I've seen and experienced.

If you dial in a technique for approaching the owners of really cool cars which are also completely swirled out and somehow in your approach find the secret that after introducing yourself as a pro detailer then also earning their trust so they will pay you top dollar to put the kind of finish on their car's paint that their car truly deserves, (and you're capable of producing), then please share it with the forum so we can all get to work removing swirls on show cars and making big bucks doing it.

It's hard to cold call a prospective customer with a special interest car, they just won't let anyone touch their baby even though they themselves don't know how to touch it.

If that makes sense...

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

Mike, not approaching them isn't going to help. Besides whats the worst that can happen, they say no? :-)

Oh, that image..yes thats exactly what 37 out of the 40 cars looked like.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

Whether Barrett-Jackson, a local hot rod show, or even a concours show with cars valued at near a million dollars or more, the vast majority are still pretty swirled.

:agree:

See the pictures and comments in this thread,

Friday at Barrett-Jackson - January 21st, 2006

Sitting at home watching the show on your TV all the cars look like they have show car quality paint on them.





But in person and in good lighting, about 90% of the cars were all swirled out...

Next car show, I'll have to try and approach some of the owners.

Best of luck to you. The problem you'll encounter is earning the car owner's trust. Without a personal recommendation by someone the car owner already trusts, it's hard to earn their trust from just walking up to them and telling them their paint is all swirled out and you're the right person to fix the damage and create a show car finish.

See second post in this thread,

Strange People


There's another thread on this forum that is on the topic of how to get to work on show cars that are all swirled out, if anyone remembers the thread or can search it out, please post the link to this thread.

Chances are good the thread could be found by searching using the word, trust. (Be a slow search though).




ff

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

I think most people at these local car shows just don't know any better.

This is my friends 1977 Corvette, it was resprayed by the last owner, but the defect you see is the fiberglass cracking, not a paint issue.

[CharlesW]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

sorry, must be my "newness" on this forum and I'll have to get use to the terminology on here because within the Corvette community that I'm used to the use of the term "Spiderwebbing" is used to describe a pattern of cracking of the paint - NOT light scratches in the paint.
If you used the term Spiderwebbing in reference to a Corvette's paint to a Corvette owner he is going to expect you to be referring to actual cracking of the paint.

It has been several years since I first heard spiderwbbing used to describe swirls on a detailing site.
Like you, spiderwebbing always meant cracks in the paint. And yes, crazing was also a term that was used.
At the time, swirls was the term for what is now called holograms, I think. It was usually caused from either improper buffing, polishing or waxing.
What I see in pictures and in person that many/most call swirls are just plain marring to me. Usually caused by washing and not always improper washing either. I think it is virtually impossible to keep the finish of a daily driver completely flawless.

Another thing that is often overlooked is the simple fact that a lot of owners of old cars are hesitant to keep polishing the old paint.
It would take a long time, but removing too much paint could happen even with fairly mild polishes.
Flaws aren't usually removed from the paint, the paint around the flaw/scratch is lowered to either minimize the reflection from the flaw or in some cases lower the paint level to that of the scratch.
My 1981 Corvette falls in that category although it has has some paint work done, even that paint, (Lacquer), is over 20 years old.
From five feet, it still looks good. If the marring bothers someone, they will just have to either step back or go look at another vehicle.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

sorry, must be my "newness" on this forum and I'll have to get use to the terminology on here because within the Corvette community that I'm used to the use of the term "Spiderwebbing" is used to describe a pattern of cracking of the paint - NOT light scratches in the paint.

If you used the term Spiderwebbing in reference to a Corvette's paint to a Corvette owner he is going to expect you to be referring to actual cracking of the paint.

The Corvette owners I talk to call what you are referring to as crazing not spiderwebbing, but maybe that a local dialect. The defects I mean look like:



To borrow another members image...

[BarryK]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

There were all types of cars, from 1920's though a 2008 Viper. I know all about the crazing in fiberglass cars. We have all seen the spider web effect, those light scratches that often come from improper washing.

sorry, must be my "newness" on this forum and I'll have to get use to the terminology on here because within the Corvette community that I'm used to the use of the term "Spiderwebbing" is used to describe a pattern of cracking of the paint - NOT light scratches in the paint.

If you used the term Spiderwebbing in reference to a Corvette's paint to a Corvette owner he is going to expect you to be referring to actual cracking of the paint.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

There were all types of cars, from 1920's though a 2008 Viper. I know all about the crazing in fiberglass cars. We have all seen the spider web effect, those light scratches that often come from improper washing.

[BarryK]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

Today I went to a local car show (Memorial Day). Lots of cars that looked good far away...up close you can see the spider webbing. Oh if only they knew how bad this makes their "show car" look.

I could not even pay attention to the rest of the car, the paint just looked so bad.

as a detailer AND the owner of multiple classic collectable show cars I think that more information needs to be given before your complaint becomes a valid one.

When you say you saw cars with "spiderwebbed" paint I ask if you mean an older car with original paint on it. for example, older Corvettes in particular, because of the flex in the fiberglass bodies, is more common than not to see the original lacquer paints spiderweb over time. Pretty much almost every Corvette from the 50's thru the late 70's (with rare exceptions) with original paint on it you will find has spiderwebbed. The hardness of the lacquer paint and the flex of the fiberglass body causes the paint to crack (spiderweb). Spiderwebbing, in the form of actual cracks in the paint is not correctable short of repainting those areas or the entire car.
As much as a brand new, perfect concours quality paint job would look much nicer the fact is a classic car is original only once, including the paint job, and in most cases the car is worth more with damaged but original paint rather than a repaint that looks nicer.

Now, if you are referring to just a lot of swirling, not actual cracking, than yes, I'd agree with you that as a "show car" it may not of been prepared for the show well enough.

By the way, both of my classic Corvettes do well in "general car shows" but in specific Corvette judged events I only do "fair" simply because both cars have been repainted and the paint actually looks too good. The judges consider my cars "over restored" because the quality and look of the paint is WAY beyond and much nicer than what is considered "Typical of Factory Production" which is the basis that most classic cars are judged on.

I'm not sure what type of cars you were referring to in your post, but since you didn't specify it's important to realize that in many cases a less than perfect paint job at a car car can actually be more desirable depending on the type and age of car and the type of judging that is going on.

[Slicked]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

Then there's the cars at motor shows...they need a thorough going over with M105 by the end of the show!

I cannot even go to car shows anymore! Seriously it freaks me out!

Todd's back! Haha welcome back mate. I want to see some of your details on here again finished off with M26 .

[Ryan L.]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

more time spent on tuning? Owner is a tuner! I like both,tuning and detailing,wicked combo.

Talk about a wicked combo, I like going to the desert and rock crawling and driving in the dunes, mud then coming back and detailing.

Ryan

[Mr Mustang]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

it's all too common, unfortunately

[C30-Mike]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

I saw a Jag S Type R series that was hologram to death. It was covered every square inch. Very sad for this fine car. The "detailer" should be banned from touching another car.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Show Cars...yeah right

more time spent on tuning? Owner is a tuner! I like both,tuning and detailing,wicked combo.