Each One Teach One - 1971 Dodge Challenger

[Mike Phillips]

Each one teach one - 1971 Dodge Challenger

Actually, in this case, it's teach three!

From left to right, Mike, John and Chris




Today's project, teach Mike, John and Chris how to remove swirls and other paint defects and create a show car finish!



Here's the project, and from this camera shot the finish looks pretty good...



But up close and in person in the right light the finish needs some TLC...



Here is a section cropped out of the above photo in full size to really show the extent of the damage.




Just in front of the passengers door, (you can see the seam between the door and the front fender), the paint was dull and stained.



While we could only capture the swirls and the stains in the black portions of the paint, these paint defects were actually fairly well distributed throughout other areas of the finish it was just too hard to capture on film.

[Superior Shine]

I love it--SWEET RIDE. That was on a TV show wasn't it? A show sponcered by another car care company!!


I can't wait to see more of the post

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Superior Shine
I love it--SWEET RIDE. That was on a TV show wasn't it? A show sponsored by another car care company!!


I can't wait to see more of the post

Hi Joe,

Yes, this car was on a show called Overhaulin and I know some of the people that do their detail work and they do awesome work. But as you know, after you turn a car back over to the owners sometimes things happen to diminish the results you previously achieved that are out of your control. It's so easy to to run a finish down and it takes determination, a car care plan and of course the right skills and products to maintain a flawless finish.

All we did today was to restore the finish to the previous condition it was in when it left the show.

Challenging Dodge

[thejazzguy]

As soon as I saw the car I knew that it was the Overhaulin Challenger. I love the look of that car! Chip did a great job with the colour scheme. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the car Mike since you've had the chance to see it in person! Very exciting!

I'm glad that the three gents are having you help them restore the paint finish to its former glory. I'm also glad to see that they must drive this car because I doubt it would get that scratched just sitting in a garage.

[Superior Shine]

I know all too well. Must have beena blast to work on it. Can't wait to see the after pics.

[gb387]

I saw that car on overhaulin tooooo.... love the car!

Can't wait to see more.

[Stepinfetch]

I watched that episode also! Was a SWEEEEEET car, that dude was surprised when he saw his "new and improved" car.

[Mike Phillips]

Before starting to work on the car and train Mike, John and Chris on proper techniques and product selection, Jaime Araya, Meguiar's Senior Trainer for our Dealership Service Program inspects the finish using bright lights to determine the extent of the damage.



Here are some more paint defects we were able to capture with our camera that will need to be addressed in order to restore a show car finish worthy of this car.

Swirls exposed with the use of the camera flash


RIDS - Random Isolated Deeper Scratches


Some type of adhesive or paint along with general swirls throughout the finish

[Mike Phillips]

After a lesson on how detailing clay works and how to use it, Mike and John dive right in and start claying the finish. The car had overspray all over the paint, glass and trim work from some engine compartment painting.




Here you can see Mike rubbing the clay down the trim around the rear window.



Then after claying the trim Mike moves onto the rear window glass.



Here's John working the top of the rear fender using our Mild Clay in our Professional Detailer Line and using Last Touch diluted 50/50 with water for a spray lubricant.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

I watched the episode where that car was built up -- awesome ride.

Sad to see that it was abused so badly Nicely restored by you guys, though.

[ourbail]

I sure would like to know how a car of this magnatude and built by Chip Foose and made into a car show ends up in this condition,a sad condition by my standards.

[MandarinaRacing]

Hopefully the condition of this car is because it's driven daily! I'd hate it to become a trailer queen . The good thing is that now the owner will be educated as to how to take better care of it.

Alex

[dc11r]

youd think after having your car "stolen" for a week, and having a prestigious car guy redo the car for you... you would learn to take care of the car... but they dont.. if these "hardcore" enthusiasts cant appreciate the work done for them, imagine what the people on "pimp my ride" are doing. theyre even MORE clueless. how sad... they need to learn to screen the people who get picked to have their cars redone, and only redo the cars for people who actually deserve it, and will continue to appreciate the work.

[Scottwax]

Nice recovery! I wonder how much of the paint problems occured during the repainting process. When I saw the episode where they restored that black GTO for Lance Armstrong, as the camera panned over the top of the car, it was obviously covered in rotary holograms. I was stunned that they'd let the car go to Lance in that condition.

Awesome car, BTW. My brother had a '71 Challenger with a built 340, 727 A/T with a 3000 stall and 4.56 gears.

[Hannibal]

Originally posted by Scottwax
Awesome car, BTW. My brother had a '71 Challenger with a built 340, 727 A/T with a 3000 stall and 4.56 gears.

My older brother had a 1971 challenger too!! It was a blend of colors Oxidized brown, Primer Grey, faded-bondo pink LOL

But man was I proud when he taught me to drive with it when I was 13.


I love the 69-71 Dodge body styles. I want to see more pics of the outcome!!!