The Last Two Months: Bella Macchina Paint Corrections <ferraris, porsches, and more>

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 01:53

I am sorry for the lack of ‘detail’ of each post. The last 2 months have been crazy and I am just starting to play catch up (about 65 hours per week, most being 87 and the least being 45). The write ups are the majority of FULL paint correction details I have done in the last couple of months on new vehicles (first time I detailed them with 1 exception) with various amounts of pictures. I believe two of the vehicles are older then that (Porsche GT3 and Porsche 928) and I haven’t included many of the vehicles I prepped for the Cavallino Classic (4 more, 40 hours each, 1300 pics to sort through) but I will do a separate write up on those when time permits (Ferrari 250 Lusso, Ferrari 328 GTS, Ferrari 365 Daytona, Ferrari F355).

I have not included 1 step polishing, maintenance, or follow up details which comprise a huge % of my business. Because I am referring to my notes of each detail I have the generals including time and LSP (the least important part IMO).

First up,

Ferrari 550 Barchetta
Detail Time: 16 hours
Full Exterior Paint Correction
LSP’s
Paint: Blackfire Fire over Wet Ice
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Zaino Z16

The Barchetta (convertible) version of the Maranello is fairly rare and usually worth twice (if not more) then the coupe version. Pretty rare car as well.

Before Pictures:

After Pictures:

Next up,

Ferrari 328 GTB
Detail Time: 19 hours
Full Exterior Paint Correction, Interior Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Blackfire Fire over Wet Ice
Wheels: Rejex
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

The paint was pretty bad on this one, but soft and easy to polish out. We only went for about 95% as it is original 25 year old paint.

Before Picture

After Picture

Next up,

1990 ZR-1 Corvette
Detail Time: 22 hours
Full Exterior Paint Correction
LSP’s
Paint: Blackfire Diamond Paint Sealant
Wheels: Zaino AIO
Tires: 303 Areospace

The paint on this one was terrible, faded, chalky, heavily swirled, etc, etc… In the end it came out about 99% perfect. Special thanks go out to Angelo (zoomzoommazda3) and Brian Brice for each lending a hand for a little bit.

Before Pictures:

50/50 Pictures:

After Pictures:

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 01:55

1948 Lincoln Continental V12
Detail Time: 15 hours
Full Exterior Paint Correction
LSP’s
Paint: Autoglym Super Resin Polish

This is a very rare car with a very cool flat head V12. I only polished the exterior and did no other detailing. All polishing was done with Meguiars M105 on a porter cable using Kevin Brown’s methods of madness.

Bad weather (early on day two) limited my ability to take pictures, unfortunately. 

Before picture:

50/50 Shots

After pictures

1984 Ferrari BBi
Detail Time: 33 man hours
Full Cavallino Concours Prep
LSP’s
Paint: Blackfire Fire over Wet Ice combination (four coats of Wet Diamond sealant, 2 coats of Midnight Sun carnauba paste)
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

This is the same Ferrari detailed in the Road to Cavallino thread. I didn’t have time to take any pictures as both Eric (blk45), Angelo (zoomzoommazda3) and I made a mad thrash for two days straight getting this thing perfect. A year on the show circuit had left some light marring in the paint, but the majority of time was spent on perfecting the details.

After picture

On the lawn at Cavallino in West Palm Beach, FL…

Ferrari 365GT 2+2
Detail Time: 39 man hours
Full Cavallino Concours Prep + Wet sand
LSP’s
Paint: Zaino Z5pro x 2, Zaino Z2pro x1
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

Probably one of the craziest and intense details I have ever done. I had two days to get this done, which is fine, until we realized the whole car had no gloss from fine orange people texture. I worked 11 hours straight with one 5 minute break the second day. I was extremely lucky to have the help of forum legend David Fermani who donated his time (he wouldn’t let me pay him for anything, seriously) and expertise to machine sand the roof and hood on day two (as well as cut the paint back). I got one picture of him and it is the only before/work picture I have.

David Fermani making weird faces as he inspects the paint during our wet sanding thrash.

The paint came out absolutely perfect (I mean 100%), after pictures from the lawn of Cavallino.

Maserati Gran Turismo
Detail Time: 12 hours
New Car prep, Paint Correction, Interior Detailing
LSP’s
Paint: Blackfire Wet Diamond Sealant
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Gloss-It Signature Tire Gloss

Audi S5
Detail Time: 10 hours
New Car prep, Paint Correction, Interior Detailing
LSP’s
Paint: Gloss-It Signature Gloss x 2
Wheels: Rejex
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Dressing

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 01:57

Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG
Detail Time: 18 hours
Exterior Paint Correction and Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Dodo Juice Supernatural V2
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Zaino Z16

Before pictures

After pictures

1973 Jaguar E-Type
Detail Time: 10 hours
95% Paint Correction and Exterior Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Autoglym High Definition Wax

This E-type is owned by one of my best (in terms of maintaining their vehicle’s) clients. The vehicle was cleaned, wheels and chrome highly polished, etc… I simply wiped the paint down with ONR the 91% alcohol, polished the paint, and applied two coats of wax. Very easy day and detail by my standard.

Before picture

After pictures

1952 MG-TD
Detail Time: 7 hours
Exterior Paint Correction and Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Autoglym High Definition Wax
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Meguiars Endurance Gel

This is a very cool little car that was painted a very high quality shop recently which made the flat paint very easy to correct. Two step correction removed the very light marring and left the paint flawless. Again time limited in my ability to take photographs.

Porsche GT3
Detail Time: 10 man hours
Exterior two step correction (85-90%) and interior detail
LSP’s
Wax: Menzerna Acrylic Jacket
Wheels: Rejex
Tires: Zaino Z16

More time was spent degreasing the paint and removing rubber and grime from this Porsche’s track day abuse then actually polishing the paint.

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 01:59

Porsche 928 GTS
Detail Time: 14 hours
Exterior Correction and Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Optimum Optiseal x2
Wheels: Optimum Optiseal
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

This Porsche was in fairly rough condition but the paint was fairly easy to get perfect (minus some pitting in areas).

Before pictures

After pictures

Lexus LS460L
Detail Time: 13 hours
Exterior Correction and Detail
LSP’s
Paint: Collonite #915
Wheels: Rejex
Tires: Zaino Z16

Before pictures

50/50 pictures

After pictures

Jaguar XKR BlackStone
Detail Time: 10 hours
95% Paint Correction and Exterior Detail
LSP’s
Wax: Blackfire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant
Wheels: Wheel Wax
Tires: Zaino Z16

Before pictures

50/50 pictures

After pictures

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 02:00

Ferrari F430 Spider
Detail Time: 19 hours
Scratch repair and Exterior Correction/Detail
LSP’s
Wax: Blackfire Fire over Wet Ice
Wheels: Rejex
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

Scratch Repair Photos

Scratch before pictures

Scratch retouch and sanding photos

Scratch after photos

Rest of the Ferrari before picture

After pictures

Ferrari 250 GTE
Detail Time: 22 hours
Minor Cavallino Prep

LSP’s
Paint: Collonite #845
Wheels: Blackfire Metal Sealant
Tires: Eimann Fabrik Black Sapphire Tire Gel

This beautiful Ferrari has one of the coolest interiors I have ever seen.

Picus · 01-29-09, 02:03

Very cool Todd, what a selection. Excellent work. I am going to have to go over them again! I worked on a 2+2 just like that this summer, similar colour too I think, weird to see another! That E-type is incredible.

longdx · 01-29-09, 02:07

Your work standards are unmatched in my book. Very good collection of your work and seems like a nice client base. Thank you for posting.

Hemin8r · 01-29-09, 02:14

Great work as always Todd. I never get tired of reading your writeups.

Pats300zx · 01-29-09, 02:18

Awesome job Todd. Looks like you have been crazy busy

You are due for some serious downtime.

TH0001 · 01-29-09, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picus

Very cool Todd, what a selection. Excellent work. I am going to have to go over them again! I worked on a 2+2 just like that this summer, similar colour too I think, weird to see another! That E-type is incredible.

Thanks Kevin, which 2+2 the 365 or the 250GTE?

Quote:

Originally Posted by longdx

Your work standards are unmatched in my book. Very good collection of your work and seems like a nice client base. Thank you for posting.

Thanks longdx! You are very welcome for posting

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemin8r

Great work as always Todd. I never get tired of reading your writeups.

Thanks Hemin8r, I appericate the compliment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pats300zx

Awesome job Todd. Looks like you have been crazy busy