86 Mercedes turbo diesel 27 hours of polishing Barry Theal Presidential Details

**OakesDetail** · 07-28-2009, 11:45 AM

Barry, EXCELLENT work! We should definitely team up sometime, you`re not too far away haha. I love these style turn arounds, just did a 1991 BMW 535i a while ago and the owner wanted to repaint it, sure changed his mind when I got done with it. Again, great work!

**LeadingEdgeDetail** · 07-28-2009, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Less

Don`t get me wrong, I`m definitely impressed. Your work is simply amazing, but I just can`t look at those before pictures without wondering "why?".

I don`t want to speak for Barry, but in my opinion:

Every car deserves a second chance at life!

Thank god there are people like Barry to give that second chance!

Cars can last forever if taken care of properly.... I`m sure his detail didn`t cost as much as a full respray would have!

We can`t just throw out cars because they`re ugly, that`s why we detail and paint cars, because we see opportunity in an otherwise ugly paint job!

**Less** · 07-28-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by StumpyDetailing

I don`t want to speak for Barry, but in my opinion:

Every car deserves a second chance at life!

Yeah, and every man deserves a fair day`s pay. Again, I don`t want to know how much you charged or anything like that. I`m just saying that for the amount of work put into it, a commensurate price would have to be close to, or more, than the car is worth. Remember, it`s a 23 year old car with almost 250K miles.

Originally Posted by StumpyDetailing

Cars can last forever if taken care of properly.... I`m sure his detail didn`t cost as much as a full respray would have!

While Barry`s work is amazing, it`s not going to help keep the engine running any longer than it would have otherwise.

Originally Posted by StumpyDetailing

We can`t just throw out cars because they`re ugly

Yes we can

Anyway, I`m not trying to be rude, but I`m afraid that might line of questioning might be interpreted as such. So I apologize to Barry, I`m not trying to insult you or your business. I`m just genuinely curious why you would take that job when most detailers out there would say "get that hunk of junk off of my lot, you`re scaring the other cars!"

**Barry Theal** · 07-28-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by kaval

Barry, an absolute WOW!!!!!!!!

I admire your passion in taking sh1t cars and bringing them back to life. I love doing this myself, but I have yet to be faced with a project like this. You owned this thing from start to finish and...just wow man! Amazing work.

Kaval thanks man! nice to see ya posting again. how is the north these days?

Originally Posted by RickRack

Barry, this has to be one of the best turnarounds I`ve ever seen!!!!

I can`t believe it`s even the same car....

Absolutely amazing!!!

So when are you coming to Boston?

rick thanks bro. this one was a little crazy it was like compounding concreate to get to clear lol what little was left. thanks for the kind wirds. ill be there soon!

Originally Posted by OakesDetail

Barry, EXCELLENT work! We should definitely team up sometime, you`re not too far away haha. I love these style turn arounds, just did a 1991 BMW 535i a while ago and the owner wanted to repaint it, sure changed his mind when I got done with it. Again, great work!

thanks man! I know west chester really well partied there a few times in my younger days lol! yeah we should do one sometime! let me know.

Originally Posted by StumpyDetailing

I don`t want to speak for Barry, but in my opinion:

Every car deserves a second chance at life!

Thank god there are people like Barry to give that second chance!

Cars can last forever if taken care of properly.... I`m sure his detail didn`t cost as much as a full respray would have!

We can`t just throw out cars because they`re ugly, that`s why we detail and paint cars, because we see opportunity in an otherwise ugly paint job!

thanks stumpy!

**Barry Theal** · 07-28-2009, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Less

Barry, nice work. Truly impressive.

But I have to ask why you would even take this job. Furthermore, why would someone even want you to do it? Sorry, I don`t mean to sound rude, but I`m just having trouble connecting the business dots here.

Without getting into a specific numbers or anything, i have to believe that 27 hours of work has to amount to more than the car is worth, even if you`re selling your time at a deep discount.

Was it just a personal challenge to see what you could do?

Don`t get me wrong, I`m definitely impressed. Your work is simply amazing, but I just can`t look at those before pictures without wondering "why?".

Less,

First thank you for the kind words about my detailing abilities as they are greatly appreciated. So why would I take this job? In all seriousnous I never turn anything down. I don`t care if its a porsche or a pinto, plane or a train. I have so much passion for this industry I have gotten in to arguments with my wife over detailing and taking things to far. I am such a perfectionist its insane. Jobs like this aren`t about money its about art. to completely take a car to another level is a feeling I can`t describe. It truley is a natural high for me. Now I understand your not trying to be rude nor do I take it that way. Trying to connect the business dots here can seem a little strange to some, but to others it may make sense. Now first off a little about me. I don`t charge what I feel I`m worth yet. adventually I will. I`m actually a very humble guy. I said this before many times and I`ll say it again. I`m not in this for the money. Trust me if I wanted a career to makes millions I wouldn`t be detailing. Im in this for one purpose. Sell fullfillment. I wake up every day to a wife I love dearly, kids I love dearly and a career I couldn`t be happier with. Now to justify the money part. Yes I could have charged more then I did. Now keep in mind As said earlier in a the thread I honored a price from a few months ago before I fully set up all my pricing. Now its a 86 mercedes which may have 228,000 miles. Now if you knew anything about these, they simply don`t die. This guy had a budget and for what he bought the car for which was dirt cheap, and I mean cheap. It did make sense to tp either paint it or something. This is a second car for a guy who has 4 kids and a wife. He is just a great down to earth honest guy. Maybe one mans junk is anothers treasure. I could have done this car in less then 27 hours, but I told this guy I would give him every ounce I had to make this as nice as possible. I probaly could have stopped after the third step and called it a day. I`m just one to take it to another level at any cost. Its not always about me and the business its about the customer. Who knows this guy could have drove to work an advertised my work . Maybe I may have gotton 4 or 5 more jobs lined up out of this. now is it worth it? We will see. A personal challenge? yeah kinda. this one was very tough, But My personal challenge is a 1940 chevy which will be fully wetsanded oh its a ll origonal paint but one panel! that will be my personal challenge. wondering why? hmmmmmmm I don`t know I thought autopia would enjoy it! Thanks for the ?`s Keep in mind I`m not the best typer so hopefully you understand all this stuff.:up

Barry

**Aesop F1** · 07-28-2009, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by bufferbarry

Less,

I don`t charge what I feel I`m worth yet. adventually I will. I`m actually a very humble guy. I said this before many times and I`ll say it again. I`m not in this for the money. Trust me if I wanted a career to makes millions I wouldn`t be detailing. Im in this for one purpose. Sell fullfillment. I wake up every day to a wife I love dearly, kids I love dearly and a career I couldn`t be happier with.

Barry

I know exactly where you are at. Well done sir:2thumbs:

**Less** · 07-28-2009, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the thorough reply Barry.

Again, great work. You`re friggen nuts, but you do great work.

**Barry Theal** · 07-28-2009, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Aesop F1

I know exactly where you are at. Well done sir:2thumbs:

thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by Less

Thanks for the thorough reply Barry.

Again, great work. You`re friggen nuts, but you do great work.

lol you wern`t the first to say I`m nuts lol thanks again.

**Alex Boyce** · 07-28-2009, 07:50 PM

huge turn around! I would have guessed it wouldn`t have been able to be saved.

**Flashtime** · 07-28-2009, 07:56 PM

Impressive! If that`s not on your website, it should be.

**Less** · 07-28-2009, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Flashtime

Impressive! If that`s not on your website, it should be.

Better yet, he should have bought the car from the guy.

Then he could detail half of it and park it in front of his shop with one of those little red "take a number" dispensers that they have at the deli.

**Barry Theal** · 07-28-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Less

Better yet, he should have bought the car from the guy.

Then he could detail half of it and park it in front of his shop with one of those little red "take a number" dispensers that they have at the deli.

lmao less that has to be one the greatest idea`s i have ever heard!

**imported_DJ Mayo** · 07-29-2009, 08:24 PM

now you have 87 replies..zipperhead..

see ya saturday!

**ShineTech** · 07-29-2009, 09:57 PM

That is insane! You did an awesome job on that paint. Talke about back from the dead.

**Scottwax** · 07-29-2009, 11:27 PM

Damn!

I thought that was clearcoat failure but I guess it was a single stage paint job. Nice to see you were able to get to the good paint underneath. The car turned out absolutely amazing!