Just to chime in,
LSP is a term I coined back in Oregon starting in the early 1990's when talking to my customers about the paint polishing process. This was back in 1991 or 1992 when I was detailing cars professionally and conducting detailing classes for car clubs.
(At this time I was not working as a Meguiar's employee but conducting clinic because I liked to and to obtain high-end customers)
The meaning to the acronym LSP as I used it meant,
Last Step Product.
Which means the last thing you apply to the finish and then remove before you stand back and say to yourself,
it is finished.
I know a couple people have tried to define the word to mean a product that contains no cleaners or cleaning ability, but that's not accurate. If you wash a car, follow that with claying and then apply a cleaner/wax, the cleaner/wax is your
last step product.
And as Lowejackson pointed out, some people don't apply any wax or paint protection type products to their finish but instead only apply a pure polish, or hand glaze. I think Forrest from Mother's has said this is how they maintain the finishes on the Mother's fleet of show cars. If the last product you apply to your car is a hand glaze, then the hand glaze is your LSP.
I'm not sure, but I think here this is the first time the term was used on the Internet/Autopia
LSP - Last Step Product
(Edit: It appears the thread,
****Lab Sample D****, referenced above and originally posted by Mosca has disappeared? -Mike)
Here's what I wrote posted on 10-27-2003 03:00 AM (according to the time stamp)
Mike Phillips said:
From the multiple cars I have applied this new product too, at this time it would be my first choice for a last step product, (LSP), for both protection and appearance benefits
The filling characteristic, clearness, and darkness is what I really like so far, plus the scent.
LSP = Last Step Product - The last product you apply and remove before you stand back and and admire the results.
FYI
Mike