My first paint correction

[LT4]

1959. I was 13. My father bought an old car from a friend who needed money more than the car. The car was a 1938 Pontiac Business Coupe. The car was in good condition mechanically (3 spd 6 banger) and the interior had no defects other than dirt. The paint was dull, chalky, very pale green. I doubt it had ever been waxed.

Being a dumb kid, I deluded myself that my father had bought this car to be what I would drive in a couple of years. He, after all, already owned a new Plymouth and a Chevy pickup. My mother didn't drive. My older brother (18 then) had his own car. So, this must be my future ride....

I asked my father if it would be okay for me to try to slick up the appearance. He had no objection.

My products and tools were: Simonize paste polish (green can), Simonize paste wax (yellow can), cheese cloth and old towels.

Took me days and days to complete. Polishing off the oxidation by hand was a bear of a job. In the end, though, the car responded favorably and looked pretty much like the attached photo. (Photo is of 1936 model). Not long thereafter, my father sold the damned car. No advertisement, no "for sale" sign. Somebody just approached him and offered to buy. Doubled his money. No good deed goes unpunished. I'm still polishing, though, and with much better tools

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Ha ha, great story. I also waxed my first car when I was 13, if I remember correctly. It was a bit later so I believe I used Kit wax, possibly some Dupont #7 also.

 

[Brenan Jiran]

That was a lot of work by hand. Old single-stage paint can look completely gone, then start coming back once you get through the dead oxidized layer. Using Simonize, cheese cloth and old towels, you were earning every bit of that shine the hard way. Too bad your father sold it right after, but that’s still the kind of first correction job you never forget.

 

[LT4]

That was a lot of work by hand. Old single-stage paint can look completely gone, then start coming back once you get through the dead oxidized layer. Using Simonize, cheese cloth and old towels, you were earning every bit of that shine the hard way. Too bad your father sold it right after, but that’s still the kind of first correction job you never forget.

I'll certainly not forget it. Before I started on it, touching the paint would turn your hand white. I was proud of how it turned out. And it could have been a very cool kid's car.

 

[Sizzle Chest]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

 

[Lonnie]

You know, LT4, MAYBE if you had not done such a good job of hand polishing and waxing that Pontiac, someone may not have offered to buy it from you dad. Many car buyers buy on appearance, even back then.
I do make offers to buy vehicles from the owner/leasee, mostly Subaru Outbacks. Few have taken me seriously, although I do get business cards from some who use it as a company vehicle OR they simply say, "It's already spoken for", usually someone within the family.

 

[LT4]

You know, LT4, MAYBE if you had not done such a good job of hand polishing and waxing that Pontiac, someone may not have offered to buy it from you dad. Many car buyers buy on appearance, even back then.
....

I always believed the paint sold the car. It transformed from faded old car to eye catcher.

 

[Lonnie]

LT4:
You are probably correct about a vast majority of car-buying individuals using exterior color and condition as one of the more important factors in choosing a car to buy and drive. My wife picked out Ruby Red Metallic for both of the used cars we now own: 2015 Ford Taurus and a 2023 Nissan Murano. Great color (to her, any way). It grows on you and it is better than the vast majority of the hues of grey, silver, white, or black-colored vehicles on the road today.
True story:
My mother's father bought a new bright Red 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 289 cubic inch V-8 off the showroom floor at the local small town Ford dealer. "Problem" was it had a manual transmission with a three-on-tree(steering column) shifter. Not a problem for him, even in his older age at 70 at that time, but for his wife it was a big deal, meaning she could (or more likely would) not drive it. When asked why he bought it, he said, "I just liked the car and Lulu (his wife) just loves the color RED, so I did not think she would object." My oldest brother ended up with the car when my mom's father could no longer drive due to fast-advancing Parkinson's disease. In fact, it was the first car I drove in a field at age 13. Yes, it took a lot of tries before I could co-ordinate the two feet while operating the clutch and throttle floor pedals, but I did get the hang of it. Steering? Well, that took practice too and more than once my brother had to grab the wheel to keep from hitting fence posts from a homemade high-jump stand we made that my brother had me use as pylons to maneuver and drive around.