PerroneFord
Hobbyist Detailer
A week ago, I got an email from a member of my British Car club. He was trying to sell a Buick LeSabre and asked if I would detail it for him. I had made an offer to club members for the month of June to do a basic cleanup on their classic British cars for $100. No paint correction or anything, just a cleanup. Idea being a wash, interior wipedown, and an AIO. He knows he can't get that deal, but we settle on a price based on pictures of the vehicle.
Saturday I head out with my gear to do the car. I show up at 8am. It's about 90F and the sun is rising quickly. I decide doing the interior before it gets sweltering is the best course of action. I open it up, and realize I am in trouble. It's classic late 90s Buick. Tons of plastic, bad fake leather, and 117k miles on the clock. I don't think the car has ever had the interior cleaned. The center arm rest looked stained. I'd find out later it wasn't. The buildup of sweat was so thick it looked like the console was a different color. Anyway, I clean up the interior, and do the wheels and tires. It's after noon, and it's 102 with a heat index of 106. There is no shade on the property. I call it a day, and decide to come back Sunday to tackle the outside of the car.
In thinking about my arsenal, I've got sealants, and I've got AIOs, but the only wax I have is a rather expensive paste, and I am NOT going to use that for a quickie pre-sale cleanup. I want something quick and easy. So I decide to try the Surf City Barrier Reef product. I've heard others on various forums sing it's praises, and I've had excellent experience with their other products. So I grab some at the local Pep Boys.
Sunday morning, I am on site at 7am. It's only 95F when I arrive. I jump on the car doing a 2BM wash and forgoing the normal pre-soak. I just don't have the time. I spray the engine down with Surf City Grime Destroyer cut 3:1. I use the Daytoma Speedmaster Brush to get that all cleaned up, and spray it down. The car gets dried with a WW towel after being misted with DP Rinseless mixed at clay lube ratio. Car comes out very nice and clean. I spot clay a few areas, and then apply the wax.
This is the first time I've waxed without polishing, and it felt like I was cheating. the wax went on very nicely. I applied wax on one full side of the car, then went back and buffed it off. Came off easily. I quickly finished up the car. The surface gloss was amazing for what I had done. Essentially a wash and wax on a car with 117k miles. It needed a 2-step polish at least, but that just wasn't going to happen.
I dressed the tires and wheel wells, took some pics, and went home.
I will say this. Given what I saw from the Barrier Reef product today, I give it my full recommendation as a liquid carnauba LSP. Absolutely amazing results from it. I am going to detail my car again in July, and this will be my topper over Poli-Seal. I will also use it on the classic cars I will be doing in the coming weeks. Looks like I am going to be prepping a Triumph TR3 toward the end of July, and an Austin Healey 3000 also in July or August.
I have pics and they will be uploaded in the morning.
Saturday I head out with my gear to do the car. I show up at 8am. It's about 90F and the sun is rising quickly. I decide doing the interior before it gets sweltering is the best course of action. I open it up, and realize I am in trouble. It's classic late 90s Buick. Tons of plastic, bad fake leather, and 117k miles on the clock. I don't think the car has ever had the interior cleaned. The center arm rest looked stained. I'd find out later it wasn't. The buildup of sweat was so thick it looked like the console was a different color. Anyway, I clean up the interior, and do the wheels and tires. It's after noon, and it's 102 with a heat index of 106. There is no shade on the property. I call it a day, and decide to come back Sunday to tackle the outside of the car.
In thinking about my arsenal, I've got sealants, and I've got AIOs, but the only wax I have is a rather expensive paste, and I am NOT going to use that for a quickie pre-sale cleanup. I want something quick and easy. So I decide to try the Surf City Barrier Reef product. I've heard others on various forums sing it's praises, and I've had excellent experience with their other products. So I grab some at the local Pep Boys.
Sunday morning, I am on site at 7am. It's only 95F when I arrive. I jump on the car doing a 2BM wash and forgoing the normal pre-soak. I just don't have the time. I spray the engine down with Surf City Grime Destroyer cut 3:1. I use the Daytoma Speedmaster Brush to get that all cleaned up, and spray it down. The car gets dried with a WW towel after being misted with DP Rinseless mixed at clay lube ratio. Car comes out very nice and clean. I spot clay a few areas, and then apply the wax.
This is the first time I've waxed without polishing, and it felt like I was cheating. the wax went on very nicely. I applied wax on one full side of the car, then went back and buffed it off. Came off easily. I quickly finished up the car. The surface gloss was amazing for what I had done. Essentially a wash and wax on a car with 117k miles. It needed a 2-step polish at least, but that just wasn't going to happen.
I dressed the tires and wheel wells, took some pics, and went home.
I will say this. Given what I saw from the Barrier Reef product today, I give it my full recommendation as a liquid carnauba LSP. Absolutely amazing results from it. I am going to detail my car again in July, and this will be my topper over Poli-Seal. I will also use it on the classic cars I will be doing in the coming weeks. Looks like I am going to be prepping a Triumph TR3 toward the end of July, and an Austin Healey 3000 also in July or August.
I have pics and they will be uploaded in the morning.
