The owner of this 1968 Shelby GT350 contacted me after reaching out to multiple local detailing businesses, none of which expressed a desire or ability to properly correct the finish of this classic. After a visual inspection we agreed upon a two-step correction to remove 90+% of the defects in the paint and refine the finish in preparation for a potential buyer slated to come in from PA the following week. The marring that you see in the pictures had accumulated over the course of the nine years following the restoration, as the owner wiped the car down and hand waxed it himself, but never had the paint polished.
The vast majority of the compounding work was performed using M205, Optimum MF pads and the KBM method, while some tighter areas required a 3” foam polishing pad and the use of D300. Finishing work was done with HD polish and LC black finishing pads, as this provided a slightly higher gloss than M205 was capable of. The car was topped with Optiseal, the tires were lightly cleaned and left undressed for a natural look.
As with just about any classic car, the panels typically met at slightly different heights or provided extreme angles which necessitated caution. To avoid damaging the edges of the many body lines and panel intersections I used 3m high performance masking tape to mask off surrounding panels while concentrating on one, then moved onto different panels and taped as needed to preserve the paint’s integrity.
Before:
After:
