How do you clean YOUR Shelby Cobra?

[Tru_Shine]

I had a chance to work on this Beautiful Factory Five Racing Shelby Cobra a few weeks ago. I wanted to work with the customer and show him a few products and techniques that might help with the washing and maintenance of this type of car. With the Cobra's not having a roof, you cant really just hose it down and wash it like a regular car, so most people opt to just spray it with detail spray and wipe it off with a microfiber towel. But what that typical "Spray and wipe" method does is actually drags the dirt and grime into the paint causing fine scratches and marring all over your paint, which over time builds up and gets worse and worse and before you know it, your paint has lost that depth and shine that it once had.


The paint on this car is still in amazing condition, even though it is silver and doesn't like to show defects very well, It is still very crucial to properly wash and have a good coat of protection on the paint.

Here are a few pictures of the car when I arrived.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/c6aa7ef9.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/3ead86c6.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/8169a24a.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/7eff76d5.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/10cd9cbb.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/a422504f.jpg

Since we cant hose off the car, the best wash method is going to be a rinse-less method, so I knew exactly what product I was going to use.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/551a2e8a.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/63e5b220.jpg

Optimum No Rinse Wash, This stuff is incredible it encapsulates the dirt and prevents it from scratching your paint while your washing. All you have to do is fill up your buckets with 3-4 Gal of water and 1-2 Cap fulls of ONR and you can wash your whole vehicle without the need of a hose. (even in the middle of winter in your garage)

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/efceebc3.jpg

I did use the water hose for cleaning the wheels and fender wells, for this I used megs super degreaser and P21s wheel cleaner.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/23beb00d.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/9d2a7899.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/79e911db.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/64848494.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/639a0637.jpg

For the ONR wash, If your car is really dirty, you are going to want to pre-soak the car and let the dirt break down and let the ONR do it's thing. but for this car, I just grabbed my 100% sheep skin wash mitt and lightly wrung it out, to where it is still dripping but not crazy sloppy.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/434b0a2f.jpg

Then you gently wipe it on a panel starting at the highest point, following it with a damp microfiber towel removing the excess.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/5968bcb1.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/ff743d0f.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/754879a1.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/500df476.jpg

Next we brought the car in and prepped the paint for protection. I used a mixture of ONR diluted to the spray detail/clay lube ratio (Which is listed on the bottle) and used Clay Magic blue fine clay for claying.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/bd147143.jpg

[Tru_Shine]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/ec950318.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/b22dcab5.jpg

after I clayed the paint, it was time to add the protection. I chose Black Fire Wet Diamond for it's slickness and durability and ease of use.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/c1534e09.jpg

I applied it with an LC red pad on my Griot's 6in DA

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/80c1598b.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/78839e45.jpg

Then I used Optimum Opti-bond tire shine on the tires.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/ac1876aa.jpg

I let the BFWD cure for about 10-15 min and then removed it with a Mricrofiber towel.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/8959b299.jpg

And here are some Final pictures

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/189584aa.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/bbe2171e.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/ad8d59e0.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/5fca7b91.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/3fa57f71.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/95357315.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k126/ericwitt04/TruShine%20detailing/FFR%20Shelby%20Cobra/4cfb116f.jpg


Thanks for viewing, Hope this helps other Cobra owners, If you have any questions you can shoot me an email or PM me.


-Eric Witt

[pickles]

I just wait for school fundraiser carwashes to get mine clean. Duh, JK,Bada$$ ride no doubt.

[Flash Gordon]

Looks great Eric!

I love the color and the old style Cragar wheels

[Pats300zx]

Looks great Eric. That car is bad a*** !!!!!

[sal329]

Beautiful car, great work

[Driwash]

That is a true gem. You made it show its true colors.

Tom

[BobbyG]

WOW, what a gorgeous CAR!! :dblthumb2:

The job did come out exceptionally clean and every surface gleaming. I hope the owner got a A on the detailing test you gave him on how to properly take care of a legend....:props:

[SeaJay's]

great work and beautiful car!

[vet]

Great job on a beautiful car, or should I say Legend.

[LuxuryMobile]

Awesome work and good write up. Its great to have a client that wants to learn the proper way to care for their vehicle.

[BorisC]

Looks awesome. I'm sure the only way to make sure the BFWD was applied properly was to take it for a drive. :hotrod2: