1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
This is a 1976 Chevy Corvette with the original factory single stage paint. It still belongs to to original owner.
Here's a video I made that walks through the process I used. This is hosted on my Facebook page. You don't have to have a Facebook account to watch the video. Just click on the link to launch the video.
Make sure you have your speakers on and the "sound" button and bar in the lower right hand corner of the video screen is on and turned up.
Mike Phillips - Original Paint - 1976 Corvette
The original paint is in sad shape
The owner has 2 options,
Option 1: Repaint the car.
That wouldn't really be the right approach, the right approach would be to restore the car and that would take years and a lot of money.
Option 2: Save the paint.
This will cost a lot less money but everyone will have to LOWER THEIR EXPECTATIONS, including me. There are simply too many places where the paint is thin and you can see a light colored primer under the single stage paint. Buffing out paint this old and this thin means some of these thin areas are probably going to grow. That's the deal. There's NO WAY to compound this paint and that means ABRADE this paint in order to remove a little to undo years of neglect and restore gloss, shine, clarity and richness of color.
So with the owner knowing all this before starting, he gave me permission to do the best I could do. I had about 11 hours into CAREFULLY and METHODICALLY compounding the paint with Pinnacle Advanced Compound and then machine polishing the paint using the BLACKFIRE One Step.
NOTE: All pictures taken with an iPhone 10X Max.
I'll let the pictures do the talking....
Here's the before condition
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Old Tire Dressing
Stay tuned for my write-up on how I address the tires. These by the way have some kind of tire dressing them. When I wipe the sidewalls with my hands an oily dirty black residue comes off.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._Vette_025.JPG
:)
Re: 1976 Corvette Orignal Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Re: 1976 Corvette Orignal Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Continued....
A couple comments....
1: A rotary buffer with a wool pad (of any type), would have destroyed what was left of this paint and left Tiger Strips everywhere (goolge tiger stripes with Mike Phillips)
2: As of the year I'm typing this, 2020 - this paint is 44 years old. If the owner and the next owner just take simple care of the paint moving forward continue to keep it out of the South Florida sun and rain, (it's a garage queen), it's possible this paint could last another 44 years.
3: Stay tuned to see how I addressed the tires.
:)
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
That thing looks 100x better now, Mike.
I always like the pics of the machine "trails" when applying product.
When I polish, I kind of use these as a gauge to keep my arm speed in check. Lol.
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PaulMys
That thing looks 100x better now, Mike.
The next step is re-paint. I'm not sure what it would cost to do the job right but my guess is a lot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PaulMys
I always like the pics of the machine "trails" when applying product.
The polish is actually the BLACKFIRE One Step - I apply to the entire car and let it fully dry before removing.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._Vette_045.JPG
:dblthumb2:
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PaulMys
That thing looks 100x better now, Mike.
I always like the pics of the machine "trails" when applying product.
When I polish, I kind of use these a gauge to keep my arm speed in check. Lol.
One hundred percent. I do the same thing
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Wow, what an improvement. Brought her back to life !!
Rich
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Well in all fairness, that’s an outstanding result considering all the factors here. :props:
If it were mine, this approach would be exactly what I would go for also. I mean, sure, it’s not inch perfect by any means but to me the real value lies in the fact that this is a one owner car with the original paint!!! That alone is worth more than one that has been restored to the highest standards. The restored one will be prettier to look at (especially for us Detailers) but in reality - anyone with the cash to do so, can have that - not so easy with a car like this 1976 Corvette.
I see the beauty in originality, the bumps, bruises, dings, scratches, blemishes & thin spots .... character in my opinion. :xyxthumbs:
Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:
Re: 1976 Corvette Original Single Stage Paint - Paint Correction and Waxing
Impressive result Mike. You are a magician with a buffer in your hands.
The paint looked pretty old and hammered. Surprising that you used a compound. You are more brave than I would have been. I would have bailed and just used Blackfire One Step twice. Just kinda snuck up on it.
I have seen you use Meguirs #7 Glaze before on that condition of paint to give the paint some nourishment. Why not this time?
Lastly, I see you used my favorite lubricant to clay with. Sonax Glass Cleaner. Love the dual role it plays on the paint. Lubricate and CLEAN the dirt and grim off the surface.
As always....thanks for your time and efforts to inform and educate myself and the car detailing community.
Craig