SEMA cars before SEMA...
11/1/13, 10:00 AM
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SEMA cars before SEMA... UPDATED
They have to start somewhere!
I was fortunate enough to work on three different vehicles going to SEMA this year. Each project was pretty cool, and I got to see some behind the scenes things that most people never do. Car projects like this involve a lot of moving parts as timelines are extremely tight, and many times builders are doing brand-new things that have never been done before, which many times can lead to problems. These problems are multiplied by the tight timeline to get the vehicle build, and I find it a miracle what some companies are able to do and accomplish.
You'll probably read more about these cars elsewhere, but I figured I'd share some cool Mustangs with detailing enthusiasts.
First was the Classic Design Concepts project Mustang. This black beauty started life as a standard 5.0, but swiftly was transformed. When she was dropped off to my house, she was missing badges, head-lights, markers, rocker panels, and tail lights. This was a brand new car already being stripped down in prep for all the cool changes the guys at CDC were going to make.
This is the only pic I have of working on her, but you can check out TMS announcement that covers changes and specs along with an awesome rendering: https://themustangsource.com/classic...-to-miss-5066/
Despite her being new, there was quite a bit of contamination in the clear-coat. After washing, thorough claying needed to be performed with some spots needing wax & grease remover to remove sticky residue. A few of the panels had deeper damage and required some Meguiar's 100 love using a microfiber cutting disk as a first step, others only needed HD Polish with a white pad to massage out swirl/defect-free. With just this one step, 99% correction was achieved and the vehicle was BEAMING in the sun when the CDC guys came to pick her back up. Optimum Opti-Seal was used to provide a quick yet effective protective layer for the next while when she heads out West.
I was fortunate enough to work on three different vehicles going to SEMA this year. Each project was pretty cool, and I got to see some behind the scenes things that most people never do. Car projects like this involve a lot of moving parts as timelines are extremely tight, and many times builders are doing brand-new things that have never been done before, which many times can lead to problems. These problems are multiplied by the tight timeline to get the vehicle build, and I find it a miracle what some companies are able to do and accomplish.
You'll probably read more about these cars elsewhere, but I figured I'd share some cool Mustangs with detailing enthusiasts.
First was the Classic Design Concepts project Mustang. This black beauty started life as a standard 5.0, but swiftly was transformed. When she was dropped off to my house, she was missing badges, head-lights, markers, rocker panels, and tail lights. This was a brand new car already being stripped down in prep for all the cool changes the guys at CDC were going to make.
This is the only pic I have of working on her, but you can check out TMS announcement that covers changes and specs along with an awesome rendering: https://themustangsource.com/classic...-to-miss-5066/
Despite her being new, there was quite a bit of contamination in the clear-coat. After washing, thorough claying needed to be performed with some spots needing wax & grease remover to remove sticky residue. A few of the panels had deeper damage and required some Meguiar's 100 love using a microfiber cutting disk as a first step, others only needed HD Polish with a white pad to massage out swirl/defect-free. With just this one step, 99% correction was achieved and the vehicle was BEAMING in the sun when the CDC guys came to pick her back up. Optimum Opti-Seal was used to provide a quick yet effective protective layer for the next while when she heads out West.
Last edited by MarcHarris; 11/8/13 at 09:19 AM.
11/1/13, 10:15 AM
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The next vehicle in the shoot is a GT500 done by Ice Nine Customs. These guys have some big plans rolling out in the near future, and a lot of it is surrounding the best carbon-fiber parts an enthusiast can buy.
As such, they did a custom wide-body (made from carbon-fiber), carbon trunk with a carbon spoiler, carbon hood, and carbon grill inserts. They didn't like how it looked with standard black, so they CREATED THEIR OWN COLOR. Crazy stuff. They're calling it Carbon Crystal, and it has a brand new type of synthetic glass flake and a warmer tone made to match the carbon fiber weave.
If you look down the vehicle, it looks jet black, but if you see it with direct light, you see the hypnotizing dancing specs that give it depth and an interesting look.
From the back you can also see the Corsa exhaust and the massive 355-series rear tires (those are puny 285's up front) so the wide-body is filled out properly.
To justify the extra width, the 2.3L supercharger was canned, and a 4.5L Whipple was installed along with Bank's Engineering meth injection and Kook's headers.
Because of the work done, my job was easy. I polished with Meguiar's 101 and 100 on a Meguiar's microfiber cutting disk and followed that up with a white Lake Country pad with HD Polish. All was done with the Rupes 21 Dual Action polisher.
As such, they did a custom wide-body (made from carbon-fiber), carbon trunk with a carbon spoiler, carbon hood, and carbon grill inserts. They didn't like how it looked with standard black, so they CREATED THEIR OWN COLOR. Crazy stuff. They're calling it Carbon Crystal, and it has a brand new type of synthetic glass flake and a warmer tone made to match the carbon fiber weave.
If you look down the vehicle, it looks jet black, but if you see it with direct light, you see the hypnotizing dancing specs that give it depth and an interesting look.
From the back you can also see the Corsa exhaust and the massive 355-series rear tires (those are puny 285's up front) so the wide-body is filled out properly.
To justify the extra width, the 2.3L supercharger was canned, and a 4.5L Whipple was installed along with Bank's Engineering meth injection and Kook's headers.
Because of the work done, my job was easy. I polished with Meguiar's 101 and 100 on a Meguiar's microfiber cutting disk and followed that up with a white Lake Country pad with HD Polish. All was done with the Rupes 21 Dual Action polisher.
Last edited by MarcHarris; 11/1/13 at 10:31 AM.
11/1/13, 10:25 AM
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The third and final car I can't currently post. It was a secret project vehicle and hasn't been announced yet. I can promise it's nothing you'd expect, had a TON of work into it (not a stock body panel was left on this monster), and I was lucky enough to give the custom paint job a bit of extra love so she can look her best.
11/1/13, 09:33 PM
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I agree with the others they look great. That vert looks sick! You realky have them shining. I would love to come work with you and learn a thing or two. I use to work at a detail shop when I was younger but it was nothing on your level.
Last edited by Ajcruz1; 11/1/13 at 09:43 PM.
11/5/13, 06:53 PM
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And here is the 3rd and final vehicle, to include a pic of it in mini version as well: http://www.usatoday.com/story/driveo...heels/3440205/
11/9/13, 02:16 PM
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Roush Forum Stalker
11/10/13, 10:33 AM
#17
Roush Forum Stalker
