130 hour restoration detail - Bentley GT
04-02-2012, 02:35 PM
#1
130 hour restoration detail - Bentley GT This Bentley required extensive work and an extreme number of hours to get it looking as it should, flawless jet black. I did my best to document the entire process that ended up being right around 130 hours. This was far beyond detailing, this was in restoration territory.
When the new owner took delivery of the car, he took it straight to the bodyshop to have the front bumper license plate holes filled in and then repainted. Once they were done with it, we got to work. There was a lot to do.
Swirls, RIDS (random isolated deep scratches), holograms/buffer trails, overspray, and just about any defect you could ask for.... This was the initial condition, before removing the previous wax to find even more defects.
We did a Dawn wash to strip the previous wax. You can see a total lack of beading on the trunk where we had stripped it off.
After getting it into the shop, we clayed it and I started to document the issues now showing in their full glory.
Under the lights the car didn't even look black. Yes it looked rough under direct light...but how does it look under INDIRECT light? You be the judge....
This was where I started the correction as it was one of the worst areas on the car.
Decided to do a different take on the usual 50/50 shot. How about a diamond?
Remember that INDIRECT light picture? Well this was shot under the exact same lighting conditions.
After compounding steps were completed and medium polishing was carried out..... (final polishing to be carried out later)
Carefully polishing the fuel door with the Griots 3" DA
"Issues" on the passenger door.
Experimented with another variation on the classic 50/50 shot.
Bob working some heavy compounding to sort out the issues on the door.
Making progress..... The compounding leaves a more leveled surface but its lacking in gloss. Multiple polishing steps would follow to restore a deep gloss to the paint.
Time to work the other side...
Dry, lifeless paint......
When the new owner took delivery of the car, he took it straight to the bodyshop to have the front bumper license plate holes filled in and then repainted. Once they were done with it, we got to work. There was a lot to do.
Swirls, RIDS (random isolated deep scratches), holograms/buffer trails, overspray, and just about any defect you could ask for.... This was the initial condition, before removing the previous wax to find even more defects.
We did a Dawn wash to strip the previous wax. You can see a total lack of beading on the trunk where we had stripped it off.
After getting it into the shop, we clayed it and I started to document the issues now showing in their full glory.
Under the lights the car didn't even look black. Yes it looked rough under direct light...but how does it look under INDIRECT light? You be the judge....
This was where I started the correction as it was one of the worst areas on the car.
Decided to do a different take on the usual 50/50 shot. How about a diamond?
Remember that INDIRECT light picture? Well this was shot under the exact same lighting conditions.
After compounding steps were completed and medium polishing was carried out..... (final polishing to be carried out later)
Carefully polishing the fuel door with the Griots 3" DA
"Issues" on the passenger door.
Experimented with another variation on the classic 50/50 shot.
Bob working some heavy compounding to sort out the issues on the door.
Making progress..... The compounding leaves a more leveled surface but its lacking in gloss. Multiple polishing steps would follow to restore a deep gloss to the paint.
Time to work the other side...
Dry, lifeless paint......
04-02-2012, 02:36 PM
#2
After compounding
After medium polishing
At this point we pulled it out in the sun (or what little sun there was...) to take a look at the progress.
Wheels were removed for a thorough cleaning.
Looking much better
Next up was the wheel wells and brake calipers. Some parts needed refinishing/replacing, but we did what we could within the time-frame we had to work on the car.
Here I am polishing the centercaps...
Reinstalling...
The start of MANY hours jeweling the finish to as brilliant a shine as possible.
After all the paintwork was done, I took some reflection shots inside the shop before we took it out for copious sun pics.
After medium polishing
At this point we pulled it out in the sun (or what little sun there was...) to take a look at the progress.
Wheels were removed for a thorough cleaning.
Looking much better
Next up was the wheel wells and brake calipers. Some parts needed refinishing/replacing, but we did what we could within the time-frame we had to work on the car.
Here I am polishing the centercaps...
Reinstalling...
The start of MANY hours jeweling the finish to as brilliant a shine as possible.
After all the paintwork was done, I took some reflection shots inside the shop before we took it out for copious sun pics.
04-02-2012, 02:40 PM
#4
Geez did they use scotch bright as a wash mit?
Looks really awesome!! You're the man!
Looks really awesome!! You're the man!
04-02-2012, 06:15 PM
#20
I did a very similar car. It wasn't as bad, but close. Only took me 16 hours. I used the Megs MF pads and their D300 MF compound and I had to push pretty heavy with the G110v2 DA. I don't remember what I did after that. Probably a white or green pad with power finish or final finish. Topped it off with Zaino Z2.
50/50 with just the compound
50/50 with just the compound