Restoring a VW Beetle, a 911 50/50, and Steam-Cleaning a Panamera
Introducing Q’s Master Detailer, Vinny, and a Collection of Transformative Projects brought to you on a regular basis.
Meet Vinny, Q’s Master Detailer. Vinny has been detailing for years, and we’ve been lucky enough to have him as our Master Detailer at Q for more than two years now. They say you’re only as good as your team, and team members like Vinny allow us to confidently say that we’re the best in car care.
Vinny leads the team that’s focused on Paint Corrections, Restorative Detailing, and Aesthetic Transformation for the cars coming through our shop. It borderlines on magic how a car that’s been worn down or neglected can look as new as it did the day our clients received them, so we’re showcasing Vinny’s recent projects to show you what’s possible in a recurring series of posts for Transformation Tuesdays.
PROJECT 1: RESTORING A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
Over the course of fifty years, a car can see a lot of wear and tear.
Recently, a client of ours approached us to tackle an incredibly cool project: restore a fifty year old Volkswagen Beetle to its former glory. For this beloved bug, Vinny was able to remove years of oxidation and defects with a thorough and carefully executed paint correction process.
BEFORE
Before this transformation, sun-damaged paint and oxidized bumpers really showed off the age on this German icon.
THE PROCESS
Prep and Decontamination, Removal and Polishing of Rusted Bumpers, a Restorative Detail to the Interior, a Multi-Stage Paint Correction and Ceramic Pro Coatings to restore the paint to it’s original luster and protect it for years to come.
Scratches and swirl marks have vanished from the hood, and there’s a shine that this hood most likely hasn’t seen in half a century. The polished bumpers are added back on the Beetle and the interior is looking as good as new.
VINNY’s TAKE:
“It’s fun to be able to take an old car that has shown it’s years of wear and tear and make it look new again. We see projects like this maybe once a month, so this was pretty rare and an exciting task for us. We were able to go above and beyond with this project and I think it definitely shows in the end result.”
AN AMAZING 50/50 ON A PORSCHE 997
Oftentimes a paint correction is used to refine minor impurities and fix small things.
Other times, it’s a major transformation and is a night and day difference, and the 50/50 on this worn 997 is a perfect example of the drastic change a paint correction can have.
A 50/50 is what you think it is: a car that’s been half treated to showcase the difference between the car’s finish before any work was done and a car’s finish after we’ve applied our processes to it. This 50/50 speaks for itself.
Half treated, half worn, this 50/50 showcases how drastic a transformation a paint correction can provide.
THE PROCESS
Full Paint Decontamination, Multi-Stage Paint Correction, Ceramic Pro Platinum Coatings (including a wheels-off coating), and Interior Restorative Detail.
A Full paint decontamination removes buildup that cannot be removed through a regular wash. By eliminating these pollutants, the paint decontamination restores the smoothness and clarity of the paint, providing a clean surface for any subsequent detailing treatments. Paint correction brings back the black shine, and the Ceramic Coatings ensure this stays looking good as new for the long term.
AFTER
VINNY’s TAKE:
“Black paint can be very difficult to get right. When a well thought out paint correction process is done to a car like this, it will end up looking like glass in the end. On a 911, restoring that finish keeps this car looking timeless”
INSIDE AND OUT OF A PORSCHE PANAMERA
Even the cleanest everyday drivers expose their car's interior to a variety of dirt and debris. Dust, pollen, food crumbs, pet hair, and skin oils are just a few common culprits that can accumulate inside a vehicle. Over time, this buildup can go unnoticed, but seeing the before and after behind this Panamera shows the transformative power that meticulous detailing can provide.
When it comes to restoring this Panamera inside and out, Vinny’s steam cleaning of the interior and in-depth approach to the exterior resulted in a really impressive before and after. Steam is crucial here, as it opens the pores of the materials inside and allows for an intensive level of care to be done to each surface of the vehicle.
The other crucial component has to do with the wheels, which you can see have been intensely cleaned. By removing them from the car entirely you can get in the hard-to-reach areas, and applying a Ceramic Coating to the wheels prevents future buildup and ensures easier maintenance for these areas.
BEFORE
THE PROCESS
Full Paint Decontamination, Multi-stage Paint Correction, Ceramic Pro Platinum Coatings (including a wheels-off coating), and Interior Restorative Detail.
AFTER
VINNY’S TAKE:
“Two things to mention here: Wheels-Off Coatings and Steam Cleanings. The wheels-off coating really takes this project to the next level, as we’re able to get way more in-depth with the wheels off the car. You can see in the photos of the wheels that we’re able to get into the wheels in a way that’s impossible otherwise. Steam cleaning the interior allows us to open up the pores of the materials to safely remove years of built-up dirt and grime.”
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
We’ve got a lot of information regarding our Restorative Detailing on our website, but will also be featuring projects like these on our Instagram. If you’ve got a car that needs a transformation of it’s own, our team can be reached 24/7 and we can get you on the books. If it’s a big transformation, we’ll be sure to feature it here and, of course, get Vinny’s take on it.