So every now and again we get a call at Hancox Vehicle Care that get us really excited and this was definitely top of the list. The owner of the vehicle rang to explain that it was due to go to auction and they wanted a sensible amount of work doing in relation to the return it would bring at the auction.
After a couple weeks of agonising waiting to get out to the vehicle, this was what was waiting;
The Mark 2 had been garaged for well over twenty years keeping it dry and rust free, how ever there was pitting to the chrome work, the leather interior had accumulated dry mould and various splits and cracks, various bits of trim were removed and the paintwork was holding a considerable amount of dust. The engine was currently non-functional with the HT leads being out and the air intake being removed.
The history of this vehicle was unbelievable and even the various documents, vehicle manual and loose items all told a story;
It was clear this was going to be a slow, steady and gentle labour of love to return this vehicle to resemble its former glory. With the carepts and leather being so dry and brittle cleaning them was going to be more like archaeology than detailing.
To begin with the carpets were vacuumed very gently with a soft brush tool, working over the dash, centre console seats and crevasses and finally the carpets.
The boot was cleared of parts and the spare wheel removed from the wheel well, this area was then vacuumed also and wiped down with an all purpose cleaner.
There was some type of residue splattered around the wiring under the lip of the boot which had to be tackled.
After a lot of tricky brush work the area came up a lot better.
The interior clean then started with a soft microfibre cloth and warm water, working across the dash, centre console and seats. Unfortunately water alone wasn’t enough to remove the embedded mould in the leather so a Ph neutral and biodegradable shampoo was used at a low dilution ratio to assist the clean.
The fibres in the carpet were so dry and brittle that a wet vacuum, shampoo or scrubbing would have caused them serious damag. Therefore a damp microfibre was laid over them and a small amount of pressure applied to pick up the dirt and dust from inside the fibres whilst rehydrating them.
Once the seats had dried out from the shampooing, it was evident that whilst looking considerably better they were very dry and so multiple rounds of leather care balm was applied to them. The balm being applied, given time to absorb and then reapplied until it could be seen that it was no longer being absorbed. The seats were then finally buffed to remove any excess product.
Its fair to say the interior came up like new, it was incredible how well it had kept and how much more the supple and resilient the leathers were after being treated.
It was then time to give the engine bay some attention and whilst it was never going to come up prefect I couldn’t skip this area. The lower areas were blown out removing and trapped leaves and dust. The pipes, hoses and block were then steamed clean, very gently creating minimum moisture. Various areas were brushed out with APC and then everything wiped down with a cloth. Whist not a large transformation it would hopefully give a potential buyer a clearer picture of what they wold be working with.
The exterior was then very gently rinsed to begin removing the years and layers of dust that had accumulated. Particular care was given around the shuts and seals to ensure no damage or leaking was caused.
The vehicle was then coated with a Ph neutral biodegradable pre-wash foam. This foam envelopes the car, beginning the process of breaking down the more stubborn dirt and sweeping it off the vehicle as the foam runs down the panels. All joints, crevices and gaps were also brushed out during the process.
After a period of dwelling the foam is rinsed off. At this stage over 80% of the surface dirt and dust has already been removed leaving a minimal amount remaining to be removed via the hand wash. The vehicle then being washed with a dedicated shampoo using a two bucket dirty/clean system to ensure no dirt is put back on the panels that had already been removed. The wheels, tyres and arches are also brushed out and cleaned individually.
The vehicle is then dried by hand with a plush twisted loop towel to ensure no scratching is caused and that all water is removed avoiding any water spotting on the paintwork. Also any tighter areas are blown out along with the wheels and arches.
The chrome work was buffed by hand along with the hubs.
Here’s a before and after shot of what was achieved from hand polishing alone on the chrome work.
Then once the vehicle was completely dry the paint work was protected with a high carnauba paste wax giving great shine and hydrophobicity. The tyres and rubbers was treated with a product that not only conditions but also protects them. The hubs and spats were then re-attached and finally all the glass inside and out cleaned.
Its no exaggeration to say that this was a career highlight for Hancox Vehicle Care and whilst being very delicate work it was very satisfying none the less. To think that a car over 50 years could come back so well with only a days work was amazing and an example that most cars can be have their life prolonged and their enjoyment restored via the services we offer.
Well enough from me and time to let the results speak for themselves;
Thanks for reading and check back soon for more show cases of our work.