**July 2007 Winner

[SURFERROSA]

An old acquaintance came to visit a couple of months ago and I couldn't help notice that this beautiful car needed to be restored back to a worthy condition. The owner knew it had to be better for the next track day at Knockhill.

I wanted this one for a long time, and as it turned out I was not the only one chuffed with the outcome.

Here's some befores to give you an idea of how the car had come to be:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1499.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1778.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1777.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1776.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1808.jpg

Wash and Clay
Foamed with Megs APC through superspray.
Megs APC foamed through Superspray
Rinsed with hose
Autobrite tar and glue remover applied to lower panels.
APC'd again, followed by TBM-wash with Megs Lambswool and MF mits, CG Extreme Body Wash and Wax.
Rinsed with hose.

Claying carried out using Sonus green with Megs Last Touch as lube 1:1.
The car had been clayed a few months ago and was relatively free of majorly-bonded contaminants.

Machine Polishing
Sonus White Polishing pad used in conjunction with Menzerna 106 FF polish
Spread for 2 passes at speed 2. Polish broken down with 4 passes at speed 4-5, followed by 2 passes at speed 3. Residue wiped with Poorboys work towels.
The doors, all of the rear end, and the bonnet all required two hits.
All PCing carried out with only touch pressure on each panel.

Most panels required two hits.

Cleansing and Protection
Body was HD Cleansed followed by Carbon wax, Field Glaze.
Wheels cleansed with JEFFS Acrylic Prime and topped with Acrylic Jett (3 coats).
All windows, inside and out, were cleansed and protected with JEFFS ACrylic Prime.
Arches and tyres dressed with Poorboys Bold and Bright.
Tailpipes given a 10 minute hand polish with Megs NXT Polysh.
Door shuts and jambs cleansed with Megs APC 4:1, followed by Jeffs Prime again for more cleansing and protection.

I started with the rear O/S quarter and achieved the following.

BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1776.jpg

AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1790.jpg

DRIVER'S DOOR BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1778.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1786.jpg

DRIVER'S DOOR AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1783.jpg

The difference in clarity between the corrected driver's door and the original O/S front quarter is visible here:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1788.jpg

Upon correction of the O/S front quarter, the driver's side now loked like this:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1824.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1825.jpg

BONNET BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1499.jpg

BONNET AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1819.jpg

Still not perfect, but I had to continue with the rest of the car and see if time was left at the end of the second day to improve on this.

N/S FRONT QUARTER BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1502.jpg

N/S FRONT QUARTER AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1823.jpg

N/S REAR QUARTER BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1500.jpg

N/S REAR QUARTER AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1822.jpg

REAR END BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1810.jpg

REAR END AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1818.jpg

It was at this point I noticed some deeper scratches spread around the rear bumper and lowers. Wet sanding was about to solve these little ones.

BEFORE

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1804.jpg

AFTER

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1816.jpg

The others:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1806.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1812.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1814.jpg

So far, compiling this report has taken me almost an hour and a half and it's 2.15 am. I really should go to bed now so I'm going to leave you with the rest of the afters.

The last two pictures show, for me anyway, the utter transformation that this cracking car has went through. This has to be my favourite detail to date and I cannot get the time to post all of this up during the day that's why I'm up so late doing this!

SOME OF THE GENERAL AFTERS

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1827.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1828.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1826.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1832.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1831.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1830.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1826-1.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1829.jpg

THE TRANSFORMATION

From this:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/100_1501.jpg

to this:

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q116/jr001_2007/JULY%20DETAILS/100_1821.jpg

This has been my most dramatic detail to date and as such I have to enter it into the best forum in the world's mnothly competition.

Thanks for considering my entry.

JOHN REILLY

[James_R]

Let me be the first to say, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING TRANSFORMATION John!!:thumb:

S2000 owner's gonna think you've swapped his car!;)

[Imperial-blue-rs]

Looks cracking, bet he's well chuffed, I would!
Black does always looks spanking!

[Cliff]

Fantastic job, that looks excellent :thumb:

[still_learning]

Great



Smashing



Super..............:D

[R30]

That looks awesome now, what a transformation.

[sorearms]

Great turnaround. Bet you won't have to buy the pints with your mate for a while :thumb:

[vxrmarc]

Absolutly fantastic job...:thumb:

[Car Key]

Fanatastic turnaround :doublesho GL in the comp :thumb:

[Craigsax]

great turn around a real credit to ya matey

[Kadir]

Fantastic work there.. Inspirational.. :thumb:

[westie]

Well done Superb job

[G60 VV]

Stunning!

[mattjonescardiff]

absolutely outstanding.

[br3n]

superb transformation, Was that with a rotary or pc?

[monmon]

Absolultly amazing result and one of the best pictorial records ever shown.

[SURFERROSA]

Thanks for all the compliments guys and girls. The job was done by PC. No need for a rotary on Honda paint. And the polish was 106FF, no compounding required. Best to finish with a finishing pad and 85RD FF though.

Thanks again,

JOHN:thumb:

[S3Nish]

I love the turn arounds on Black cars! Cracking job matey

[edthedrummer]

Brilliant job. Would make a worthy winner ;)

[wfenix]

seen this before and will say again great work fella, love the s2000's good luck

[Altered Carbon]

Gets my vote! :thumb:

[mondeomike]

Looks great, wish I could get my black car like that.

[todd]

Woof! jaw dropping stuff that, very impresed!

[MickCTR]

What a stunner, WOW

[Thomas-182]

Loved this one when I seen it, good luck in the comp :)

[Ali]

WOW! Top top job!

[streaky]

Wow at the transformation.

[BM-Stu]

amazing turn around.

great work!!!

[SURFERROSA]

Cheers.:thumb:

[Sheffielder]

Great work really impressive

[Schnorbitz]

Lovely! Black looks really deep now, seemed grey before. Nice work!

[Baptist]

That is truely amazing, well done.

[phil440]

i do realise that I'm massively late with reply but I'm new and i had to make a comment on how amazing that car looks