[oldman66gto]

A couple of questions for the experts!!

Back story: My '66 GTO restoration was done in 2011-2012 Paint is (LL) Mariner Turquoise. Base coat/clear coat! It's not a complete numbers matching car, as it has a 428, and a Tremec 5 spd in it. Has a '66 tri-power set-up, 067 heads, True "HO" exhaust manifolds. No rust, and interior looks as if new. Even the 4-way flasher system works. PHS documentation & car are close to accurate, but slight differences, as it was a 4bbl car, 4 spd, car when new.

In the garage under the artificial light, I see some very slight looking scratches, not swirl marks. Ever so slight. Outside in sunlight, it glistens, and I don't see them. The marks seem to bother me mentally, as I know they are there.

So here go the questions:
1) Should I leave as is, and polish it with a high grade polish?
2) Have it lightly buffed, and polished?
3) Same as #2, but have it ceramic coated?
4) Which do you think will give the most shine & lustre?
5) I'm not going to spend $25,000-$30,000 to get it repainted!
6) As an older, but almost an immaculate restoration, just leave it, drive it, and enjoy it??

As always,
Thanks for your help and input!
Allan Bishop

[Squidward]

Drive and enjoy it. It sounds like you have a very nice ride.

If you pursue perfection, you will spend a lifetime chasing it. If it has some paint imperfections, it won't feel as bad when it picks up a few more.

Case in point: Within a month of having my 73 Formula painted, my daughter's friend scraped the fender with her bike. And within a year, the neighbor backed into the same fender and dented it. It was way more stress and frustration than when I drove around in old paint and primer.

[1965gp]

I’ve posted this before but the Adams brand compound and polish do a fantastic job and are pretty safe to use. I would suggest using their brand of foam pads as I have had good luck with the. Find someone that can help you with it or invest in one of their buffers. Or you can hire someone for a ‘paint correction’.

If I was closer I would make an afternoon out of it just to see the improvement!

I don’t think ceramic coating is going to fix any blemishes- I’m not really a fan of it.

Jeremy

[oldman66gto]

Thanks for the recommendations.

A friend of a friend that does classic car detailing came by, looked at the car, made suggestions, and I had him come back and "do" the car.

He buffed the car using two different type pads. Did a paint correction, and I then had him do a "ceramic coating". Have not been a fan of it, but after seeing some of his work, I thought it was worth the expense.

He told me that he could not get all of the miniscule type scrathes out, but believe me he got about 70%-80% of it.

The car looks great, and i'm very happy!