When a car enthusiast has an older ride, it’s typically not some beat-up junker they picked up for one grand on Craigslist. It’s a meaningful piece of automotive history, a sentimental keepsake from their youthful years, or simply their dream car from days long gone.
As such, it’s pretty easy to see why most of you are a little cautious about letting someone else touch your older cars. We get it. That’s the equivalent of your firstborn child, and if it gets scratched, you’re not going to take it lightly.
But does that mean auto detailing is something to avoid, or are there some points you’re missing? Is auto detailing safe for older cars?
Let’s look at some things.
What is Auto Detailing?
First, we need to define exactly what we’re talking about, because it’s a lot tamer than you might think.
Auto detailing is essentially a deep spring cleaning for your car. Specialists don’t aim to alter a single feature of your ride, and the focus is purely on removing dirt, restoring minor damages, etc.
This does not mean that there aren’t any potential drawbacks to consider, but on the surface, it’s a pretty simple service.
The Benefits of Auto Detailing
Professional auto detailing comes with a huge list of benefits that can dramatically help with your car’s longevity and how much you can enjoy that older car when you take the cover off and get it out on the streets for a smooth weekend cruise.
Most notably, professional auto detailers take care of all the dirt, grime, and similar issues that stem from driving it on the roadways or even just leaving it in the garage for too long.
You can do that on your own, but when you really want it to be spotless, it’s a lot of work with a lot of specialized equipment and knowledge required. It’s not often you find a car enthusiast who can do the same level of detailing work as a professional team.
This also helps prolong your car’s life. You likely have a lot of original parts that are decades old, and that’s one of the things that keep owners of old cars away from auto detailing services, but if those aren’t cleaned well, they break down a lot faster.
A detailer can also properly apply various protectants to the exterior and interior of your car that help protect the paint and materials from being corroded or requiring far more maintenance than they otherwise would. Some of these are relatively simple to apply on your own and some are incredibly difficult, such as applying ceramic coating, but even the easy ones are time-consuming.
Finally, this ensures that your paint job and the other parts of your car are properly cleaned and kept from being exposed to chemicals and debris. Even if you have the finest ceramic coating on your car, this is crucial to preserve the paint, metal, and even most plastic parts.
Why Do Car Enthusiasts Fear Auto Detailing with Older Cars?
If auto detailing can offer such awesome benefits, why is it often cautioned against by the car community that specializes in good old-fashioned classics?
Well, there are some genuine reasons for that.
First, there are some chemicals that are often used in standard detailing techniques that can damage older components. Not only can those harsh chemicals break down paint jobs that are decades old, but they can add to the wear and tear on aging plastic and metal components, as well. This isn’t something that is guaranteed to happen thanks to products that are specially designed to be gentle, but the specialists doing the detailing job have to know how various chemicals react with different materials.
Another big issue is simply whether or not the team is going to handle the car with care. It’s important to find a detailer who considers each car unique and works on improving its quality – a privilege.
If a detailing specialist is just interested in getting the car done and going to break, they can rush, do things improperly, or have an accident that causes damage such as scratches, dents, etc. Those are all possibilities that would make a classic car enthusiast livid, and honestly, they have every right to go off the deep end if that happens. You can’t easily fix those sorts of things.
How To Avoid Issues with Auto-Detailing Older Cars
So, if there are a lot of benefits to gain from auto detailing, but there are also some concerns, how do you deal with that?
It’s simple. You need to carefully vet the service that you hire.
Think of it like a babysitter. There are bad babysitters out there who don’t pay attention or actively cause problems for your children. The risk of that happening goes up if you hire some random person to handle it.
However, don’t forego getting a babysitter. You check credentials, make sure the person has a great reputation, and you talk to them first, right?
It’s the same way when it comes to trusting an auto dealer with your classic car. You have to vet them for quality.
There are 3 things you really want to pay attention to.
First, are they experienced with servicing older cars? Remember, they need to know what they can and can’t use on an older car to avoid damage. You want to know that they’ve worked with many older cars in the past.
Then, you want to see what their daily routine is like. Are they orderly and focused on doing a good job, or does their place of business look like everyone’s hanging out on the weekend having a good old time? You want to ensure that you’re hiring a professional service that is taking its job seriously and that the team performing the detailing service is focused—not rushing through cars or prioritizing other tasks.
Finally, it’s important to ensure that they offer any adjacent services you might want such as ceramic coating applications and similar services. It helps to ensure the same team you trust to do the detailing also provides detailing-related services instead of relying on multiple service providers.
Bring New Life to Your Classic Ride with Finetactic Detailing
A classic car is more than just a ride. It’s a statement. It’s got history, character, and the kind of charm newer models can only dream of. But even legends need a little upkeep. That’s where we come in. At Finetactic Detailing, we’ll make sure your vintage beauty shines like it just rolled off the lot while keeping all the soul and personality that make it unique. With expert paint correction, ceramic coatings, and top-tier detailing, we’ll restore its glow, protect its finish, and turn heads wherever you go.
Give us a call, and let’s keep your classic looking as legendary as it feels behind the wheel!