Chevrolet Corvette Detail Guide: Beginner

Evaluate the condition of your Corvette’s paint; take some time to inspect the Chevrolet. Walk around and look for any bug stains, water spots or tar stains that can build up on the Vette’s finish. Is the paint completely free of contamination? Run your hand across the surface of the paint. How does it feel to your hand? Is it rough with small bumps or is it smooth as glass?

If you find that your paint is smooth and contaminant-free, then the
only thing it needs is a regular washing. Spending 30 to 45 minutes a
week washing your car will ensure that the paint shines like new. If
you find that your paint is stained and rough to the touch, then it
will require a thorough cleaning. Cleaning your paint can take anywhere
from 30 minutes to 3 hours. A paint pre-wax cleaner or a paint-cleaning
clay can be used to remove any contaminants or imperfections in the
surface of the paint.

Once that’s taken care of, you can concentrate on any scratches, swirl
marks or water spots you may have found when first inspecting the car.
A good polish and a little hard work (an hour at the very least) will
take care of any minor imperfections. If you don’t think your arms can
handle all that buffing, a quality orbital polishing machine can be
used for quicker results and less soreness of the forearms. Deep
surface scuffs and scratches will require the use of a scratch remover
polish formula. As long as it hasn’t penetrated the primer, most
scratches can be buffed out or polished to the point where they will no
longer be noticed.

Now you’re ready for waxing. Use a good quality wax–natural
carnauba-based or synthetic, depending on your preference (we’ll cover
the differences between the two in another article). Spend 45 minutes
to an hour on covering all the surfaces with wax. Deep-cleaning and
polishing should be performed twice a year, but you should apply wax at
least four times a year. Following these steps will ensure that the
finish of your paint remains immaculate for many years to come.