What we watch for on a classic cars
- Single-stage paint oxidises; it cleans and polishes differently to modern clear coat
- Low pressure only around window rubbers, door seals and lamp gaskets
- Chrome cleaned gently — pitting is permanent and abrasives make it worse
- Original interiors: dry brushing and light cleaning, no saturation
Single-stage paint is not modern paint
Older cars often have single-stage paint with no clear coat over the colour. It oxidises to a chalky bloom and colour transfers onto your mitt as you wash — which is normal, and a sign to be gentle. Every car here is washed by hand using the two-bucket method — one bucket of pH-neutral shampoo, one of clean rinse water with a grit guard — with wheels cleaned first using separate brushes and mitts so nothing off the road ever goes back onto the paint. We keep chemicals mild and let dwell time do the work rather than pressure.
Water ingress is the real risk
Sixty-year-old window rubbers and door seals leak. We use low pressure, never point a lance at seals, scuttle vents or lamp gaskets, and we dry the shuts thoroughly so damp does not sit where rust starts. If a car has known leaks, tell us and we will work around them.
Chrome, brightwork and interiors
Original chrome is cleaned, not abraded — pitting cannot be polished out and aggressive metal polish just thins the plating. Inside, leather that is decades old is fed rather than scrubbed, and original carpets and headlining are vacuumed and spot-cleaned rather than shampooed unless you specifically ask.
Booking a classic in
Please call ahead rather than driving in. Classics take longer and we would rather set proper time aside and talk through what you do and do not want touched.
Frequently asked
Will you polish oxidised paint?+
By hand and gently, yes — a hand polish often brings a surprising amount back. Heavily oxidised single-stage paint may need specialist machine work, and we will say so honestly.
Can you clean an original interior without damaging it?+
Yes. We default to vacuuming, dry brushing and light spot cleaning on original trim, and only go further with your say-so.
Do I need to book?+
For classics, yes please — call us so we can allow the extra time.