FACEBOOK Write-Up from this weekend. 4 million dollar AC prototype.

[Todd@RUPES]

I posted a write-up of a concours detail I was lucky enough to perform on an ultra rare (1 of 1), ultra valuable AC Prototype. This was the car that was to replace the Bristol/Cobra but never made it out of concept forum. Interestingly enough it is powered by a 289 4V Ford motor, and is the first V8 that AC ever put in a car, 1 year prior to the Shelby Cobra.

All of the pictures are off of my IPhone 4S and most were posted directly to facebook. This doesn`t represent the depth of the detail, as almost 44 hours in total were spent detailing things like the paint, metal, engine, interior, trunk, suspension, and undercarriage. I took pictures of the highlights to share with FACEBOOK and by request have decided to share them here as well.




Getting started with BLACKFIRE Rinseless Wash. The paint was damp wiped.




Pinnacle Clay was used because the paint was not heavily contaminated and Pinnacle is ultrafine. A car like this deserves the finest clay available.






Very little contamination after the whole car.




We used 3M tape to tape up the vehicle.






A few spots in the paint had shrinkage or orange peel. David Fermani leveled these out with 3K 3M Trizact sandpaper using a Griot`s Garage 6 inch polisher.





Polished out.




Speaking of polishing, we used Meguiar`s D300 DA compound in combination with the Meguiar`s 5.5 inch Microfiber Cutting pads for the initial correction (some spots required 2-3 passes). This was followed by BLACKFIRE SRC Finishing Polish using a Lake Country 5.5 White pad for a high gloss, swirl free finish.




Each square inch of the paint was polished. 3 inch pads were substituted when needed. Here I am polishing the underside of the rear body panel.




As David began final polishing (late at the end of day one), I addressed the gross tires and wheels with BLACKFIRE All-N-One APC.



During.



Clean.




Day One ended at 11:15 PM, Day two started just before 7 AM on day two. Since my client was nice enough to offer the keys to his GT3 RS and Ferrari 550 for David and I to cruise around South Beach in the night before we thought we should wash them before heading back to his shop.

BLACKFIRE Rinseless Wash, BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal, and some passion made for clean cars that created WHIPLASH.




David started the morning on the interior. A combination of Optimum Power Clean, BLACKFIRE Interior Cleaner, and a lot of tooth brushes resulted in concours ready interior. (Also about 3 hours of David`s time).





I worked on the engine, using a combination of BLACKFIRE APC and Rinseless Wash, topped with Optimum Car Wax on the hoses and BLACKFIRE Polymer Spray on the rest.




The paint was then treated two to coats of BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection and BLACKFIRE Midnight Sun Ivory Carnauba Paste (2 coats each). The sealant was applied by DA, the wax by hand: Wet Ice over Fire.




The second coat of BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond curing.

[Todd@RUPES]

While I did waxing duties David detailed the trunk, tool kit, and spare tire.

Finally the under carriage was detailed with the same mixture as the engine, then each square inch was hand polished and sealed with BLACKFIRE Total Polish N Seal.








Here are some after pictures (prior to the last coat of Midnight Sun and under carriage detailing. We didn`t finish until it was dark at night). I tried my best to capture some sun shots but was in a hurry to get back inside and keep working.

[AndrewBigA]

nice work & cool car. whatever you do, dont stop posting writeups of your work on here.

[Pats300zx]

Simply amazing Todd. Great to see you and Fermani working together again.

[Concours.John]

Very nice work on a very unique vehicle. Is it going to Amelia?

[C. Charles Hahn]

Wow. That`s just plain cool. Nice work gentlemen!


Oh, and cruising South Beach in a GT3RS and a F550? I hate you guys. I really, really hate you guys.

[rzatch]

Wow nice work you guys did. Never heard of using OCW on hoses.

[Harleyguy]

Looks great Todd wish I was there to see these rare cars .

[Rocket]

Nice work as always Todd. I have to admit I`m very jealous of some of the amazing cars you get to work on

[Todd@RUPES]

Looks great Todd wish I was there to see these rare cars .

Thanks for your help Adam. Also great video of the GT3 RS!

[Dr Oldz]

Great work. Amazing vehicle for sure! Thanks for posting here as I am not a Facebooker.

[Todd@RUPES]

Wow. That`s just plain cool. Nice work gentlemen!


Oh, and cruising South Beach in a GT3RS and a F550? I hate you guys. I really, really hate you guys.

I generally will never drive a client`s car, I just don`t like too. I have had to drive a 700 mile Ferrari 365 BB 40 miles once, scared me to death. I have had to move modern Lamborghini`s, Ferrari`s, and a few million dollar classics, and don`t like it.

This client is a special client of mine that I have had over 4 years, and somebody who not only throws me the keys but actually gets disappointed when I don`t drive the `heck` out of his cars. The first question he always asks, "How sideways did you get it/did you leave skid marks on the pavement/how fast?"

It has taken me a while to get comfortable giving his babies exercise because caring for somebodies ride is my passion. That said I have come to terms with it an now enjoy driving his cars (only his cars) the way he excepts them to be driven.

As David and Adam can attest, I had a lot of fun taking his 100 point NCRS 1963 Fuel Injected Stingray sideways around every corner in downtown Miami. As he would say, with a 4.11 posi, radio delete, and splintered brakes, that what it was designed for, and to do any less would be to treat it unfairly. As far as the numerous polyglass skid marks that arc across every corner of Miami, all I will say is that I agree.

As far as the 550, it is equipped with a full race Tubi exhaust and 12 cylinders have never sounded so good. It literally sounds like an F1 car, its enough to give you goose bumps and force you to punch the passenger (sorry David). The sound of the V12 cranking at 7000 RPM while the rear tires spin completely through third gear, scribing their marks in the pavement is truly an experience that I don`t take for granted. The GT3 RS... If God was a car, it might be this one. Nothing I have ever driven (from opening a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport up at a private air port to screaming down a straight away in a Le Mans GT40 at 160) has ever been so raw. The acceleration, the braking, the feel from the front tires, the way it perfectly drifts around corners, the rear tires telling you when they are about to hook up.. It`s so amazing and so alive, it literally is the perfect driving machine.

Small video of warming up the GT3 RS

[Nth Degree]

Alright, Todd. Now you`re just rubbing it in.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I generally will never drive a client`s car, I just don`t like too. I have had to drive a 700 mile Ferrari 365 BB 40 miles once, scared me to death. I have had to move modern Lamborghini`s, Ferrari`s, and a few million dollar classics, and don`t like it.

As far as driving something like that on the road I`m 100% with you, it would scare the crap out of me not knowing what other drivers are going to do. If I`m just moving it in and out of a garage or something of that nature, I just consider it a necessary part of the job unless a client specifically instructs me otherwise. IF something were to go awry (highly unlikely if you`re using your head and being careful) that`s what insurance is there for.

This client is a special client of mine that I have had over 4 years, and somebody who not only throws me the keys but actually gets disappointed when I don`t drive the `heck` out of his cars. The first question he always asks, "How sideways did you get it/did you leave skid marks on the pavement/how fast?"

It has taken me a while to get comfortable giving his babies exercise because caring for somebodies ride is my passion. That said I have come to terms with it an now enjoy driving his cars (only his cars) the way he excepts them to be driven.

As David and Adam can attest, I had a lot of fun taking his 100 point NCRS 1963 Fuel Injected Stingray sideways around every corner in downtown Miami. As he would say, with a 4.11 posi, radio delete, and splintered brakes, that what it was designed for, and to do any less would be to treat it unfairly. As far as the numerous polyglass skid marks that arc across every corner of Miami, all I will say is that I agree.

As far as the 550, it is equipped with a full race Tubi exhaust and 12 cylinders have never sounded so good. It literally sounds like an F1 car, its enough to give you goose bumps and force you to punch the passenger (sorry David). The sound of the V12 cranking at 7000 RPM while the rear tires spin completely through third gear, scribing their marks in the pavement is truly an experience that I don`t take for granted. The GT3 RS... If God was a car, it might be this one. Nothing I have ever driven (from opening a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport up at a private air port to screaming down a straight away in a Le Mans GT40 at 160) has ever been so raw. The acceleration, the braking, the feel from the front tires, the way it perfectly drifts around corners, the rear tires telling you when they are about to hook up.. It`s so amazing and so alive, it literally is the perfect driving machine.

Small video of warming up the GT3 RS

That really is a great situation to be in; I haven`t run into anywhere near the same caliber of cars as you deal with thus far (though that may be changing), but the few run-ins I`ve had with higher end cars I find their owners are often very generous and liberal with their toys once they know they can trust you. Especially when they also find out you`re a "car guy."

I look at that as the ultimate compliment/privilege and never something to take for granted or take lightly. Even still I would be hesitant when the purpose for driving a car like that isn`t work-related... but it doesn`t mean I wouldn`t be having any fun either!

[juliom2]

What a great detail experience!!!!
South Florida`s Tag Team....
Outstanding looking car!!!!