Concours Detailing

As some of our friends, clients, and readers alike may already know - we are no strangers to concours preparation. We may not have entered any competitions for a few years, but it’s a challenge we relish when asked to prep a car for a show. We have prepared cars for ‘Show n Shine’ friendlies, to full fat Ferrari Owners UK Regional and National Meets where the competition is fierce.

Let us talk you though one of our experiences back in 2013.

So, what’s there to know about Concours de Elegance shows? Well, the best prepared paintwork doesn’t always guarantee victory, as things like originality and attention to detail score more points. Missed under your wheel arches? tut tut.. when the white silk glove gets swept around your arches you’d better hope it comes out clean! Your wheel centre caps misaligned will definitely be noted! Generally speaking every nut and bolt needs to be clean and/or refurbished to original specification, your chrome needs to be level and not pitted or full of waves, your engine needs to be degreased and clean, and your interior leather nice and matt/satin, not glossy with dirt. We’ve been through the process dozens of times, and at first found it frustrating that we were being beaten by cars full of swirl marks, but they had the OE tool kit (worth ~£20k for an original for a Dino!) in mint condition.

Fast forward a couple of attempts and several conversations with fastidious owners at meetings and we got it. Then we were asked to prepare a Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars supplied Ferrari Dino GT for the North West Ferrari Owners regional meet a couple of months before the National meet.

With the car prepped back at the storage facility countless hours later… all of the wheel bolts polished, wheel centres pointing towards the valves, mouse hair dash brushed and ready, paintwork gleaming after a polish and fresh layer of Swissvax Best of Show; the car was finally ready to trailer to the meet! When we arrived it was raining, naturally. At least we wouldn’t get angered by the judges gifting the win to a swirly car, although we were pretty confident this time.

With the paintwork, wheels, and glass beading like crazy, tool kit and documentation proudly on display in the boot; we were judged, in categories, and overall. We won our class (3 cars). With all of the class winners then going for top honours the cars were re-judged, with an independent judge also corroborating the scoring.

Ferrari Dino GT, overall winner Ferrari Owners Club NW Meet June 2013.

With a score of 49/50 we took the overall win at this meet. Happy days! At only our 3rd attempt we had finally won an event, and with one of our favourite cars we’ve worked on. Preparing a Ferrari Dino is no easy task, given the age and fragility of these cars. Prepping cars to the highest possible standard is our passion and specialty.

We also entered the same car at the National Meet in August 2013 and won the class again (8 cars). We also finished 3rd overall.

So when we say we are an ‘Award Winning Detailing Co.’ we really are.

The myth. The legend. Bill Philpott - Magic Detail Chief Mechanic and Technical Director.