You’ll be taking your ride to a weekend car show, so of course you want it to look its absolute best on display in front of friends and colleagues. Every “oooh” and “ahhh” you’ll hear does wonders for your self-esteem, and if there’s a judging portion of the show, you certainly want that top trophy.
Of course you always wash the car’s exterior and vacuum the interior, but is that enough? If you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, and you’ve got the expertise, you can detail the car to a perfect show-ready appearance by yourself. But if you don’t have that time and skill set, it’s worth the money to take your classic to a professional detailing pro. They know what it takes to meet the strict standards of the expert judges who will critique your vehicle at the show.
Judges look everywhere, and that includes places you can easily miss…a hard-to-reach corner, or even under the carpet! Remember, these judges have usually seen it all, in all types of cars. I don’t want to say they’re looking to trip you up, but you better be ready to impress them.
Now if you really want to earn that first prize, you have to make your car stand out above the rest. Bring pictures of the resto work you’ve done so people can see how much work you’ve put into it. Bring along past trophies that you’ve won to display. Add something to garner some extra attention. Let’s say you’re showing your ’57 Chevy Bel Air. Why don’t you and your wife dress in Fifties “period” clothing?
Don’t forget to bring some soft cleaning cloths to wipe your vehicle at the show itself, to remove dust and dirt that collects on the way there and while on display.