Mk 3 Q705CPF

[axshack]

Hi all,
I am the new owner (and only the second owner !!) of Q705CPF which I will be picking up next week.

Not intending to do a full restoration (ie, body off) unless it needs it, but will certainly be giving it some serious TLC as it has been laid up for 12 years now.

Really looking forward to becoming a Midas driver for the second time. I will keep the forum posted on progress.

[kelvink]

I would say Snap! only mine doesn't look anything as tidy as that any more

[axshack]

Kelvin, I see what you mean about the gel coat. All that UV fading is a problem with red finishes !!!
I am definitely going to cheat and not repaint mine, but have it wrapped in something very shiny and in your face - a real "look at me" standout colour that cannot be missed on the motorway even in bad weather !
dave

[Hans Efde]

I would say Snap! only mine doesn't look anything as tidy as that any more

For emergencies you can rub the gelcoat with vegetable oil (sunflower oil). It should give a shine as new but will only last until the next rain shower.

[kelvink]

Emergency or no emergency I have to say that there's no way on Earth that I'm going to put any oil or grease onto my aged gel coat as I'm going to be painting it Hans. Applying oils will permeate into the porous gel and result in something akin to the finish of a non stick frying pan. Might have been a good alternative to a frying pan had I gone camping and wanted to save weight and space by leaving the Tefal at home.....

I am looking at using a peelable paint as a temporary protection to the car for the time being I've discounted a wrap as I don't want the adhesive having the same result as oil and grease when I come to paint it. Rich's use of Pengaurd is something else I'm considering as I've used that before though on industrial off shore environments and I know it to be a seriously durable epoxy primer. I've left it a bit late in the year now and the rain is here with a vengence now, I had hoped to have got it done so it's looking like next year or I put the car in an oven to dry it all out again.

[Rich]

I'm not kidding when I say you could strike a match or grate cheese on Kelvins gel coat, it really is that badly degraded.

[axshack]

well, the car has arrived in its new location:

When the mechanicals are back up to speed, it will be visiting the local wrapper and will get an Orange Pearlescent finish all over.

Btw, Kelvin, I understand that a vehicle wrap can be easily removed and leaves very little glue residue behind, which can be cleaned off in a flash !!

Dave

[tog0035]

I think you might be in for a shock when you try to remove the wrap unless there is another method rather than a hairdryer . best of luck tog

[kelvink]

Envy envy envy. Shame my car didn't look like that!

I can assure you the texture of my gel coat will not let go of anything that touches it, as Rich can confirm. You have to see it in the flesh to believe it. Run your hands over it and it's more like the rough side of some velcro tape!

Re the pearlescent orange..... It's already been done. It looks pretty good though sadly this car in the photo got totally ruined by getting seriously chavved.



Shame really as once upon a time it did look very smart

[wolfie]

Seen a few pics of that 1 floating around the tinterweb Kelvin but never discovered what the headlights were off. Not seen any pictures/info of the inside or engine size/spec though