Polishing the Morris

[jackcranfield]

I was wondering how often it is safe to polish a classic car such as a Morris Minor, without causing damage to the paintwork. I was originally led to believe that it is best not to polish a classic car too often as this can cause the paintwork to dull over time, however after having the front of my Morris re-sprayed last year, I was advised to polish it often so as to prevent the older paint on the back of the car going a different colour to that of the front.
So my question is 'how often do others polish their cars' and is polishing with Turtle Wax Original (which I have been using for the last year), the right polish for a Morris Minor?
Thanks

[LouiseM]

There's some good waxing tips here: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=17598

I polish my car every time I wash it, which tends to be every couple of weeks when the weather's nice but every couple of months if it isn't. I recommend the clay bar & carnauba wax method as it results in a really good shine. I've used Turtle Wax in the past though.

I was originally led to believe that it is best not to polish a classic car too often as this can cause the paintwork to dull over time

Try telling that to the concours lot!

[chickenjohn]

What you can do is split the polishing and waxing operations. Most cheap polishes such as the Turtle wax one contain both polish (an abrasive that removes paint) and wax.

I find polishing once a year is plenty (used to use t-cut, now prefer Autoglym paint renovator), this brings the shine right back to the paint, (can then if you like clay the paintwork to remove contaminants). Then immediately after polishing the paint, I apply a pure carnauba wax- either Zymol cleaner waX or, more often Blitz wax. These waxes protect the paint and add shine without removing any paint as they are a pure wax and do not contain any polishing abrasives. After using polish you must wax the paint to protect it.

Then, about every three months, I wax the car after washing it with the pure carnauba wax. Again this removes no paint but leaves a lovely protecting shine.

[chickenjohn]

By the way, you should always wash the car with car shampoo, rinse with water from a hose and then leather the paintwork dry before polishing/waxing operations.

[mike.perry]

I use Autoglym on the Series MM and T Cut on the Traveller (the bits between the wood, which badly needs revarnishing this summer).
Also Brasso and a scouring pad on the rusty chrome.

[pjh56]

I've just started using Autoglym High Definition Wax, it gives a good shine and the rain just beads off. It's a bit pricey but you only need very little and the tub should last ages. Easy application with an excellent finish, and it leaves no nasty white marks on the black trim. I got mine from Amazon where it was a fair bit cheaper.

[jackcranfield]

Thanks everyone , I think I will try the clay bar & carnauba wax method, - does this method take long to do?

[jonathon]

Have a look here, not a Minor but MT has done his traveller, do a search for it on the site

http://mog.myfreeforum.org/Car_Detailin ... t1321.html