MODELLO: Ferrari 599 GTB Manual
ANNO: 2004
COLORE: Rosso Vinaccia
It’s been a while since I’ve done any cosmetic work on a Ferrari. Observing it parked in the studio I realize that they have a stage presence out of the ordinary.
This one – a 599 GTO – is designed around a huge 12-cylinder engine: the huge front end that runs towards the windscreen, whose pillar looks like a Renaissance arch and … dulcis in fundo, a pronounced ‘butt’.
This Ferrari 599 is really a beautiful creature! Made even more beautiful by the unusual “vinaccia” colorway, a dense pastel in color that lights up in the sun, obtaining pigeon blood ruby shades.
Day 1
The car arrives on a rainy morning, so instinctively I immediately think of drying it, but first I spray the entire body with plenty of demineralized water and a little colloidal detergent, just to give a little viscosity and make drying easier. I have a trolley of microfibers ready to do their duty: big ones to remove the “big stuff”, small and soft ones to finish, black ones for the rims, yellow ones for the lower parts of the car.
Two hours later, the car is ready for processing.
Now I can realize the real condition of the car’s surfaces.
NEVER do a cosmetic condition assessment with a dirty car!
The day continues with vacuuming the interior and washing the carpeted parts, with the scent of German oxblood cleaner intoxicating my nasal passages.
Day 2
I arrive at Garage at dawn, the studio is shrouded in a polar cold, I drink a coffee and approach the Ferrari that I put in the polishing slot last night (the specific lights turning warm allow to see the defects on the surface NDR).
I turn on the spotlights and begin the inspection. The car has some typical defects of modern pastels, first of all the “orange peel”, which I repeat – it is not a defect but a characteristic of modern paint – is due to the fact that nowadays we use less paint (the environment thanks) that is sprayed by nozzles that atomize creating a vibration in the reflection. But this characteristic does not rule out the possibility of the car shining or having gloss.
In any case, if someone tells you that they have had their peel sanded by a modern car, you call 112, or fix a spot in the sky and pretend nothing happened.
(*Sanding a modern car is a crime).
But that’s enough! I took off my teacher’s hat and put on my detailer’s hat.
Once the inspection is over, I notice a few more obvious defects, like small scratches on the sides due to the careless use of my fingernails to remove some contamination, and some more obvious swrils in the long front hood. But what jumps out at me most overwhelmingly are the saturated contours, aka the gaps and crevices of the car, which have never been cleaned!!! So this will be a squeegee detailing!
The polishing this time will be shorter than usual, just to correct only the most obvious defects. The weather is too cold and the result may be below expectations for this car.
Let’s polish! I start from the hood because I know that with its size as a small apartment in Via del Gesù it will take me all morning.
It’s lunchtime, lunch break with bresaola (which reminds me the color of the 599) and then head down until late afternoon.
After polishing, I washed the whole car again to remove the polishing residues produced by the abrasive pastes.
Day 3
Once the polishers are out of the way, I put on the trolley 7 small squeegees and 7 small microfibers, I mentally divide the car in portions starting from the left front fender and then turn counterclockwise. Everything is squeegeed with the concentration of a Japanese craftsman, supported by seraphic technique and light moisture on the microfibers. Slowly the car resumes its perfect contours.
Once the exterior is finished, I open the trunk, hood and doors: the car looks like a large moth ready to take flight.
Last but not least, I leave the big 12-cylinder engine, which in a previous treatment has been sprinkled with dressing (I shudder at the thought).
I then wipe it with a hot cloth to remove the grease from the silicone of the dressing and bring the color of the cylinder head back to life, Rosso Ferrari!
It’s true that time flies when you’re having fun, I don’t have time for the inside anymore.
Giorno 4
I arrive, take the cover off the car and go for a coffee.
On the way back to the car I look at it, I have a moment of surprise: seeing it from a distance makes me realize that the detailing is taking shape, and the bodywork, cleaned to the smallest detail, looks compact and uniform. Well, doors open, seats reclined and leather cleaned, naturally with an English brush and cabin leather cleaner.
Since 99% of the interior of a Ferrari is covered in leather, the job takes a day. When I’m done with the interior I wax the whole car like Master Miyagi, do the windows and give the tires a light dressing, strictly Japanese.
That’s All Folks!
