e l ic h e v r e t s u b t Ghos ats possessed by r
Stain horror stories are one of the most popular features of Auto Detailing News. An entire magazine could be filled with just the tales of disgusting soils and smells. But, what about when the entire vehicle, from the engine to the hood to the seats is repulsive? It’s not just a stain horror story—it’s a stain upon stain upon stain horror story. So, without further ado, meet the Cadillac ‘Ghostbuster’ ambulance. “This car came in to our shop on life support,” said Tom Shearer, coowner of Mr. Detail Auto Salon of Seattle, Washington. “It looks like it had been living in the woods for the past 50 years.” Moss, and grime were on, and inside the vehicle and a rats’ nest and a dead rodent were found inside the engine. “Thankfully, no rats were alive and inside the engine at the time the vehicle was delivered to us,” Shearer shared. Shearer, co-owner Mike Rafael and paint polishing guru Jason Kilmer took one look and questioned whether or not to take on the project. The client needed it turned around in two days for a parade they wanted to enter it in, said Shearer. He asked that they just concentrate on the exterior as the interior would take too long. Even the customer’s expectations were not high. “But,” shared Shearer, “after cleaning off the layers of dirt and debris we did some test spots” and thought we could give it a try. “We decided to under-promise and try to over deliver,” shared Shearer. The team then worked for two days straight. First was cleaning out the rat’s nest which they determined was a fire hazard due the nest materials. With gloves on, Shearer said the thought
that a rodent could creep out of the nest or out from the engine kept everyone on edge. They also found a completely flattened rodent which resembled a pancake. “We had no idea how long that thing was in there for. It was disgusting.” Next, they pressure washed for a few hours. Followed by using a Meguiar’s cutting compound with a rotary buffer. Next was s polish with a dual action buffer followed by a sealant. The results? After two days of working their magic, Shearer said they definitely over delivered. “The customer could not believe how well it looked. They were beyond impressed.
BEFORE
What to do if it happens to you! As Shearer said, with vehicles in this kind of shape and with such a tight deadline, be sure to “under promise and then over deliver.” Be honest with the customer(s) about what you think you can accomplish. Do not exaggerate or oversell. Make sure to enlist a good team of employees who are willing to put in the extra time and effort. Also, take before and after photos to post to Instagram, Facebook and on your website and showcase your hard work and talent.
AFTER
continued . . .
VOL. 2, NO. 4 • FALL 2017 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS |
31