Restoring faded paintwork

[dsemuk]

Mrs dsemuk (Eileen to those of you who have met her ) has a little pink Corsa, it was red once but over the years it has faded badly. She says the dirt adds character Good job I check the fluids and belts or it would be on the scrap heap by now

Amazingly it has just got through another annual MOT, and as funds are low atm we need to hang onto it for a while longer.

How can I restore some of the redness of the original paintwork? I've got a couple of weeks leave due and would happily spend some of the time trying to smarten up the pink embarresment. Do I need to t-cut each panel and then get plenty of wax worked into it? Or would you recommend other methods / products to use?

I welcome your suggestions (if we could we would buy a second Skoda, but that is not an option atm)

[geordiesteve]

Originally Posted by dsemuk

Do I need to t-cut each panel and then get plenty of wax worked into it?

that should do the job nicely -perhaps t-cut 'colour' in red - never tried it cos i think original t-cut does ok anyway. plenty of elbow grease needed - get her to buy a decent four pack in return!

[C.J.]

This is one VERY big problem with most red cars sadly...well known on the Vauxhall range. It's a pigment/utra violent ray thing apparently.
My Citroen AX faded too..red

The ONLY permanent solution is a respray I'm afraid..that's what I had done.
T cutting is damned hard work, made a little easier with a buffer..about 30 quid from Hellfords, but it will fade again I'm afraid. Even a good polish after won't seal it for long.
How are the wheel arch mouldings too? Bet they are nearly white.
Now I know a man who can at least sort them for you...permanently and without the use of some of the more 'amusing' solutions.

[Stuart_J]

Its a problem on older oil based paints & worse on red, its caused by the oil being drawn out of the top surface by sunlight. T cut will remove the top layer & re expose red paint but its damned hard work & take Great care with any raised areas like creases in panels & edges of panels as its VERY EASY to go through to the primer & then its respray time.

Depending how bad it is you can feed the paint to bring some of it back, have a chat with the Mark Underwood (the wax Wizzard) as he knows what you will need, he can be contacted on 07966 713177

Stuart

[Jimmy]

Dave, I had a mk3 Golf which was a very nice shade of pink aswell. I ended up buying a tub of cutting paste and borrowing an orbital polisher with a 'mop' attachment. Took bloody ages but brought the paintwork up a treat. Finally applied loads of layers of polish and the car stayed red - for a while anyway

[William]

my dad had a pink skoda felicia

[Chavyboy]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Dave, I had a mk3 Golf which was a very nice shade of pink aswell. I ended up buying a tub of cutting paste and borrowing an orbital polisher with a 'mop' attachment. Took bloody ages but brought the paintwork up a treat. Finally applied loads of layers of polish and the car stayed red - for a while anyway

Jimmy I was about to suggest mopping the car as well.