The 5th gen Camaro has become an iconic bodystyle of the early 2010s with a bold blend of classic American muscle styling and modern performance enhancements. The aggressive front fascia, signature halo ring headlights, and sleek body lines add a layer of sophistication to the Camaro’s raw appeal.
This 2013 Chevy Camaro RS came to Eminent Auto Detailing for a 2-step paint correction to remove years of light scratches and swirls, and a 3-year ceramic coating to protect the paint and make future washing easier.
STEP 1: WASH AND DECON
To get the paint ready for polishing, we first do a thorough hand wash and cleaning of the wheels and tires.
Next, we clay the paint to remove contaminants that could not be removed with the handwash. After that, we spray an iron decon on the paint to lift away any iron contamination that hasn’t yet been removed.
STEP 2: PAINT CORRECTION
With the paint properly prepped, we tape off all of the sensitive plastic and rubber areas to protect them from being stained by compound. GM clearcoat is known for being very hard, and this Camaro was no exception. Although this was a 2-step correction, we ended up doing more of a 3-step correction to get the best results. We found that with a dual-action polisher, we were able to remove about 70% of the swirls, but with a rotary, we were able to remove closer to 90% of the swirls.
Because we were doing such a heavy initial cut, the holograms and haze created by the rotary were too severe to be removed by a fine polish. First, we had to go over the area again with a dual-action polisher and medium compound, and then we were able to do a finishing polish to give the paint a flawless and swirl-free finish.
With the age of this car, some deeper scratches and imperfections could not be removed on the trunk lid and roof. Additionally, this vehicle has a repainted hood that doesn’t match exactly with the rest of the car.
STEP 3: CERAMIC COATING
Now that the paint is in the best condition it can be, we can do the final step of applying the ceramic coating. This customer mostly wanted a ceramic coating to make it easier to clean and dry, but didn’t want to go over the top with protection. To accomplish this, we applied a three-year Marathon ceramic coating that will offer amazing hydrophobic properties while also protecting the paint for much longer than any wax or sealant. We also coated the wheel faces and exterior glass.