Detailing Your C3
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Mine was painted 12 years ago and has never been waxed. I use Meguiar's #7 on mine too and does make it look better. I also use Westley's for the tires, Mother's aluminum polish on the wheels. No chrome really to speak of on a 79 so no nothing needed there.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
From: Davis CA
I'm a big fan of Meguire's products and use their instant detailer between waxes and their interior quick detailer spray too. That latter one probably isn't that much different than Pledge, but it smells nice and leaves the dash nice without any Armor All greasy finish that I dislike.
As for wax, years ago I started using Nu Finish... the liquid in an orange bottle. I know, not fancy or expensive, but I find it hides swirl marks really well, particularly with two coats applied a week or two apart, it lasts a long time, and it's easy to remove after it dries.
If you haven't tried the clay bar product, you'll be amazed. It really works, particularly if the car hasn't been detailed or spent time outdoors. Paint will come out looking like glass and will be perfectly smooth since all the little contaminants have been removed. A coat of wax after the clay bar and people will think you have new paint... assuming it's good to begin with, of course.
As for wax, years ago I started using Nu Finish... the liquid in an orange bottle. I know, not fancy or expensive, but I find it hides swirl marks really well, particularly with two coats applied a week or two apart, it lasts a long time, and it's easy to remove after it dries.
If you haven't tried the clay bar product, you'll be amazed. It really works, particularly if the car hasn't been detailed or spent time outdoors. Paint will come out looking like glass and will be perfectly smooth since all the little contaminants have been removed. A coat of wax after the clay bar and people will think you have new paint... assuming it's good to begin with, of course.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I still use saddle soap. It's a gentle way to clean leather. Used to use the Lemon Pledge to clean my Top Fuel bike up between rounds at the track. Worked great. Also used it for quick clean up at car shows. This was before all the detailing sprays.
Mike
Mike
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 4
I just picked mine up at paint shop and he made a point to go get the can of what to use and the Liquid glass is what he brought in , sail wax it cool and then pull it out and warm up , then pull it in and wax off , 3 x and then he says a chamois cloth will slide right off your
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I'm a big fan of Meguire's products and use their instant detailer between waxes and their interior quick detailer spray too. That latter one probably isn't that much different than Pledge, but it smells nice and leaves the dash nice without any Armor All greasy finish that I dislike.
As for wax, years ago I started using Nu Finish... the liquid in an orange bottle. I know, not fancy or expensive, but I find it hides swirl marks really well, particularly with two coats applied a week or two apart, it lasts a long time, and it's easy to remove after it dries.
If you haven't tried the clay bar product, you'll be amazed. It really works, particularly if the car hasn't been detailed or spent time outdoors. Paint will come out looking like glass and will be perfectly smooth since all the little contaminants have been removed. A coat of wax after the clay bar and people will think you have new paint... assuming it's good to begin with, of course.
As for wax, years ago I started using Nu Finish... the liquid in an orange bottle. I know, not fancy or expensive, but I find it hides swirl marks really well, particularly with two coats applied a week or two apart, it lasts a long time, and it's easy to remove after it dries.
If you haven't tried the clay bar product, you'll be amazed. It really works, particularly if the car hasn't been detailed or spent time outdoors. Paint will come out looking like glass and will be perfectly smooth since all the little contaminants have been removed. A coat of wax after the clay bar and people will think you have new paint... assuming it's good to begin with, of course.
I started using NuFinish on my '88 35th anniversary and now on my '82. Both white cars look like rolling mirrors. I apply it with a foam pad on my buffer and remove it with a microfiber towel. Goes on easy and wipes off just as easy. Detailed many vehicles with it. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 793
Vette
An interesting post for sure. Amazing to still see some of the products I used back in the 60's. When I purchased my brand new 65 SS Impala in red I got it in the dead of winter and I used so much NU Finish I was apply wax almost every other day. Man the red just never had a chance to think about fading. My detail shop in the late 90's used Liquid Glass as it's premier polish.
Pretty cool!
RVZIO
Pretty cool!
RVZIO