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Paint protection for drive home from Museum?

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Old May 13, 2026 | 08:06 PM
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Default Paint protection for drive home from Museum?

If I take delivery at the Museum, then drive to the Charlotte area (462 miles) am I good with a Novastretch bra and taping the backs of mirrors? For you guys that have done this, just stay clear of 18 wheelers throwing up rocks? How did it go? Is it necessary to get the whole hood and fenders taped by a local shop adjacent to the Museum?
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May 13, 2026, 10:20 PM
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It's a car. If you are genuinely that concerned, I would respectfully suggest having it shipped.
Old May 13, 2026 | 08:16 PM
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I think they make special clear stuff.
But a friend used blue painter's tape when driving his Cobra Daytona Coupe to a show across the state.
Looked odd, but people were so impressed with his car on the road, I don't think they cared.

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Old May 13, 2026 | 08:22 PM
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On trip back home to Charleston, SC with a Carbon Flash Black 2023, I had the Novistretch bra on, but got a chip in the hood 2" above where the bra ended at the frunk opening. New car ... first chip - it's gonna happen!. I've since traded for a 2026 Roswell Green vette due to the chip
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Old May 13, 2026 | 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by JT#7
On trip back home to Charleston, SC with a Carbon Flash Black 2023, I had the Novistretch bra on, but got a chip in the hood 2" above where the bra ended at the frunk opening. New car ... first chip - it's gonna happen!. I've since traded for a 2026 Roswell Green vette due to the chip
So I guess you are saying the entire hood and fenders need to be covered? I saw a Utube where a guy that runs a garage adjacent to the Museum can tape up the entire front . Looks like 5” wide Saran Wrap. Anyway, looked like it would definitely protect the front. No idea what it costs. But you have to leave the car with him for a while. People that want to take delivery before lunch and drive home may have to spend another night there.
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Old May 13, 2026 | 08:47 PM
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Order this roll of temporary PPF, 6 inches wide by 100 feet, enough to do as much as you need.
Amazon Amazon
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Old May 13, 2026 | 09:00 PM
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Agree with post #5 - it's just a matter of how much of the minimal risk you want to take off the table. Even track wrap won't protect from a sizable rock hit
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Old May 13, 2026 | 10:20 PM
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It's a car. If you are genuinely that concerned, I would respectfully suggest having it shipped.
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Old Yesterday | 12:29 AM
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I took delivery at the NCM and drove it home to the Seattle area…no chips. But I used Track Wrap over the whole front fenders and hood/front and used a Nova Stretch bra too. And tried to stay away from trucks.

Good luck, and enjoy your new Vette.
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Old Yesterday | 04:59 AM
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Go with post #5, PPF is very easy to work with, just mix up a battle of the slip solution and rough cut it and put it on….doesn’t have to be near perfect. Probably take to an hour tops to get the front end covered well enough to drive home..I don’t think you will need the tack solution but just in case you have an edge the won’t stick well and you are worried about it pealing up with the wind….
  • Slip Solution: Mix 1 liter of distilled water with 2 ml of baby shampoo. This allows you to position the film freely without it sticking immediately.
  • Tack Solution: Mix 150 ml of 99% isopropyl alcohol with 850 ml of distilled water. Use this to lock the film down, especially at corners and edges. Never exceed 17% alcohol by volume.
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Old Yesterday | 06:42 AM
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I agree with the others, buy some track wrap if you are worried about paint damage
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Old Yesterday | 06:45 AM
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I wouldn’t take expressways for the ride home, considering the break-in period. Select a destination and avoid highways and it’s a win-win.
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Old Yesterday | 10:39 AM
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I used a Novistretch on my 2023 and drove all the way home to Huntington Beach, CA (2320 miles) and no rock chips. Novistretch does come with mirror caps as well, so no need to tape the mirrors. This is the pic when I got home. Looks like Novistretch did it's job.





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Old Yesterday | 10:59 AM
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If you're springing for Museum Delivery, they have a local shop that can do PPF. You can even have it done before you take delivery (you'll just need to sign a waiver). We did this in 2023 and it was great as I didn't have to worry about it. Made it nice as I was doing a 2000 mile road trip home around.
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Old Yesterday | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Ruz
I wouldn’t take expressways for the ride home, considering the break-in period. Select a destination and avoid highways and it’s a win-win.
Yeah, this would be my plan, at least for the first 500 miles.
Break-in procedure says to vary the engine speeds for those first 500, meaning no running the interstate with the cruise on.
Secondary roads, especially twisty ones, with lower speed limits and towns to roll through, is about as good as it gets for that initial break-in.
Go on google maps and set the route preference for "Avoid Highways" and it will route you off the interstates.
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Old Yesterday | 11:56 AM
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If it was mine, I’d get in it, push the start button and drive home.
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Old Yesterday | 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Dale06
If it was mine, I’d get in it, push the start button and drive home.
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Old Yesterday | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Ltngdrvr
Order this roll of temporary PPF, 6 inches wide by 100 feet, enough to do as much as you need.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...FAVCBPE9&psc=1

That's what I did for my C8 NCM delivery. Drove it much farther than your trip. Start at the windshield end of the hood and overlap the edges slightly as you work towards the front. That way the leading edge is protected from getting pulled off by the air flow at speed. I also put some on the rocker panels behind the front tires. Got it home with no issues. Took it to Xpel shop for PPF and they took care of removing the temporary TracWrap.

Last edited by Zymurgy; Yesterday at 01:17 PM.
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