I realize this is not directly Mini related, but being a member and respecting the opinions and experience of all who read and subscribe here is the dilema. I couldn't find any good advice on other forums.

First, I am a Zaino man, (or Zainoman?), but that doesn't help. Bought the 19 yr old daughter a '99 Mustang convert. 88K miles, not bad. Knew the car had been painted before I bought it, but the deal still worked.

Now the hard question. The cars original finish is faded very badly. The problem is the hood was obviously painted and the fenders were not. We clayed and waxed the car today w/Meguires. (sorry the Zaino is for the Mini). And everything came out ok, but just made the difference between the painted and faded panels stand out more. The newer paint is good, but is there anything I can do to get old 7 yr old FORD paint to come back? I'm afraid there is not enough left to bring back so to speak and don't want to ruin what is there. It shines, and is in good shape, but just badly faded.

Tough question, but I ain't goin' to get a 7 yr old mustang painted.

Any help is appreciated from those fathers with daughters that will or have faced this transportation crisis.

 

It is quiet possible that the paint is just oxidized and a little bit of rubbing compound will bring it back to life. A buffer would be the easiest way to do the job but it could be accomplished by hand.

 

Ugh, I just had a long reply deleted by my browser.......

Please take some pix so we can evaluate the finish. If possible position the new paint next to the old paint in the same picture. Such as a hood/versus fender...


Shoot some closeups in the sun to show what the finish looks like--swirled our Porsche finish


While a '65 Mustang differs quite a bit from a '99, this is just to show you what buffing can do to paint when done correctly. No repainting performed.

BEFORE

AFTER


Buffed and waxed on left, original condition on right--dew from sitting outside overnight.


As for rubbing compounds---stay far far away from them, atleast the old traditional sharp, coarse, abrasive compounds. They will do more harm than good.

 

Before you start going nuts with detailing and polishing (and by all means, do so!), remember that that paint has faded for 7 years, the other paint has not. They may have tried to match the new paint to the faded old paint, but it is never very exact, and there are different brands and mixtures and chemicals between the two. There may be nothing you an do except repaint everything, or maybe get an old hood from a junkyard where the paint has faded similarly for a better match. The key word to all of this is May!