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The art of getting your car concours ready
#1

Getting a car to concours level is no easy task. There are so many rules that applies. I have entered mine in a Concours competition in Petaluma, Norcal in September. It's only August but the prep work has started. My car will be entered in the Unrestored category. 75% unrestored and minimum 21 years old.

 

Today I started in the trunk. Got the spare out, cleaned it, vacumed the bottom, washed it out. Then coated the tire with gloss.

Cleaned out ashtray and re coated it.

 

 

The very beginning of a long road to the Concours level

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#2

Don't put too much gloss on the tire, if it is oily, the judge will deduct points. Has to be dry to the touch.
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#3

Does the color of your tire match that of your car?
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#4

GEEEEE....I hope not, in that case my car would be black!!.....LOL

 

The process of getting it there is long. I have one month to finish the car. I do it little by little every day....two to three hours. Good thing here in Norcal is that we do not get rain until October. I will post pictures of the progress as we go.

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#5

Good topic - thanks.

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#6

Do you leave your car outside while your concouring it?
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#7

that a mark down, the gear shift gaiter is the wrong colour 

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1992 968 Coupe

1986 Honda VF1000 FII

2016 Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design

 
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#8

You have more patience than me. I lose interest before I get finish waxing it. I look forward to following your journey.
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#9

I think patience is the key to success. To answer some questions. I take the car outside when I need to inspect it for cleanness. Otherwise the garage is the work shop. Gear knob wrong color??....This car will fall into the  "unrestored" category. Small upgrades will not be judged.

Over the weekend I spent many hours working on the trunk. It is now in concours condition and the photo will show the concours presentation. Not sure if the manual and service leather book belongs here or in the glove compartment. Will figure that out.

 

 

   

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#10

Does it help to lay out $ in an envelope for the judges?
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#11

Good idea, a few hundred dollar bills sticking out of the manual book?

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#12

Finished most of the engine compartment today. Got an early start. Still a lot of detailing to do but I have plenty of time. Some areas very hard to get to. I stay away from chemicals and use only water (limited) and towels. I am happy to start this process early as it is so time consuming.

 

   

 

   

 

   

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#13

Owners manual should be in the glove box. Take out misc papers you may have put in the manual, such as insurance card, registration, etc. Only stuff that came from the factory. Some judges can be anal.


Loose bills only, generally left in the various judged sections of the car so all judges can see how clean the bills are :-)
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#14

Thanks Bob, already removed "alien" stuff from manual book. Next job will be interior. That will have to wait a couple of days. Cruising the coast tomorrow with an old friend.

 

LOL...loose bills Bob...hundreds OK?

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#15

Do the judges mark down for repairs to known "weak" areas of the vehicle? For example, would it be better to have broken glove box stops or the aluminum aftermarket replacements that are functional, but not stock?

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1992 968 Cabriolet

Volvo S60 Turbo AWD

Lexus RX 300 AWD

 
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#16

Good question. I have had to repair my glove box and install the after market metal hinges. Not sure if that would deduct any points. Keep in mind this is still in the unrestored category

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#17

what to do and how far to go all comes down to the category in which the car is entered.  i would carefully read the rules of the event.

 

wash and shine, like most PCA events, is pretty easy.  they don't look under the car.  they don't care about most mods.  it's just about how clean the car is.

 

prepared class is more about the mods, and is generally reserved for track cars.

 

full concours and it had better be 100% original, and barely driven.  i know a couple of 968 guys who run full concours, and they are crazy about every spec of dirt, including the underside of the car, suspension bits, and every head of every screw.  last i checked, there is one guy that pretty much wins everything 968 on the west coast.  his car is original and immaculate.  he goes through a box of q-tips on every event.  most of the guys who win trailer the car to the event, and then only drive it from the parking lot to the display area, due to wanting to avoid the gunk they would pick up on the road along the way.  i did that too.

 

councours guys are a special breed.  i did a few events, and won a couple of them, but eventually i found the politics and such too frustrating (judges just don't like or don't know the 968), and preferred to do driving events with guys who liked the car.  i also lack the patience needed to prep a car, and get every detail.  as a result, i pay guys to do that.  good luck with that world.  you're a better man than i.

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94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
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#18

Wait wait wait. You lack patience? When in the Lords good name did that happen? I have always found you to be one of the most patient, thoughtful and caring person I know. Please say it ain’t so!
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#19

Quote:Good question. I have had to repair my glove box and install the after market metal hinges. Not sure if that would deduct any points. Keep in mind this is still in the unrestored category
 

 

I got round that issue, I bought a cheap Black Plastic tool box with the almost correct radius on the corners, and chopped out the bits I wanted for hinges,

 

you would need a comparison original part to see the fix
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1992 968 Coupe

1986 Honda VF1000 FII

2016 Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design

 
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#20

lol - rap - an observation i have made recently, based on what is happening lately in american politics -  it seems to the outside observer that you don't have to be thoughtful or caring if you have money.  you should hear the kinds of things people are saying over here.

 

back on topic - the last time i priced the glove box internals with the hinge stop arms it was $900!!!  based on that, i don't think any judge would ding you for whatever fix you used.

 

philosophical question:  if you fix something broken, worn, torn, tired, or faded, it is considered "restoring"?

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94 Midnight Metallic Blue Cab Porsche 968 w/deviating cashmere/black interior and WAY too many mods to list - thanks to eric for creating www.968forums.com



"It isn't nearly as expensive to do it right as it is to do it wrong."
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