When the Porsche DP Slant Nose was originally released, Top Speed Magazine said that “readers may notice similarities between Gemballa and Rinspeed Porsche conversions as they both place great emphasis on luxurious interiors and unusual exterior treatments as part of the overall modifications; however DP MOTORSPORTS has followed a different route. Whist their cars are designed for high speed hauling on the highways they could also participate in the Le Mans 24 Hour race without being disgraced.” And race they did. Ekkehard Zimmermann, the founder of DP Motorsports, built these same cars to eventually win the 1979 Le Mans 24 hour race. This is arguably the most prestigious and grueling race in the world so winning gave his company and the cars they made huge credibility world wide. The fact that this car is still considered fast is a true testament to how ahead of its time this vehicle really was. With 400hp coming from a 3.3 liter flat 6 and a top speed of over 180 mph, this car was, and still is, a monster. Due to its extensive racing pedigree, it is obvious why Mario Andretti, a professional racing driver and car enthusiast, purchased one for himself. After changing hands and eventually ending up with a private collector in Seattle, we had the esteemed privilege of detailing this piece of automotive history.
As with any of our vehicles, the first step of this connoisseur detail was a full hand wash
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
The next step is to clay bar the vehicles surface. If the car was polished right after a wash without a clay bar, any contaminants left on the paint would be picked up by the pad of the polisher and cause even worse defects (rids and “pig tails”) then the ones they were originally trying to remedy.
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
The next step was to apply painters tape to all the edges and seems of the vehicle and assess the current condition of the paint and figure out a game plan for the correction process. This is done by first measuring the paint depth.
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
During the slant nose conversion process, only a few of the original body panels are left alone. One of these being the roof. Because the roof is made of metal, a conventional paint depth gauge can get a reading no problem. However, the rest of the bodywork has been done in carbon fiber and kevlar. Because a conventional paint depth gauge works by measuring the space between metal body panels and the meter itself, it makes it impossible to get a reading paint depth reading on composite panels such as carbon, Kevlar or fiberglass.
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
While the paint wasn’t in horrible shape for a vehicle of its age, it had serious wash scratches throughout the entirety of the vehicles finish.
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Finally, it was time for the good part. During the polishing process, watching the paint transform literally before your eyes is quite a sight.
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Not only the paint was polished but the exhaust was also brought back to a “like new” shine
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Check out the difference between the left (polished) and right (unpolished) side!
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
During this process the interior was also refreshed
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Now for a protective coat of wax
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
And now for the photos you have been waiting for, the afters!
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Seattle Auto Detailing NorthWest Auto Salon Porsche DP 935 Slant Nose Mario Andretti
Hope you enjoyed the write up as much as we did detailing process!
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