Rare, original paint colors are somewhat of a holy grail for us here at NorthWest Auto Salon. Throughout automotive history, almost any given manufacturer has produced one or more of its more prized models in some sort of “special edition” paint option, or as a “by-order only” exclusive. Sadly (or fortunately, if you’re a collector) many of these colors tend to be too risque for most consumers, so they rarely get produced or even gain any real mainstream appeal until it’s too late. Sure, you can always get a respray to something more exciting, or even a custom color vehicle wrap, but the value of a original, factory oddity simply cannot be compared to.
So when we heard an all original, Blue Turquoise 993 Porsche would be paying us an extended visit for some extensive exterior & interior reconditioning, needless to say we were incredibly excited to take a peek at such a prized P-car!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
It arrived on a bright, sunny morning, looking loved, but ready for a higher standard of auto detail.
At first glace, the Blue Turquoise color alone is enough to keep most anyone distracted from the surface flaws. Surely, one would think that any previous owner(s) of such a rare paint option would take the utmost care in regards to maintaining the finish quality of their vehicle, but that simply isn’t always the case. It appeared at the very least, that the car had seen some damage from a number of broomed washes as well as some rather unsavory buffing, and then some. Between the extensive buffer swirls throughout, heavy scratches, and a rather nasty looking bit of surface damage on the hood , this 993 had more than enough of a cause for correction.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
In cases like this, the sun can be one of the most powerful tools at our disposal for spotting surface damage. Sometimes, it just hurts to look at, in more ways than one!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
After a thorough inspection outside, we wheeled her into the wash bay to begin the extensive, multi-stage, 50 step hand wash to kick off the start of this 993’s complete Fanatic treatment.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Once on the lift, the team began pulling the wheels, bumperettes, and taping off all the necessary components to prep the engine bay for cleaning.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
There was a significant amount of dirt & engine grime built up in the nooks & crannies of the 993, but nothing out of reach.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
While Solo plugged away on the grit & grime around the motor, Brian began cleaning, polishing, and waxing up the wheels from inside out.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
The wheel wells & undercarriage had a pretty considerable amount of dirt, dust, and general nastiness starting to build up that had to go. After concocting a rather strong batch of grime remover, Solo sprayed her all down & let it soak in a bit before scrubbing it back to blue. We even rolled the wheels into the cyclorama for some shots once they were cleaned & sealed up!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Though it still isn’t spotless, this is about as close to “factory fresh” as a 16 year old car can get!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
With that, Solomon cleaned up the brakes & applied a little bit of polish by hand before Brian re-mounted the wheels.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Once the initial wash had been completed, we repositioned the 993 out on the shop floor so that Ryan could begin some minor paintless dent repair, while the guys set to work pulling headlights, badges, and removing the clear bra.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
The clear bra looked bad enough to be original. While we understand letting a product stand the test of time, and wanting to protect an investment for as long as possible, there is a threshold at which something can be effective, or just become more trouble than it’s really worth. If the clear bra is starting to cloud significantly, yellowing, and looks infinitely more scratched and damaged than the paint it’s trying to protect, chances are it might be time to remove & replace it.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Sadly, this cars clear bra had become so brittle that its removal would ultimately take almost more time than installing a new kit! Using a generous amount of alcohol and tedious finger work, Solo pulled off the rocker patches inch by inch.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Once the vinyl was off, it was time for a full clay bar decontamination to prep it for 3 stages of paint correction.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
One thing we spotted when we removed the hood badge was an original paint sticker, left behind by whomever sprayed the car up with Blue Turquoise way back when. When securing a collectible car that is a supposedly an original paint color, this is the type of thing to keep an eye out for. Most people wouldn’t know where to look, which is just another reason to always do your research!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
With her all decontaminated, Solomon set to work on a 3- Stage machine buff and polish with Menzerna.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Not before long, the paint started to correct out and we began to see something closer to the level of clarity that we strive for. After most of the major paint correction had been completed, it was time to asses some of the minor blemishes and get to work on reconditioning the 993s interior.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Using a fine point applicator, a bit of touch-up paint was applied to some of the more visible & problematic chips along the door edges, front clip, and hood.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
While the touch-up set up, it was time to get to work on the guts of the Fanatic Detail. All leather surfaces received 24 hours of deep conditioning, while all the cabin & bonnet carpets were fully vacuumed & steam cleaned with our hot water extraction system.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
With the rear leathers marinating, Solo removed the front buckets to polish up their matching Blue Turquoise seat backs.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Color matched or accenting seat backs aren’t super common nowadays, but it’s definitely a styling must for any aspiring Porsche owner. They look classy in black gloss, sporty in red, and especially brilliant in Blue Turquoise. While the seat backs weren’t particularly rough or damaged, seeing them all polished up really set the interior off & made it all look like new again.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Once the interior detail was all wrapped up, the Porsche was moved over to the paint protection installation bay, so that Tim could work some magic. Instead of replacing the die-cut side pieces, he just went ahead and installed full frontal clear bra protection, and ran significantly larger pieces of PPF on the rear fender arches to maximize coverage and prevent any further paint damage from rocks & road kick up.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
After the clear bra was completed, all the lamps & markers went back in, and the 993 moved back into the wash bay for a final snow foam & hand wash to make sure any left behind product & residue would be removed from the vehicles surface.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
In the cyclorama, she looks almost as good as new. The diffused lighting of the photo studio brings out the rich blue tonalities in the turquoise, and it’s tough to tell that this air-cooled bluenicorn was ever as worn as when she showed up to the shop.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
The leathers are supple and & moisturized, carpets still showing lines from the vacuum, and even the embroidery is free of dirt & dust particles, looking like it was freshly stitched.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Popping the boot reveals an engine bay clean enough to eat off of. All the little cracks and crevasses where grease and grime once hid are now free & clear, exposing more of the beautiful factory Blue Turquoise paint behind where the power lies.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Every inch, from each individual piece of wheel hardware, to the tiniest details on the hood badge shine like new, fresh & free of blemishes.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
The vibrant, bold paint color definitely helps make this car eye catching, but truly the 993 is one of those models that looks good from nearly every angle regardless of hue!
Even with the best inspection & most careful detailing, the sun is the ultimate “tell” for finish quality. While she didn’t look as damaged as when she came in, light scratching and some very minor swirls were still visible under hard lighting outside.
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
Nevertheless, 3 stages of paint correction later, and this rare Porsche was finally looking more like a garage queen. No more nasty checking across the hood, unsightly spider-webbed swirls, or “brushed” paintwork. Now, she shines like the sky on a cloud-free day!
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
NWAS fanatic detail paint correction rare Blue Turquoise 993 Fanatic Detail
For more information on our Fanatic Detail service or the paint protection options we offer, click here or feel free to contact us with questions.