I spent about 10 hours this weekend sprucing up the 81.  My typical spring cleaning for all my cars goes like this for the exterior..  Wash/Clay/Wash/Wax.....    The guy at the shop recommended to use the Meguires 3 stage cleaner/polish/wax.   I thought my car looked good before.  HOLY SMOKE!  The paint looks like its dripping wet!  I could not believe the difference and most important, went on and off with no elbow grease.  Terrific ROI on this product.  All 3 stages took me about 90 - 120 minutes.  It was a 50 degree day and overcast.  BTW, the car is beige.  Just mentioning because I've used products that worked better on different colors...  Regards!  Kevin.. 

Wow.....I searched this forum back 1 year, and this is the only thread I found on cleaning the extierior.
Anyway, I am asking for input/advice.
I was asked(by my local 'Vette club members) to enter my '74 in the "Auto-Rama" custom/rod show here in Dallas. I have a few problems, tho.
The last show I went to in this car, I apparently got some tree sap on it. I've had this car since 1997, and it's been washed exactly TWICE!! It stays in the garage, under a cover. I had a polymer coating put on it in '98, but that is gone now, since the car has been painted 5 times, trying to correct a screw-up(don't get me started on THAT!).
Anyway, what I would like to find out is what kind of cleaning products ya'll use on your cars I need to clean it this weekend, as the Auto-Rama starts next Thurs. I only need to get the tree sap off. The car is not really "dirty". Also, I really don't want to "wash" it. I spent too much time on the chassis detail to have to start over on that. If I wash the car, the under-side is gonna get nasty. ( I know.....what a wuss/garage queen. )
Also.....my tires have a dull, brownish color on the sidewalls, I presume the after-effects of using a tire "shine/wet" product in the past. Normal soap & water will not get this stuff off. Solvents will, but I don't want to use a harsh, petroleum-based product on rubber. Any idears on this
Thanx in advance!!    

Adam, to get the sap off, you can use diesel fuel.  Put some on a soft rag, & only use on the spots they will disolve then you have to wash the car.  Then I use McGuires Gold polish, it does make the car sparkle.  As for the white walls, use a Brillo pad, that should take all the old crusties off.

Bob

Goo Gone on tree sap, or any orange-based cleaner should work.  You can buy spot applicators to reduce the amount needed and to pinpoint the area to be cleaned.

I'm not sure on the tires.  I know I hate that brown-ness that I get on them as well, so if you find a cure let us all know what it is.

 

I was using Mequiar's Gold Class until I tried Griot's Garage Best of Show Wax. It's the best I've ever used, not to disparage Mequiar's but the Griot's is simply superior.    It makes the original finish on my '78 look like it has clear coat. My '69 looks like the finish is a foot deep after using the Griot's.

I also use Brillo pads on whitewalls and white letters on tires. It definitely gets them clean then I put a good tire dressing on afterwards to keet the tires looking good.

    I HAVE BEEN USING MEGUIARS PRODUCTS FOR YEARS AND AM SOLD ON THEM. THE DEEP CRYSTAL POLISH AND WAX ARE OUTSTANDING ON DARK COLORS AND REDS.....I'VE TRIED THEM ALL AND AM DEFINITELY SOLD ON THEIR PRODUCTS........

                              REID '72 T-TOP

Thanx for the input, guys!
I got the Meguires stuff today: cleaner/polish/wax "system". I had to look in the barn for a while for my buffer/polisher, and then found it in the garage, in one of the cabinets! I've tried a lot of diff. stuff over the years, but I'm really picky about the '74, and what goes on it. I've used some stuff that has made the cars look worse. I'm gonna give "The System" a shot, and see whut happens. Tick-tock-Tick-tock-Tick-tock-

I too am a user of Meguiar's products, but for a quick detailer I use Buffalo Milke. The combo of Meguiar's and Buffalo Milke products seems to be the best fit for me - on all of my cars.

 

I use Wesley's Bleach White on tires. It does a good job with very little scrubbing. Then the tire dressing. There's plenty of choices out there, but I've mostly stuck with ArmorAll. I've found you can dilute it up to 50% with water and it still gives the tires a good shine.

try brake fluid on the tires , wipe it on and it makes them look new, don't know if it removes  the brown but it is worth the try since it won't hurt the tires and is cheap to buy.