So how easy is to look after a bare aluminium bodied car?
Discussion
Hi, I'm still trying to establish the spec for my first 7. As the title says could anyone advise on how easy or difficult it is to keep a bare alloy'd bodied car looking good.
Does is take a lot more care and effort than a painted car? Are scratches and marks easy or more difficult to remove?
Also should it be painted at a later date how difficult and expensive would it be?
Does is take a lot more care and effort than a painted car? Are scratches and marks easy or more difficult to remove?
Also should it be painted at a later date how difficult and expensive would it be?
I have had my bare aluminium '96 Seven from new. It's a lot more work than a painted car, aluminium polish requiring a lot more muscle power. I do it all by hand, the bonnet alone taking more than 2 hours (working around the louvres). What you get is very satisfying though, not many other cars around with such a bodywork around. I have to say though that I think modern Caterhams have lost the classic look and that an aluminium finish doesn't go very well with them.
mickrick said:
It's worth the extra work IMO 
You've just illustrated one of my gripes. That is an exceptional car, an ordinary Aluminium bodied car will have fibreglass nose cone and wings and that looks odd in my opinion. Aluminium takes a lot of work to keep it looking good, especially if you're going to use the car regularly and in all conditions. You cannot rectify small dents or deep scratches and if you leave it alone it'll corrode and dull very quickly.
Painting at a later stage will cost somewhere in the region of 800-1000 quid for a good job assuming you don't mind doing some disassembly / reassembly yourself.
The aluminium is very soft, and does scratch easily, but it's just as easy to polish the scratches out.
By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
If you polish it properly, it actually protects the aluminium. It wont pit and corrode as people seem to think.
Does anyone remember the old American Airlines livery? I used the same polish they used on those aircraft.
Have a look at this Vid, you may need to skip through it, unless you are a sick puppy like me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggoYMs4Jy2g
Once you have it polished, all you need to do to keep it up, is wash with soapy water, and buff off with a soft cloth. I use fleece.
A refresh with the finish grade once or twice a year, will keep it pristine. I did a lot of research before I did my car, and I also got a lot of advice from the fellow who made the body parts. He knows a thing or two about aloominum
Does anyone remember the old American Airlines livery? I used the same polish they used on those aircraft.
Have a look at this Vid, you may need to skip through it, unless you are a sick puppy like me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggoYMs4Jy2g
Once you have it polished, all you need to do to keep it up, is wash with soapy water, and buff off with a soft cloth. I use fleece.
A refresh with the finish grade once or twice a year, will keep it pristine. I did a lot of research before I did my car, and I also got a lot of advice from the fellow who made the body parts. He knows a thing or two about aloominum
Edited by mickrick on Monday 24th November 19:10
Thanks guys,
Some very interesting points. The one thing that worries me about a painted car is maintaining the finish; once the paints damaged that's it and it need sorting by a professional. It sounds as though with a bare alloy car you at least stand a chance of getting it back providing you've looked after it. Unfortunately I'm far to anal about maintaining the condition of my toys!
Presumably it should be possible to mechanically polish the car?
Mickrick your car looks fantastic! I particularly like the idea of the alloy nose. Sorry for being cheeky but was it difficult and expensive to have made?
Some very interesting points. The one thing that worries me about a painted car is maintaining the finish; once the paints damaged that's it and it need sorting by a professional. It sounds as though with a bare alloy car you at least stand a chance of getting it back providing you've looked after it. Unfortunately I'm far to anal about maintaining the condition of my toys!
Presumably it should be possible to mechanically polish the car?
Mickrick your car looks fantastic! I particularly like the idea of the alloy nose. Sorry for being cheeky but was it difficult and expensive to have made?
mickrick said:
The aluminium is very soft, and does scratch easily, but it's just as easy to polish the scratches out.
By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
3 years and it isn't on the road yet??By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
REALIST123 said:
mickrick said:
The aluminium is very soft, and does scratch easily, but it's just as easy to polish the scratches out.
By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
3 years and it isn't on the road yet??By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
OP, thank you for the compliment
Yes it was expensive. But if you consider the fellow who made the parts has over 40 years experience in the art, then no it wasn't He makes a nice cuppa, if you're down that way http://www.mphmotorpanels.com/index.htmETA, ref mechanically polishing, I did most of mine with a "Cyclo" polisher. http://www.cyclotoolmakers.com/index1.php
Edited by mickrick on Monday 24th November 20:45
mickrick said:
REALIST123 said:
mickrick said:
The aluminium is very soft, and does scratch easily, but it's just as easy to polish the scratches out.
By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
3 years and it isn't on the road yet??By polishing the surface you are actually making it less prone to corrosion. I will admit that my car will never be an every day driver, but if you use the right polish, you'd be amazed at how long it will keep its shine.
My car in the picture above was polished over three years ago, it obviously isn't on the road yet, but I haven't done it since, and it still looks like it does in the picture.
The only other downside is that dents can't be filled, but if you can get to the back of the dent, you can tease it out.
I actually like the look of an aluminium car with composite nose cone and wings, especially in black with alloy.
I originally wanted carbon and alloy, but couldn't find anyone who made decent pre-preg carbon parts for an SV, so I decided to go all aloominum
OP, thank you for the compliment
Yes it was expensive. But if you consider the fellow who made the parts has over 40 years experience in the art, then no it wasn't He makes a nice cuppa, if you're down that way http://www.mphmotorpanels.com/index.htmETA, ref mechanically polishing, I did most of mine with a "Cyclo" polisher. http://www.cyclotoolmakers.com/index1.php
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 24th November 20:45
Bare ali'.. "Mothers mag" once or twice a summer and it will be fine.
more if your into blinding other road users
and its not much (if any) difficult to paint at a later date. the Ali' still has to be acid etched if its direct from factory or been on the road for a few years.
Do it.. Ali cars look great.
If you want non std colours.. look at getting the wings n nose wrapped or DIY plasti-dip as a tempory thing.. dont like it.. 30min n its back to stock.
more if your into blinding other road users
and its not much (if any) difficult to paint at a later date. the Ali' still has to be acid etched if its direct from factory or been on the road for a few years.
Do it.. Ali cars look great.
If you want non std colours.. look at getting the wings n nose wrapped or DIY plasti-dip as a tempory thing.. dont like it.. 30min n its back to stock.
AR1772 said:
Thanks guys,
Some very interesting points. The one thing that worries me about a painted car is maintaining the finish; once the paints damaged that's it and it need sorting by a professional. It sounds as though with a bare alloy car you at least stand a chance of getting it back providing you've looked after it. Unfortunately I'm far to anal about maintaining the condition of my toys!
As was explained to me many years ago just get a handful of gravel chuck it up the side of the 'perfect finish' then get in the car and enjoy driving it Some very interesting points. The one thing that worries me about a painted car is maintaining the finish; once the paints damaged that's it and it need sorting by a professional. It sounds as though with a bare alloy car you at least stand a chance of getting it back providing you've looked after it. Unfortunately I'm far to anal about maintaining the condition of my toys!
to be honest I am fastidious and a bit of a polisher but I no longer worry if it get's a stone chip.......and its when not if. Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff