Getting ready for car show

I've never entered a car show before and curious what they're (judges?) are looking for and how detailed. I recently cleaned up my interior and exterior but found a few areas difficult to get the dust out of. As I was cleaning it occurred to me maybe you could use the same spray that you use to clean your computer with. I'm sure 100's of thousands of others came up with this same idea before me.

My concern is the spray is freezing and I just want to be sure I won't be damaging anything. Areas I'm looking at is things like the air vents, some areas of the convertible top. And, pretty much any area you can't get your fingers into.

Just get it as clean as you can and take a spray detailer with you to maintain. Enjoy!

Thanks 86GT351

Q-Tips & make-up brushes are your friend for those little nooks/crannies.

So, how did it go? What was your experience?

I am getting the car ready for a car show that is a little over a month away. I know I'm starting early and asking question about what judges are looking for. I was drafted in 1961 and spent over a year as a Drill Instructor and then sent to the 6th Army Honor Guard unit at the Presideo of San Francisco. (I thought I knew how to dress until I was assigned to that unit. Up, on a step stool and step down into your trousers so as not to make any wrinkles in the pants type stuff.) I didn't know of judging was white glove or they walk by and say that's nice.

I like the makeup brushes idea, thanks.

Anyway, this will be my first time entering my car and have been getting advice/ information as to products to use and what are Judges looking for. As usual this site has been a wealth of information.

My car is my stress reliever, my wife is in her fourth year of dementia, and I am her sole caretaker. Thus, my car is probably one of the most waxed cars in Idaho. There's a very good chance that I am one of, if not the oldest member on this site. I'll be 85 in three months.

I will post the results of the car show.

God bless you, your lovely Wife and that gorgeous Mustang!

Thanks. As a results of suggestions off this site I have bought 4 different products to get the car ready. Working on the car as I can.

Ret said:

I am getting the car ready for a car show that is a little over a month away. I know I'm starting early and asking question about what judges are looking for. I was drafted in 1961 and spent over a year as a Drill Instructor and then sent to the 6th Army Honor Guard unit at the Presideo of San Francisco. (I thought I knew how to dress until I was assigned to that unit. Up, on a step stool and step down into your trousers so as not to make any wrinkles in the pants type stuff.) I didn't know of judging was white glove or they walk by and say that's nice.

I like the makeup brushes idea, thanks.

Anyway, this will be my first time entering my car and have been getting advice/ information as to products to use and what are Judges looking for. As usual this site has been a wealth of information.

My car is my stress reliever, my wife is in her fourth year of dementia, and I am her sole caretaker. Thus, my car is probably one of the most waxed cars in Idaho. There's a very good chance that I am one of, if not the oldest member on this site. I'll be 85 in three months.

I will post the results of the car show.

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A-ha, understand. It it a Mustang Club of America (MCA) hosted/sponsored show? Or a loca show? I have participated in many MCA shows and they are kind of "white glove" inspections when it comes to cleaningness and condition. If you dont know, there is nothing wrong with asking the show organizers what kind of judging it will be. If the show is participant judged, then cleaningness at the "white glove" level is not that important.

The Show is put on by the Inland Empire Mustang Car Club out of Spokane, Wa. Great idea to contact them about the type of judging thanks.

Is it the Aug 5 show? I just saw on their website that it is participant ballot -- which means that everyone who entered the show will be able to vote based on the categories of the show. The also stated that host club cannot vote and that's a good thing, because it rules out them voting for each other (buddy system). Participant ballot is just that, not one goes around with a checklist looking for stuff. Normally folks vote for whatever car they think is coolest than the next one.

Yes, that's the one. We don't go to many of the meetings as it's about 180 miles round trip to where they meet. I think, they said something about the voting but I really didn't know what that all meant until you explained it.

My son is flying out to go to the car show with me. He too is a Mustang enthusiast, and my car will go to him when I can no longer drive it.

I usually enter a charity show in June. I don't win anything.

I go over the instruments and horizontal surfaces in the interior with a microfiber dust mitt like https://www.speedcleaning.com/Speed-Cleaning™-Microfiber-Mitt_p_83.html. Then I vacuum everything until the vacuum won't pick up anything else. Don't forget the trunk.

I use saddle soap and a microfiber cloth on the seats and dash. Once a year or so, I'll apply Johnson's was to the seats.

Put a trash bag over your motor and wash and wax the underside of your hood. Then get the engine compartment. Don't forget the bottom of the trunk lid, though you can't really use a hose for much.

Vacuum off your motor as best you can. Don't wash the motor unless you have compressed air ready to dry it immediately. If you don't have compressed air, you might be able to get by with a damp cloth or wipes like https://www.stp.com/product/cleaning-engine-degreasing-wipes/.

Clean your exhaust tips. Then polish them with a good metal polish.

Before you wash & wax the exterior, wash the painted surfaces on the inside and bottom of the doors. When you rinse the outside, it should rinse away most of the suds. I like Turtle Wax car wash, but any car wash concentrate should work. Wash and dry your car.

If you have tar on your car, bug & tar remover works ok. WD-40 takes off a lot. The STP wipes work well. Mr Clean Magic Erasers work pretty well too.

Wax it. I like Nu Finish b/c you only use it once a year, and it works great. I guess ceramic product are the hot, new product. I'll try them when my Nu Finish bottle is empty.

Once your car has been waxed and it's sat dry for a day, use a preservative like Armor All on all your plastic, interior, exterior, and under the hood. Few things are more annoying than trying to apply a preservative on wet plastic.

In 2022 some people mistook my 08 for a new car that was the raffle prize.

I loved my white 08 GT/CS convertible but was disappointed with the interior. So, now have the 2012 with about everything you could desire.

Thanks for all the information Master of Disaster. I tried the ceramic last year, looked great but don't know if it lasted anymore than a wax job. But in fairness, I'm to old to put all the required effort into it.

And, MADGT, I followed your suggestion and contacted one of the officers of the club. He pretty much said the same as listed as above with a little emphasis on white glove.