Protecting a Custom Built SEMA Show Car - 1969 Camaro

January 31, 2021

We are SouthWest Florida's New Car Protection Experts servicing Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas. If you are interested in what our services can do for your vehicle please get in touch with us via our Contact Us page, Call (239) 300-9985, or stop by our studio located at 28720 S Diesel Dr Unit #2, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135

A man is polishing a blue car in a garage.

This Custom 69’ Camaro built by BBT Fabrication and painted by Dutchboys Hotrods is one of the most unique and quality built RestoMod’s we have worked on to date! This particular Camaro took years to complete, and we can see why! It has been featured in shows such as SEMA, GoodGuys, and was a PPG Street Machine of the Year Finalist! The owner has now had the vehicle back in the garage and a chance to truly drive this work of art. Our job is to enhance and protect every surface to ensure it can be enjoyed and driven while keeping it pristine!

A man is cleaning a blue car with a yellow sponge.

As every project here at Naples Auto Armour, it starts off with a thorough prep wash removing any contamination like iron fallout, tree sap, and rubber to ensure a clean slate for us to start our protection process. This case being rather unique, the Camaro did not have a top, so everything had to be done inside the studio, with minimal water used.

Once the vehicle is in our shop and under the lights we do a thorough paint inspection to find any damage or paint imperfections that need to be addressed prior to installing our Protection options. In this case, we found lots of swirl marks, and random isolated deep scratches throughout the whole vehicle. Once painted, we are sure the vehicle was properly finished as we found no evidence of sanding marks, and the paintwork appears very flat and texture free. These minor imperfections are most likely the result of performing waterless car washes, and wiping the vehicle down during its numerous car show appearances! These imperfections all addressed on a case by case basis using the least aggressive methods possible. All trim and delicate areas are masked off for safety.

A close up of a blue car 's fender in a garage.

Being a completely custom vehicle, all of our film application will be completely custom applied, and hand trimmed to fit. Our skilled installers will ensure the film not only protects the finish, but compliments the aesthetic and beauty of this Custom 69’ Camaro!

A man is cleaning the hood of a blue car.

A man is working on a blue car in a garage.

A man is applying a protective film to a blue car.

XPEL Ultimate PLUS Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra) is a 10 Year Warranty Thick Protection Film to act as a sacrificial barrier to shield your paintwork from impacts, rock chips, scratches, swirl marks, and environmental contamination. XPEL Paint Protection Film will self-heal light scratches & swirl marks with a light heat application to the film's surface, such as sitting in the sun. Next generation paint protection film formulation will not yellow from UV exposure, ensuring protected areas are nearly invisible. Don't worry about specs, spots, or splotches from contaminants. XPEL Paint Protection Film is stain resistant & will maintain clarity under the harshest conditions. Stop rock chips, nicks & scratches in the paint, and keep your vehicle looking as good as the day it rolled off the lot.

The Fenders of the 69' Camaro posed a large challenge. They require an extremely large sheet of XPEL Paint Protection Film. Combined with being so contoured and curved extending down into where a modern vehicles bumper would be it requires some very advanced stretching techniques to position the film in one seamless piece across the large panel. Even more so difficult to do without stretch marks, and disturbances in the adhesive from such aggressive measures.

A man is wrapping a blue car with plastic wrap.

A person is cleaning a blue car with a green cloth

A man is working on a car wheel with a tool.

The Camaro required the use of XPEL STEALTH Paint Protection Film. Since the lower parts of the vehicle are painted in a Matte Metallic Gray Paintwork, we needed a matte finish film to protect these areas without changing the finish! These intricate areas were fully wrapped (without altering the finish) and now have an 8mil thick Protection Film as a buffer, which is also removable in the event of any larger damage such as scrapes; revealing a completely defect-free and brand new paint surface underneath! Matte finishes are notoriously difficult to maintain and even harder to repair. XPEL STEALTH enables you to easily wash and dry your car without damaging its sheen. XPEL Stealth is Self-Healing, meaning, when exposed to heat, the enhanced clear coat properties eliminate fine scratches and swirl marks over time. XPEL STEALTH features the same superior impact protection as XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS back by their industry-leading 10 year warranty.

A person is putting a piece of plastic on a machine.

A person is holding a piece of green tape over a blue car.

A person is applying a protective film to the bumper of a car.

After the XPEL Paint Protection Film Installation is complete and has gone through many Quality Control procedures to ensure the quality meets our standards we then move on to the next stage of Paint Protection, applying our "Entry Level" 3+ Year Ceramic Coating to all Paint Protection Film, Paintwork, Glass, Trim, and Plastics. This is our MOST POPULAR package, perfect for the new car owner that wants to experience the benefits and protection Ceramic Coatings have to offer but don't see themselves keeping the vehicle for more than 3-5 Years.

Our Entry Level Coating offers 80% of our Elite Ceramic Coating's performance. When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, Gtechniq Ceramic Coatings are the pinnacle in paint protection. Our Entry Level Coating forms an ultra- durable, high-gloss, slick to the touch, chemically bonding inorganic layer of 9h optically clear ceramic. Once applied, gloss levels will remain in the upper 90th percentile for significantly longer when compared to traditional paint protection products, and cleaning your car will be a breeze. This package comes with a Manufacturer 5 Year Guarantee against loss of gloss, staining, and discoloration when following maintenance guidelines.

The final result of our Paint Protection Services is a Custom 1969 Camaro that is protected with the best technology and installation techniques found on the market today, and previously unknown to the SouthWest Florida area. This owner can now enjoy his proud automotive build and most importantly have a worry-free driving/ownership experience knowing his vehicle is protected with the best!

A blue convertible is parked on a lift in a garage.

A blue car is parked in front of a sign that says aples auto agency

A blue convertible is sitting on a lift in a garage.

A blue car with a license plate that says elkane is parked in a garage.

A blue car is parked on a lift in a garage.

These up close photos show how detailed and advanced our Paint Protection Film installations are! The edge of the Paint Protection Film is virtually invisible after our Custom Installation Techniques.