From Dull to Dazzling: The 2-Day Restoration of a Tangerine Scream Focus ST
- kyle
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
If you own a performance car in a high impact colour like Ford’s Tangerine Scream, you know the struggle. When the paint is clean, it’s a head turner. But when it’s covered in fallout, tar, and swirl marks, that vibrant pearlescent glow simply disappears.
I know what you’re thinking: "It’s just a wash and wax, right?" Actually, to get a finish that truly glows and stays that way for three years requires a level of "surgical" cleanliness that a standard valet service just can't reach. In this post, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a recent two day project on a 2016 Ford Focus ST to show you exactly how we achieve that "blown away" result for our clients.
The Problem: Why "Shiny" Isn't Always Clean
Most car owners focus on the shine, but true gloss comes from the smoothness of the surface. This Focus ST came to us with years of accumulated road grime, iron fallout, and light surface scratching that acted like a veil over the orange paint.
My philosophy is simple: You cannot protect what you haven't perfected. Applying a ceramic coating over contaminated paint is like putting a diamond ring in a dirty box. It just doesn't work.
Day 1: The "Wet Work" and Chemical Decontamination
We started Day 1 with a mission: remove every microscopic particle bonded to the paint.
Deep Chemical Cleanse
We began with a multi stage chemical wash. We used specialized cleaners to dissolve iron fallout (those tiny orange spots you see on wheels and paint) and solvent based cleaners to melt away tar and glue.
The Clay Bar Process
Even after a chemical wash, the paint felt "sandpapery." I used a clay bar to physically pull the remaining embedded grit out of the pores of the paint. By the time the "wet work" was done, the surface was smooth to the touch, and the engine bay had been detailed to match the exterior.
Starting the Correction
In the afternoon, I moved on to the single stage machine polish. This isn't about just spreading product, it’s about using heat and friction to level the clear coat and remove the light scratches that cause light to scatter rather than reflect.
Day 2: 10 Hours of Precision Polishing
Day 2 is where the magic happens and where the hard work really begins. The Pursuit of Perfection
I spent approximately 10 hours behind the machine polisher on Day 2. My goal was to enhance the gloss level to its absolute maximum. On a colour like Tangerine Scream, this brings out the "flake" in the paint, making it look like it’s glowing from within.
The "Surgically Clean" Panel Wipe
Before any coating could be applied, I performed a full panel wipe. This step uses a specialized alcohol solution to remove any leftover polishing oils. The paint must be "surgically clean" so the ceramic coating can bond directly to the clear coat.
The Body Armour: CarPro C.Quartz Professional
Instead of a traditional wax that lasts a few months, we opted for the CarPro C.Quartz Professional Ceramic Coating.
Why this matters for you:
3 Year Durability: No more waxing every weekend.
Extreme Hydrophobics: Water and dirt slide off, making your weekly wash effortless.
Deep Gloss: It creates a "hard" glass-like layer that locks in the Tangerine Scream glow.
We applied this coating to the paintwork, the plastic trims, and all the intricate grills, ensuring every inch of the Focus was protected.
The Result: A Transformation That "Blown Away" the Client
When the client arrived for pick up, the reaction was exactly why I do this. They were "blown away." The car didn't just look "clean", it looked better than the day it rolled off the showroom floor in 2016.
The "Aha" Moment: Many people think their paint is "faded." In reality, it’s just buried under layers of contamination. Once we stripped that back and locked it in with C.Quartz, the car was transformed.
Is Your Pride and Joy Ready for a Reset?
Your car represents a huge investment, and it deserves to look its best. Whether you have a performance hatch or a daily driver, a professional ceramic coating is the best way to preserve its value and beauty.
What’s the biggest challenge you face when trying to keep your car clean?
P.S. Did you know that ceramic coatings actually make your car easier to wash? Because the surface is so slick, most dirt washes away with just a high-pressure rinse, saving you hours of scrubbing every month.
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