Pure Detailing · San Diego & Southern California
Prepared the way judges inspect.
I prepare classic, vintage and exotic cars for shows. Originality and correctness come first. The right finish is the one that belongs to the car, not automatically the brightest one.
The standard behind the finish
How concours judging works
Judged concours such as La Jolla use ICJAG multi-marque judging. Each car starts at 100 points, with deductions for incorrect, repaired, refinished or over-restored items. ICJAG notes a minor emphasis on cosmetics; a concours is not simply a gloss contest.
Judges inspect body and paint finish, brightwork, the engine compartment, upholstery, chassis and glass. The car must start, and lights and gauges are checked. Reasonable signs of use are not marked down.
Pebble Beach class judges focus primarily on originality and authenticity. An over-restored car is penalized like an incorrect one. In 2024, an unrestored preservation car won Best of Show at Pebble Beach for the first time. That is event history, not a Pure Detailing result.
Conservation-minded, throughout
What I prepare, area by area
01
Paint
Assess originality and condition. Preserve the correct sheen for the era rather than forcing a modern mirror finish onto original paint.
02
Brightwork
Clean carefully and respect the original finish. Aggressive polishing or over-chroming can change the character judges are looking for.
03
Glass
Clean inside and out with attention to edges, residue and surrounding materials.
04
Engine bay
Conservation-minded cleaning appropriate to finishes and sensitive parts, without disguising their condition.
05
Undercarriage & wheel wells
Address accessible dirt and residue while respecting original coatings, finishes and signs of use.
06
Interior & trunk
Care for upholstery, trim and luggage areas according to their materials, age and condition.
Different classes. Different decisions.
Preserved, restored or show-and-shine?
01
Preservation
Conservation cleaning, no coatings. Original material and reasonable signs of use are respected. Polishing is not the default.
02
Restored concours
Correct finishes and authenticity guide the work. Coatings are considered only after checking event and marque-club rules.
03
Craftsmanship shows
At shows such as Goodguys, depth and gloss are rewarded. Full correction and coating can be appropriate when the paint condition supports them.
The event sets the brief
Southern California shows and the benchmark
These are events I prepare cars for, with the work planned around the relevant class and rules. This is not a claim of awards, official affiliation or past participation at each event.
01
La Jolla Concours d'Elegance
April, Ellen Browning Scripps Park. ICJAG judged.
02
San Marino Motor Classic
Lacy Park, San Marino. Pre-War and Post-War Best in Show, with preservation and CCCA classes.
03
Goodguys Del Mar Nationals
April, Del Mar Fairgrounds. Hot rods, customs and muscle, with Builder's Choice and Top 12 awards.
04
MotorCars on MainStreet
Early May in Coronado. A free street show for 1975-and-older cars. The old Coronado Speed Festival ended in 2016; there is no current judged Coronado concours.
05
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
August. The benchmark for concours preparation, outside Southern California.
Work back from show day
The pre-show timeline
01
Weeks before
Paint evaluation, event rules and class check, then a correction or conservation plan. Book early enough for the scope the car needs.
02
Days before
Final preparation and inspection of the agreed areas, with transport and event conditions in mind.
03
Show day
A touch-up kit and on-site support where the event allows. Southern California travel and availability are confirmed per event.
Show archive · Coming soon
The work, documented.
I've prepared cars for shows for years and am now documenting that work. Case studies from past and upcoming preparation will live here as photographs and details are confirmed. No show results are claimed here.
Before we begin
Your questions
Will you coat my show car?
Not automatically. A restored concours car requires event and marque-club rule checks before a coating is considered. Preservation originals receive conservation cleaning, not coatings. At craftsmanship-focused shows, correction and coating may suit the car and judging brief.
Do you work with restoration shops?
If a restoration shop is involved, include that in your enquiry so we can discuss the preparation scope and coordination. Arrangements are agreed for the individual car; no existing shop partnership is claimed.
How far ahead should I book?
Get in touch weeks before the show where possible, and earlier for a car needing substantial preparation. The required lead time and availability are confirmed after evaluation and the event rules and class are checked.
Do you travel to the show?
Southern California event support is discussed and confirmed per event. On-site touch-up depends on availability and what the event allows; it is not automatically included.
Is "concourse" the same as "concours"?
In searches for car-show preparation, "concourse" is a common spelling of "concours d'elegance". The correct term for the judged car event is concours.
A considered combination
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Measured machine polishing to reduce swirls and defects while respecting the paint that remains.
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Start with the paint
A considered plan.
A finish worth caring for.
Tell me about your car, how you use it and what you want to achieve. The right work starts with an evaluation.
Book a paint evaluation