Live detailing class - How to polish louvers!

[Mike Phillips]

Live detailing class - How to polish louvers!

Every Wednesday at 4:00pm Eastern Time Mike Phillips and Yancy Martinez go LIVE to bring you a new educational and entertaining detailing class. This week, Mike shares how to remove swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation out of the intricate and difficult to detail louvers on a 1964 Amphicar!

Tune-in at 1:00pm Pacific Time or 4:00pm Eastern Time to watch and interact LIVE with Mike and Yancy on either of these to social media platforms.

Dr. Beasley's YouTube Channel

Dr. Beasley's Facebook Page

 

[Mike Phillips]

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Here's some pictures of this iconic car. This is also a "Bucket List" car for me as I've never detailed one of these before!


Notice the propellers underneath the back of the car? And "yes" these are functional.

The real-deal!
This is not a kit car, these were built from 1961 through 1968. A total of 3,878 Amphicars were built. For more information on the Amphicar click the link below.

History of the Amphicar

The Amphicar has a top speed of 7 MPH on water and 70 MPH on land. Hence, it was dubbed the "Model 770". The Amphicar is moved in the water by its twin nylon propellers. A special two-part land-and-water transmission built by Hermes (makers of the Porsche transmission) allows the wheels and propellers to be operated either independently or simultaneously. The "land transmission" is a 4-speed-plus-reverse unit similar to those found in the old Volkswagen Beetles. The "water transmission" is a 2-speed offering unique to the Amphicar featuring single forward and reverse gears. In the water, the front wheels act as rudders.

When new, the Amphicar sold for between $2,800 and $3,300 depending on the year. Later model years actually sold for less than those of early years. No 1968 model year Amphicars were directly imported into the USA. This was because of the U.S. government's EPA and DOT regulations that went into effect beginning with the 1968 model year vehicles. This caused a major financial disaster for the Amphicar Corporation since the USA represented about 90% of all Amphicar sales. The Amphicar factory in Berlin, Germany closed for good in 1968, and the remaining inventory of unused parts was eventually purchased by Hugh Gordon of Sante Fe Springs, California. Hugh's Gordon Imports remains the Amphicar owner's primary source for spare parts.

Triumph Engine
The engine used to power this amphibious car is the British-built Triumph Herald motor with 1147 cubic centimeters of compression.

Functional Louvers
The radiator for this water-cooled engine is placed at the top of the rearward engine compartment. The louvers are functional in that they direct air to and through the radiator.

Rear mounted engine and radiator

Pain in the ***
I've been fortunate to have worked on a LOT of cool cars with louvers. During this LIVE video broadcast I'll share some tips and techniques that have helped me to do the paint correction to these intricate areas without burning through the SHARP edges!

Mike

 

[Mike Phillips]

Going LIVE at 4:00pm Eastern Time TODAY!

Will be showing 4-5 ways to tackle louvers.