Paint Correction
Machine polishing to remove swirl marks, scratches and paint defects.
Paint Correction in Kent
Project • Ashford, Kent
1965 Jaguar E-Type — Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating
Multiple stages of machine correction to remove years of scratches and swirl marks, finished with a Gtechniq ceramic coating — carried out on a genuine, regularly driven classic at our studio in Ashford.
- Paint Correction
- Ceramic Coating
- Classic Vehicle
The Vehicle
Jaguar E-Type Paint Correction, Not a Garage Queen
This Jaguar E-Type paint correction project began with a car in fairly sorry state, paint-wise. Years of scratches and swirl marks had built up across the bodywork, a GB badge that had once sat on the rear had left behind ghosting marks in the paint where it used to be, and the chrome work was looking tired rather than the standout feature it should be on a car like this.
What makes this E-Type slightly different from a lot of classics we see is that it is actually used — the owner drives it regularly rather than keeping it parked up and polished for shows. That changes the brief slightly: the paintwork needs correcting properly, but it also needs to hold up to being driven, not just look good sitting still.
What we found
- Extensive scratches and swirl marks across the bodywork
- Ghosting marks left by a previously fitted GB badge
- Tired, dull-looking chrome work
- A car that's genuinely driven, not kept static
The Work
What We Did
Multiple stages of machine correction, a Gtechniq ceramic coating to protect the finish, and a full refresh of the wheels, interior and engine bay.
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Multi-stage machine correction
Given the extent of the scratches, swirl marks and the ghosting left by the old GB badge, correcting this paintwork took several stages of machine polishing rather than a single pass. Each stage worked to remove more of the defects and refine the finish further, bringing the paint back to something genuinely even and glossy rather than just temporarily brighter.
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Ceramic coating
We very rarely correct a car without protecting it afterwards — a coating is what protects the finish that machine polishing achieves, and on a classic that's actually being driven, that protection matters even more than usual. A Gtechniq ceramic coating was applied once correction was complete.
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Wheels, interior & engine bay
The wheels were steam cleaned, along with a full refresh of the interior and engine bay — areas that are easy to overlook on a paint-focused job but make a real difference to how the car feels overall once it's back with its owner.
Older single-stage paint behaves differently under a polisher than a modern clear coat, and it doesn't forgive a rushed approach — which is exactly why a job like this is worked through in stages rather than corrected in one pass.
The Result
Finished
Corrected, protected and ready to be driven again — which, for this E-Type, is exactly the point.
Questions
Classic Jaguar Detailing Questions
Can paint correction remove badge ghosting?
Often, yes. Ghosting is usually caused by uneven fading or contamination around where a badge used to sit, and machine correction can bring the surrounding paint back to an even finish, removing the outline in the process.
Is older single-stage paint harder to correct than modern clear coat?
It behaves differently rather than simply being harder, but it does need a more careful, staged approach. Single-stage paint doesn't have the protective clear layer modern cars have, so correction has to be worked through gradually rather than rushed.
Should a classic car that's actually driven be ceramic coated?
If anything, it matters more than on a car kept in a garage. A coating protects the finish from the everyday wear that regular driving brings, and makes it easier to keep clean between uses.
Do you do anything with the chrome work on classic cars?
Yes — chrome is treated as part of the overall detail rather than left as an afterthought, since tired-looking chrome can undo the impression freshly corrected paintwork otherwise makes.
How many stages of correction does a classic car usually need?
It depends entirely on the condition of the paint. Where defects have built up over years — as they had here — multiple stages are often needed to work through the damage properly rather than mask it in a single pass.
Interested in Similar Work?
Services Used on This Project
Ceramic Coating
Long-term paint protection after proper preparation.
Ceramic Coating in KentCar Detailing
Full exterior and interior detailing at our Ashford studio.
Car Detailing in KentGet in Touch
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Whether it's a garage-kept show car or something you drive every week, tell us about your vehicle and what you would like to achieve. We will assess it, recommend the right work and quote you for it.