TECH ARTICLES
NOC shares your obsession for pristine old cars!
Knowing how and where to find one is a skill that many people in the hobby have yet to master. But even when you stumble across one and decide to look at it, you have to stop and ask yourself – how good are you at validating a car’s originality? Can you properly distinguish between factory paint and a respray? And if you buy it, how long are you able to preserve the car’s current condition while driving it on a regular basis? Five years? Ten years? Twenty?
Let’s be honest – you’re paying a premium for the cars on this site – don’t you want to be confident that the car you’re buying is as original as the ad states? And don’t you want to know how to preserve it’s cosmetic condition throughout your entire ownership?
You’ve found the right page.
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This page is routinely updated with new articles on a wide range of subjects, and each one is painstakenly written to provide the most accurate, all-inclusive information on its particular topic. Years of experience in the field combined with exhaustive research go into each of these pages (textbooks written by industry leaders, studies done by top tier companies, production line documentaries, and more), as well as real world photo examples from my time in the industry. The desire to preserve the condition of these pampered cars is stronger than ever!
PAINT INSPECTION
Understanding paint defects, as well as the HOW and WHY of paint inspection:
orange peel: why your new car paint looks so bad
Why do all modern cars seem to have it? You’ve heard all sorts of answers. Fortunately, this article provides the only one you need to care about – and it’s more in depth than you can imagine. The complete guide to the modern automotive paint job, as well as how and where orange peel occurs within the factory paint process!
what a paint thickness gauge REALLY tells you
You just spent hundreds of dollars on one. You think it’s your easy ticket to verifying original paint on a car, but erratic readings throughout the entire vehicle have you scratching your head. Learn the science behind the numbers, what to look for, and how to properly use the tool to help authenticate a vehicle’s paint finish.
PURCHASING
MAINTENANCE
PRESERVATION
You bought the car because it looks absolutely perfect. Now it’s your responsibility to try and keep it that way. The growing list of articles in this section will help you do it, even if you use the car on a regular basis:
low mileage cars: what to look out for
A regularly driven car is a healthy car! While ultra-low miles on the odometer is cool, not touching a car for long periods at a time can do more harm than good. Here is what to prepare for when buying an old survivor, and how to approach components like the fuel system.
stop ignoring overpriced cars
You might think they’re a “waste of time”, but as someone who’s been in the car business for over 12 years will tell you: these ads can actually lead to great buys. Are you trying to find the best deal, or the best car? What if you could have both? Hear what I have to say – it may change your perspective.
UPCOMING ARTICLES:
Preserving Your Original Paint: By The Decade (in the works)
Automotive paint finishes have evolved dramatically in the past 70 years, and each type of paint requires different care. If you’re lucky enough to own a car wearing it’s original paint, whether it’s a 60’s Jaguar saloon or a 90’s Japanese legend, props to you! Here’s some tips for preserving the factory paint from each decade, starting with the acrylic paint of the 1950’s.
How To Properly Wash A Car (in the works)
A job so simple yet so misunderstood. Here I break down what it takes to clean a car while inflicting the least amount of damage to your paint. Modern products have made this process much easier than it was 10 years ago, though it ain’t easy. Your patience will pay off!
… and more to come! Articles will be added throughout the year. Stay tuned!