[HRE_Wheels]

Esoteric had this insane write up of their work on a C7 Corvette Z06/Z07 that we'd love to share with all of you. Hope you enjoy!

C7 Z06 / Z07 Corvette in Torch Red. 100+ hour detail by ESOTERIC, featuring HRE Wheels, Akrapovic Exhaust, Gyeon Quartz Coatings, and Suntek Paint Protection Film!

Given the size of this article and the amount of photos, I will not be able to post up the entire piece here on the Corvette Forum. Here is a direct link for those who wish to go straight to the article. It includes over 80 photos, lots of details, and a video as well. Additionally, the photo quality looks better on our blog. C7 Z06 / Z07 Corvette. Torch Red. 100-Hour Detail.

We started working on this project back in December, and are very glad to finally have it done. This not only showcases all of the services we are capable, and the brands we offer, but also acts as a perfect example of the turnkey show cars that we can create.

From the ESOTERIC Learning Center Blog:

We at ESOTERIC have detailed a lot of Z06 / Z07 Corvettes, and have also published articles outlining the tremendous amount of work we have done in order to give them a finish that equals the amazing performance that they are capable of. The C7 Corvette has become a specialty of ours over the last couple of years…it’s a car that we know well, and a community that we have strongly embraced. As a part of that commitment to the Corvette community, we decided to purchase our own Z07 Corvette in Torch Red to use as a tool to showcase the finest level of detailing and protection that is available…anywhere! We invested 100+ hours in the detail to create the absolute best looking Corvette in existence, and based off of the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received, we far surpassed that goal.

100+ Hours to Detail a Brand New Corvette? Really?!

Yes!

Why? Because we have the ability to take the finish to entirely new levels that factories aren’t capable of, and to add high levels of protection to the paint in the form of Quartz Coatings and Paint Protection Film (aka Clear Bra). This protection aspect of the detail is the most important, as well as the most popular service(s) in the lineup. Even if one is happy with the looks of the vehicle straight from the factory, it won’t stay looking that way unless the finish is properly protected. While a wax may last a month or so, quartz coatings will protect the finish for years from airborne contaminants, and paint protection film will protect from rock chips for a very long time.

It is common mistake by those who don’t understand what highline detailing is all about to say: “Why would you spend that much time detailing…it will just get dirty after your first drive?!”. If we were spending that much time doing simple cleaning, then that statement might hold some validity. But the fact is that what we are doing is making permanent changes (for the better) to the paint, and then adding a very high level of protection in the form of quartz coatings and paint protection film. Driving your car and getting it “dirty” has no negative impact to the work that is being done here (provide you clean / maintain it properly afterwards). “Highly detailed” and “driver car” are not mutually exclusive terms. You CAN have a highly detailed car that is regularly driven. One of our best long-term customers always has us perform a high level detail and protection package on his new Ferraris. He drives them about 20k miles per year, even in the snow. And when you see his cars at events, you’ll agree that the paint looks better than just about every car there!

Granted, it’s rare to put this much time into a new car detail (or an old car detail for that matter), but the goal here was to showcase all that is possible, and to set the standards by which every other detail / protection package is measured. We at ESOTERIC offer turnkey show-car AND track day solutions for those who wish to have the absolute best of the best, and this project is a thorough representative of that level of bespoke services.

Our Ultimate New Car Prep is our most popular new car service, and that usually requires 30 hours or so of work…just to put it into perspective.

As with pretty much any brand / new car, there are many spots where we can make improvements to the OEM finish. We can always find haze, sanding marks, swirls, and light scratches that will prevent the true clarity and gloss from coming through, and by using proper and modern polishing techniques, we can safely get rid of all of this to bring the finish to its true potential.

Here are a few examples of what we found on our new Z06 / Z07 Corvette that needed to be addressed. This isn’t a knock against GM / Chevrolet, it’s just the reality of automotive manufacturing.

Sanding marks:


Swirl marks:


Fine texture:


Orange peel and texture:


Scratches and swirls in carbon flash painted spots:


The game plan and goals:

Before getting started on a project of this magnitude, it’s a good idea to break it down to smaller components to make it easier to manage. If you work on it one segment at a time, it makes the job run much more smoothly.

So let’s take a look at our plan / goals / objectives:

Installation of the Akrapovic Exhaust System
Apply multiple layers of protective coating to new HRE Wheels, then install new tires
Measure paint thicknesses to establish safe levels of paint polishing / correction.
Disassemble trim pieces and other items that will make polishing / paint protection film more efficient
Perform multiple step paint polishing
Remove seats, polish seat backs, and apply Gyeon coating
Further disassemble car for paint protection film so that all edges can be tucked in
Apply paint protection film…full front end, A-pillars, mirrors, rocker panels, side skirts, front splitter, rear impact spots, custom door protectors.
Re-assemble vehicle.
Apply Gyeon Mohs+ Coating (total of 4 coats)
Finishing details

As you can see, we have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, so let’s get busy!

For the FULL article, please click over to our Learning Center: C7 Z06 / Z07 Corvette. Torch Red. 100 Hour Detail!

Now, I will show some of the "process" photos to give you an idea of just how much work we performed on the Z07.

Removing stock exhaust to install Akrapovic Evolution System. The Akrapovic weighed 37 pounds lighter than the stock system.



Polishing the backs of the Competition Seats:



Removing the front bumper and headlights so we could tuck all of the edges of the Suntek paint protection film:



Coating and IR Curing HRE P101 Wheels (No other HRE supplier can provide this!):



Polish / coat all small items:



Turn carbon fiber into a mirror:





Take measurements / readings with tools that nobody else has:



A little before and after. Compare the reflections of the one on the left to the one on the right!



Apply Suntek paint protection film:




Finished photos of our highly detailed and customized Z07!








































And now, a 2.5 minute video showcasing the entire process:

Please do yourself a favor and check out our full article: Z06 / Z07 Corvette. Torch Red. 100 Hour Detail.