Weird Car Surfaces, and How to Take Care of Them

While old cars were made from just a handful of materials and finished with a standard shiny lacquer, the same can’t be said for their modern day counterparts. From matt paint to fluffy car seats, manufacturers are getting more and more adventurous with their choice of surface finishes — which is in turn making it more difficult for motorists to take proper care of their car. 

If you’re wondering just how weird car surfaces can get and how it’s possible to take care of them, here’s a rundown of the world’s weirdest.

Velvet

velvet-car

You heard right — velvet was spotted clad on the exterior of a Rolls Royce Phantom in London recently, in rich purple no less. While we’re sceptical as to whether Rolls Royce would approve of such an exterior, the effect sure is eye catching. According to the Daily Mail, the same car was spotted a few weeks earlier with a black velvet finish, suggesting the owner has more money than sense and likes to change regularly.

While we don’t stock any specific velvet cleaning products here at Simoniz, we’d recommend taking a look at this velvet upholstery cleaning guide.

Suede

All the rage among the ludicrously rich and famous, suede car wraps are now widely available for a number of luxury and exotic car models. If you want to cover your car in perhaps the least appropriate material known to man, check out the bizarre offering from WrapMyVehicles.co.uk. Given our previous knowledge of just how hard suede is to keep clean, however, we think we’ll stick to paint.

You can keep suede clean with some extra care and attention though. It needs to be brushed to get rid of dry dirt and grit, and you can invest in special suede cleaners. They’re more usually intended for shoes and car interiors, but should work on an exterior too.

Matt Surfaces

Matte Black Bentley

While a mirror-like shine was once the epitome of a well-groomed car, manufacturers are steadily turning their attention to matt finishes. Now, many sports and luxury cars are available with a matt finish as opposed to metallic, and we have to admit — a matt finish does look great.

Opt for the matt look, however, and you’ll have to be careful when it comes to cleaning your car. Standard car cleaning products aren’t suitable for use on matt finishes, and will more than likely damage the overall look and finish of the exterior. Instead, you’ll need to invest in special matt cleaner (which is less potent than standard shampoo and wax), as well as softer-than-soft wash mitt. We’d recommend you start by testing the products in an inconspicuous area first, just in case they cause any marks or blemishes.

Leather

 leather car

While it’s not a particularly weird trim choice, leather surfaces can be hard to clean and maintain for those that haven’t dealt with the material before. Neglect to take care of leather surfaces, and the material will soon lose its refined finish. Not only that, but surface dirt may wear patches into the material, and a lack of moisture could lead to cracks, dryness and splitting — and who wants that on their £30K Merc?

To keep your leather surfaces looking their best, start by giving the material a gentle clean — our Leather Protection Wipes are perfect for this. Next, use a soft cloth to apply a thin layer of Simoniz Leather Protection Cream to the leather; this will nourish and protect the material, and prevent wear and tear.

 With over 100 years of experience in car care, Simoniz will protect your car and help it to shine. To view our ranges, visit the Simoniz homepage.

Image credits: Mark Hillary, Dominik Bartsch, Ben