We took a trip up to Rugby, Warwickshire to visit our brand ambassador Tom Inksip and his stunning Mk1 Ford Escort.
So first of all, tell us a little about your car?
The car is a 1972 Mk1 Ford Escort 1100L base model running air ride suspension with accuser management, 4 Linked, retried interior act, and a1300 crossflow engine running at around 80bhp.
We’re well aware that there’s an interesting story to this car, can you tell us more?
Well I bought it as my first car. It had one previous owner – an older gentleman – who used it as his daily until he unfortunately became too ill to drive it. I purchased it off of eBay for £2500, which, even then, is an absolute steal. It did need a little TLC, though. My dad and I fitted new Mexico wings to make room for the fitment of bigger, for example, as well as replacing the front panel with a new one and respraying the whole thing. That was actually my first ever practice spray job. I started getting it lower to the ground through trial and error of various methods (lowering springs, de-camber leaf springs etc.) but that didn’t quite work for me as I wanted it lower but still drivable, so it had to be air ride – an Airlift Performance and Accuair set up, to be exact.
Spring is here, which means that your seasonal detail should soon be on the cards. That’s where the Auto Finesse Aqua Coat Rinse Aid comes in.
Available in 1-litre and 5-litre measurements, this Hydrophobic Rinse Aid has been designed as an extra step in the detailing process, homing in on water repellency and long-lasting results. The long-lasting results aren’t a chore to get, either. Aqua coat is super quick and easy to apply and features enhanced water beading technology meaning every exterior aspect of your car will repel water as soon as it hits it. Used at wash stage, Aqua Coat adds a protective layer of Si02 coating to all exterior surfaces right at the wash stage. A layer that provides up to 2-3 months’ worth of durability. And if all that wasn’t enough, its Bubblegum fragrance smells amazing!
Applying Aqua Coat couldn’t be simpler; snow foam and wash your car as you would normally. Once the shampoo has been fully rinsed off and you’re sure there’s no traces left, apply a light mist of Aqua Coat to the entire vehicle; plastics, brightwork, paintwork, rubbers, glass, you name it, make sure it’s fully covered in Aqua Coat. The light mist sprays well, so it shouldn’t take long for the entire vehicle to be covered. You do not need a lot of product, though, the next stage of rinsing it off will spread the product across the entire vehicle – usually a light mist across the majority of the vehicle will equate to the entire vehicle being coated when the solution is rinsed from the vehicle.
Once you’ve rinsed the vehicle thoroughly (starting at the top and working your way down) and ensured all traces of the loose product has been rinsed away. You should be able to see immediately the instant effects of Aqua Coat’s hydrophobic characteristics. Finish off by drying all surfaces off using a microfibre towel – ensure to do this immediately to avoid the product quick drying and leaving streaks or spotting.
Auto Finesse Aqua Coat is available in 1- and 5-litre measurements and is priced at £16.95 and £54.95, respectively.
AF’s quick tips for use:
Always start with a wet vehicle – do not apply Aqua Coat to a dry surface.
If spotting or streaking occurs, immediately apply a polish such as our Tripple all-in-one and buff off to remove.
Do not allow Aqua Coat to dry on the vehicle (Aqua Coat does not require curing time).
Do not apply to a hot car or in direct sunlight.
Over apply (less is more).