"Make your own polish"

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For the next 12 months, I tried every product I could get my hands on. I scoured auto parts stores, magazines, auto shows, and body and fender suppliers. I imported two products from Europe and one from Japan. This exercise turned out to be an exhausting challenge. I came to the conclusion that no matter how inexpensive or expensive the product was, and whatever claims were made on the packaging, nothing performed as promised. The car might look good while in the garage, but after a few hours being exposed to the sun’s UV rays I was back to where I started – a dull finish.

While having dinner one evening with a buddy of mine, I was asked to explain my dilemma to his friend who happened to be a chemical sales representative. After listening to the story I had told so often, he asked, “Why don’t you make your own polish?” I laughed and answered, “I don’t know anything about making car polish.” He said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” True to his word, two weeks later he delivered two large boxes of various chemical samples and raw materials. He had labeled the use or purpose of each one. I began making my own formula, taking care to log and document my trials.

Time went by with hundreds of formulas mixed and tested, but no luck. My “career” as a “chemist” was destined to be just another part of the sad story. But fourteen months later, at approximately 2:00 pm on a Saturday afternoon, I applied the latest formula to the driver side rear quarter panel and fender. It looked outstanding! When a fellow club member saw it he said, “It looks fantastic, but will it last?” I proceeded to do the entire car in preparation for a “Rod Run” the following day at a local park. This was the first one I had attended in over 2 years.

At the park, Lou parked next to me. He had an identical 1937 Ford, except for color. During a conversation with fellow members, he put a towel on the hood of my ’37. The towel slipped off onto the ground. He shook it out, placed it back in the same spot, and once again it fell to the ground. I then asked him to place the towel in exactly the same spot on his car. The towel didn’t move. I began to think that I might have something special with this formula.

The following weeks and months proved I did have something really special, because the shine and durability were still evident. My formula became a hit. I found myself working a long day at my regular job, only to come home to spend hours mixing up batches of formula for my club’s members and their friends. It was tiring, but loads of fun. I was content to have solved my own dilemma and to enjoy the notoriety in my small circle. I never really gave selling the product much serious thought.        << read more >>