PAINT CORRECTION – MALTON COACHWORKS
Machine
Polish
Concours-level paint correction without a bare-metal restoration. From a single panel to the full car, we return tired paintwork to a deep, lustrous finish.
THREE SERVICE GRADES
PAINT CORRECTION
SWIRL REDUCTION
CONCOURS PREP
THE PROCESS
Paintwork brought back to its finest
Taking your car to a concours level does not have to come at the expense of a bare-metal body restoration. Sometimes a machine polish is all that is needed to return your paintwork to a deep, lustrous finish.
Using professional dual-action and rotary polishing systems, our technicians systematically remove the defects and oxidation that accumulate over years of use, revealing the clarity and depth that was always present beneath the surface.
We work on the full car or individual panels — no job is too large or too small.
WHAT WE CORRECT
Common paint defects we resolve
Classic and prestige vehicles accumulate a range of paint defects over time. Machine polishing addresses all of the following, often dramatically.
01
Swirl Marks
Fine circular scratches caused by improper washing or polishing. Under direct light they appear as a spider-web pattern, robbing paint of depth and gloss.
02
Light Scratches
Surface-level scratches that have not penetrated through the clear coat. Polishing removes the damaged layer around the scratch, blending it to an invisible finish.
03
Water spots
Mineral deposits left when water evaporates on the paint surface. They etch into the clear coat over time and require mechanical removal to fully eliminate.
04
Oxidation & Fading
UV exposure degrades the clear coat, leaving paint chalky or faded. Polishing removes the oxidised layer and restores colour saturation and depth.
05
Holograms
Buffer trails left by incorrect machine polishing. These circular haze marks are most visible in artificial light and require careful correction to remove.
05
Paint Transfer
Light paint transfer from minor contacts can often be removed through polishing without repainting. We assess each case and advise accordingly.
THE PROCESS
How a machine polish project progresses
Every machine polish follows a structured sequence — click each stage to read more.
01
Paint Assessment
We measure paint depth across all panels and map defects before any machine touches the car.
02
Decontamination
Full wash, clay bar, and iron fallout removal. Polishing over contamination embeds it further — this step is non-negotiable.
03
Compound Stage
A cutting compound matched to the defect level removes the damaged clear coat layer systematically across each panel.
04
Polish & Refine
A finer polish removes micro-marring left by the compound stage, increasing gloss and refining to a mirror-like clarity.
05
Protection Applied
Corrected paint is unprotected. We apply wax, sealant, or ceramic coating to lock in the result.
CHOOSE YOUR GRADE
Three levels of paint correction
The level of correction depends on paintwork condition. We assess your vehicle and recommend the appropriate grade.
GRADE 01
Enhancement Polish
Ideal for vehicles in good overall condition.
✓
Full decontamination wash
✓
Clay bar treatment
✓
Single-stage machine polish
✓
Finishing wax or sealant
GRADE 02
Full Correction
Our most requested service for vehicles returning from storage.
✓
Full decontamination & clay
✓
Iron fallout treatment
✓
Cutting compound stage
✓
Refining polish stage
✓
Sealant or wax protection
GRADE 03
Prestige
For show cars and concours entries, where perfection is the standard.
✓
All Grade Two stages
✓
Multi-stage compound process
✓
Jewelling & finishing stage
✓
Inspection under show lighting
✓
Ceramic coating available
COMMON QUESTIONS
Polishing, answered honestly
This depends on vehicle size and correction grade. A Grade One enhancement typically takes one to two days. A Grade Three concours preparation can take three to five days. We assess each vehicle and give a clear timeframe before work begins.
Machine polishing removes scratches that have not penetrated through the clear coat into the base coat or primer. Scratches you can feel with a fingernail have typically gone too deep. In those cases, we advise on localised paint repair before correction work proceeds.
Polishing removes a small amount of clear coat — which is why it corrects defects. On vehicles with healthy paint depth this is inconsequential. We measure paint depth across all panels before starting and will never correct paint that is too thin to work safely.
Ready to discuss your vehicle?
Tell us about your project — no obligation. Our team is happy to advise on any make, era, or scope of work.