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Enthusiast Essentials: next-level paint protection from Ceramic Pro

13 September, 2016

When you’re after paint protection, a wax coating is usually the common solution. Unfortunately that wax coating could end up being a false economy, as within weeks, and sometimes even days in harsher climates, the wax coating wears off, leaving you with unprotected paint without you even knowing.

Finding a long-lasting alternative is easy; Ceramic Pro is a nano-ceramic coating that doesn’t wear off, wash away, or break down over time. According to the Ceramic Pro team, it can’t even be removed with chemicals — think of it as a glass- or diamond-coat for your paint job. 

One of the best parts of waxing your car is the gloss, and watching the water bead off it. With the added protection of Ceramic Pro, you not only get an extremely high-gloss shine, the coating is extremely hydrophobic. The glass-like appearance, water-beading capabilities, and protection will last a lifetime too — if it’s properly maintained. 

Do it once, do it right comes to mind when you’re working with Ceramic Pro, as you will never have to wax your car again — simply have the protection completed and you’re good to go. If you thought Ceramic Pro was only for paint, think again. Ceramic Pro have a coating for your wheels, calipers, plastic surfaces, glass, leather, and more. 

Want to know more about Ceramic Pro? Visit ceramic-pro.co.nz or call 0800 20 20 25.

Polishing to perfection

26 February, 2026

The secret to a show-stopping finish is colour sanding, no matter which paint system you use. Even a good painter, no matter how experienced or talented — like my mate Bruce Haye, CEO at Ace Panel and Paint in Whitianga — can’t shoot to a perfect mirror finish. To get that level of perfection, you need to colour sand.
It used to be called ‘rubbing out’ or ‘cutting’, and it was done with pastes that came in cans. They worked — sort of — but the compounds really just rounded off imperfections instead of eliminating them, and they removed a lot of paint in the process. But now your new finish can be made flawless, thanks to microfine sandpapers that come in 1000, 1500, 2000, and even 2500 grit ranges, and Farecla G3 polish — available from automotive paint suppliers.

NZ Classic Car magazine, March/April 2026 issue 404, on sale now

22 February, 2026

BMW’s flagship techno showcase
The supermodel 1995 BMW 840Ci is simply elegant and perfectly engineered.
BMW’s 840 Ci flagship Coupe provides superb comfort and equipment packaged in a stylish body, with grand-touring performance and surprisingly competent handling for its size.
It’s the kind of machine that stands apart from the start. When BMW first unveiled its flagship Grand Tourer at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show, the automotive world blinked twice. Sleek, low, and impossibly modern for its era, it combined drama with a sort of purposeful understatement. This silhouette still looks striking today, long after its peers have faded into obscurity.
Initially offered with a range of engines, the model you’re reading about is the V8 iteration, featuring a 4.0-litre eight-cylinder heart under its long bonnet and a smooth five-speed automatic at the back. It wasn’t about blistering sprint times so much as effortless velocity. There was power on tap, sure, but the way it delivered thrust felt unhurried and measured – the automotive equivalent of a deep exhale on a long drive.
Poster 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, C2