Soon after the first C8 rolled off of the Bowling Green assembly line we released our C8-Specific Protection Strategies. Since installing PPF on our first C8 in March of 2020, our PPF Team has continued to evolve the materials & methods to best protect the distinctive lines, shapes and angles that define Chevrolet’s newest Corvette. In doing so we are also laying the groundwork for similar excellence in protecting the upcoming Z06 model which will share some of the same angular momentum of the current Stingray model; similar, but different as it were, with enough commonality of form to begin mapping out the future!
We continue to customize our PPF installations, gaining more insight with each of the 55+ C8’s we’ve completed since their release…with 15 more due to arrive in the studio in the near future!
With a gorgeous Red Mist Metallic, 3LT C8 recently arriving, it’s an excellent opportunity to examine some of the finer points that make for a great PPF installation….as well as a bit of window tint and ceramic coating information too!
PPF provides not only protection for the paint but also enhances one’s peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy the car as intended with far less worry! Who amongst us hasn’t heard a rock strike the paint while driving and wondered if it left a mark…pulling over at the first opportunity, hoping against hope that we won’t find a chip in the otherwise beautifully maintained surface? Or perhaps experienced the despair that comes with discovering a light swirl mark in your paint at some point? PPF not only protects against impacts from road debris but also has true self-healing abilities that can resolve light swirls on the surface. Tangible paint protection coupled with peace of mind equals a greater overall ownership experience!
Add to that the lasting good looks, enhanced protection, ease of maintenance & self-cleaning characteristics of Ceramic Coatings and you’ll be spending far more time driving and admiring your car than you will cleaning and maintaining it!
As our history with current and former C8 clients grows, we’ve developed a distinct picture of vulnerable areas on the C8 while giving consideration to varying driving habits and usage patterns. This allows us to better target the appropriate protection package tailored to your specific needs and circumstances as opposed to a few generalized ‘packages’.
This client has selected the full front end PPF package (Full hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors, and headlight coverage) along with some other individual areas that have proven to be vulnerable on the C8:
- Rocker panels
- Lower doors
- Carbon flash blades on door & rear fender, door sills
- Rear wheel impact areas
- A-pillars
- Leading edge of the roof
- Gas cap
A light enhancement polish, ceramic coatings on paint, wheels & calipers and 50% tint on selected windows were some additional services requested.
The continued excellence in PPF installation comes in knowing not just what to do but perhaps more importantly, knowing what *not* to do. While there are plenty of areas where it would appear that aggressive heating, stretching and wrapping would result in the ‘aesthetically optimal’ final product, overdoing those methods can lead to various distortions in the film, edges that release over time and rubbing where panel edges meet; your PPF should remain just as secure in the coming years as it is the day you leave our studio!
The ability to evolve and customize patterns as improvements are identified lead to a more complete and secure installation. All pieces are either modified and cut on our plotter from bulk rolls or in the case of larger panels wider than 64”, custom cut from a bulk piece, then fitted to the panel and excess trimmed accordingly; trimming that does NOT occur on the paint surface itself.
Once the PPF is fitted and the surface secured, the overlap is trimmed in accordance with long-term adhesion requirements…
…and subsequently rolled over and secured without the need for edge sealants or adhesives.
With numerous & constantly evolving patterns for fitment on the nose of a C8, we have significantly reduced any relief cuts on the forward facing area of the fascia as well as the underside when wrapping that area:
Tucked, tight & secure in and around the front radiator vents, PPF is protecting the vulnerable black spears:
For the headlights, we employ an enhanced overlap & tuck method for improved adhesion in this constantly flexing area. Setting the initial placement & preliminary bond with a thicker tool and refining with a more precise edge:
The experience gained over numerous installs can lend the proper critical eye to the practice of ‘strategic disassembly’. Knowing which panels can be removed for a more complete installation without unnecessarily altering factory fit and finish is vital to the overall integrity of your vehicle; your car is only factory fresh one time and we’d prefer not to disturb that originality unless it provides distinct and lasting installation benefits.
The PPF application is complete and while it’s acclimating to its new home on the paint surface, window tint is installed per client request: 50% on side and back windows. To ensure that the tint is a perfect fit when applied to the interior of the glass, it’s first laid on the exterior of the glass and adjusted/altered accordingly:
Once precisely fitted, the tint is installed on the interior of the glass:
A bit of the effect of 50% tint from inside the cockpit:
With all of the films installed (PPF and Tint) the car is turned over to the Detailing Team who prep the surface and install a multi-year ceramic coating. The coating will provide additional protection from environmental assaults as well as significantly reducing maintenance through its hydrophobic characteristics. In this case, Kamikaze Collection’s ISM 1.0 was chosen for its deep, wax-like gloss and the extraordinary self-cleaning abilities that are a hallmark of these boutique ceramics from Japan.
The culmination of this collaboration between the Client and the Esoteric team is a beguiling aesthetic achievement; form and function addressed in a manner that captivates both the hearts and the minds of automotive enthusiasts of all types.
