IBIZ in "Secrets of Corvette Detailing"

Pages 82-82, Secrets of Corvette detailing by Mike Antonick (cont.)

… The IBIZ Waterless Cart Wash & Wax Protectant puts less actual wax on the surface than IBIZ Car Wax, but is very easy and quick to use. It is excellent as a pre-wax prep or for easy maintenance of a previously waxed finish.

I phoned Robert for a little insight. He told me that his grandfather and great-uncle started the company nearly a hundred years ago. The IBIZ Car Wax product I like is made from toucan wax, which is a 25- to 58-million-year-old, fossilized carnauba. It is mined in Germany and Austria, heated to 182°F to extrude the wax from the fossil, and then filtered and cleaned. IBIZ has its own manufacturing facility.

Next, I asked Robert to describe the steps he would recommend for restoring, Corvette's finish and protecting it. I specified a finish that was a little tired and dull, but not shot. Robert described the IBIZ "system."

Start by washing with IBIZ Car Wash, which has very little suds. Follow this with IBIZ Waterless Wash & Wax Protectant. Do a 2-foot-square section at a time Spray it wet; wipe it off wet.

Robert likens this to a spit shine or a facial at the beauty salon. He says it will penetrate right into the microscopic pores of the paint and will dissolve, loosen, and thin out any oxidation, grease, grime or dirt that is beneath the surface of a clear-coat or non-clear-coat paint. This product has enough wax in it to protect for 30 days. But if you follow it with the IBIZ Car Wax, this gives about a seven-month protection. Washing with IBIZ Car Wash will maintain the finish. It doesn't lay new wax down, bur it has a "predispersed emulsion" of wax particulates that refresh wax still on the paint. Robert says you'll think you've just spent five hours detailing the finish.

For years, I used DuPont's powdered car wash. Now I mostly use Westley's liquid. If you're used to a conventional car wash producer with lots of suds, you'll immediately notice that IBIZ's product is very different because there is almost no sudsing action. Suds may not clean any better, but since I often wash cars late in the evening in low light, suds at Ieast show me where I've washed.

But let me describe one non-Corvette instance where IBIZ Car Wash really worked.

My black MR2 had a nice IBIZ wax job. It had to sit outside in a repair shop's gravel holding yard for a month waiting for an ABS part. When I got it back, it looked pretty grim.

When sprayed with the hose, there was no sheeting action. Then I washed with IBIZ Car Wash and sure enough, the surface beaded water. Once I dried it off, it looked great. At this point I tried the IBIZ Waterless Wash &. Wax Protectant on one panel. It worked as advertised. But since the IBIZ Wax is so easy to use, especially when the paint is in good shape, I just rewaxed the whole car in about an hour.

I mentioned to Robert Nathans that I used old towels for applying polish and wax, and for buffing. I discard the applicator towels because I don't want the wax in my septic system, but wash the buffing rowels for use again. Robert advised not using fabric softener, just detergent to wash towels to avoid streaking. IBIZ sells and recommends an applicator with cotton on one side and foam on die other. The foam has more grip and works bitter on oxidized surfaces; the cotton is better for surfaces in good shape.