Over the years the importance of men’s mental health has broken its silence thanks to social media, podcasts, public talks and the brave who put their pride aside and shared their stories. Organising lifestyle events has also been a way of bringing those going through tough times together and has given those who want to make a difference, a voice.
For years we have been supporters of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), a motorcycle event that has slowly become one of the favourites for all who love motorcycles; the fact that it attracts over 600 participants in SA is a testament to that. Being car lovers too and having a 1962 Wolfsburg Beetle in our garage we couldn’t help but notice how the four-wheel community has supported men’s mental health with their very own Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive (DGD).
Much like the ride, the drive is an on-road motoring fundraising event, uniting classic cars built 40 years or older, encouraging drivers and passengers to dress dapper and drive for men’s health. All funds raised are invested in vital research and programs for prostate cancer and men’s mental health by Movember.
To be a part of this growing cause we decided it was time to unplug the trickle charger and roll the Bug out in support of this year’s DGD…
Of course, it’s never as easy as a quick dust-off and turn key with these classics, the reality is these old hunks of metal need some serious TLC, especially if all they do for 364 days of the year is stand still for that odd day out. Luckily for us, Liqui Moly is one of the sponsors of this year’s Johannesburg DGD and they sent us a few essentials to get the bug running for the up-and-coming Sunday drive.
My fiancé’s pride and joy, a car built by her and her father over 10 years ago for her 18th birthday is her beloved 1962 Wolfsburg Beetle. A project and a half that required 5 Beetles, weekday evenings, weekends and any extra hours they had. What seemed like a mammoth task, took both father and daughter just 3 weeks to pull off the build. Two very skilled legends if you ask me.
To get the old girl going for the DGD Liqui Moly dropped off a box of exterior and interior care, oil from their classic oil range and some additives to give both pep in its step and also to help clear out existing build-up.
Exterior Care
After a quick wash and dry we pulled out some exterior cleaners to help lift the hazy paintwork, brittle rubber seals, dull chrome and mucky glass windows. If you are someone who also can’t read German like me and aren’t quite sure how to apply some of these products, Liqui Moly has a bar code on most of their products which you can scan and then read up all the nitty gritty details.
The plan of attack was to start with the chrome bits with the Liqui Moly Chrome Gloss Cream, which Meredith applied to all the bumpers, door and bonnet beading and even in the interior. Over the years, the Bug’s chrome has gotten hazy and almost looks to have a grey coating.
Slap on the cream with a microfibre cloth, let it sit for a while and then turn on the elbow grease. Two or three polishes later and the chrome almost looks like we used a polishing wheel. It’s a product that surprised both Meredith and me and it’s one that Meredith will be buying in bulk to keep the bug’s chrome tip top for years to come.
Rubber Care was up next from ‘LM’ to revive the seals, protect them from bad weather and help retain their original elasticity. I was very keen on using this product, as I know that even seals on modern cars start to tear after 6 or 7 years of daily use and harsh sun. The bottle is very cleverly made with a sponge attached to the nozzle.
As you press down hard the nozzle injects lubricant onto the sponge, which allows you to then softly apply. After letting the lubricant air for a few minutes, you can physically see the rubber darken and become soft to the touch. I see myself using this product on more than just the Beetle, but on my daily driver that sits outside the office in the sun.
Windshield Cleaner Foam is something we have used at the office for years and it has travelled with us to the Suzuki Jimny Gathering, to Botswana on a few occasions and is used regularly on my 500 Abarth. This product helps remove silicone, insects, oil and greasy residues.
We usually use it to wipe off those stubborn water marks left over by rain or the moisture that forms overnight. Once applied you will also notice how dust and water stream off the areas of the window where the foam was applied. Our editor-in-chief Simon has been preaching about this product since trying it, if it can kick his OCD into touch it will do yours.
We all hate that silicone tyre polish that they put on our tyre’s side walls at the garage or dealership car washes, they collect dust from the get-go and destroy the cloth you try to remove it with. I didn’t believe in the stuff until we tried Liqui Moly’s Tyre Bright Foam.
Unlike the rest of them, this stuff doesn’t contain silicone and therefore nothing gets dragged along for the drive. It gives your crusty old tyres their good looks back, cleans them and protects them all in one go. Rather than a shiny look, it gives your tyres a matt OEM-washed look.
Finally, we got out Liqui Moly’s Quick Detailer and for the Bug, it was its first detail in 10 years. Since the car had its respray, time and other priorities saw this little Beetle miss its chance to get properly waxed and polished to bring out the paint’s true potential.
So, it was only a pleasure to give the bug its first-hand detail. With a few storage scars, we looked to see if they would buff out.
The right front fender had a battle scar that we thought needed a respray, we decided to polish it anyway, just to see what would happen.
After two details the fender was looking night and day better. We then started looking for more scars to patch and another bad one was on the lower part of the left rear fender, which also buffed out with the help of a normal microfiber cloth.
The bodywork for the first time in years had a new glossy sheen to it. The Quick Detailer is just used for quick paintwork care rather than a full-on polish, but it still removes light soiling such as dust or water spots, seals smooth paintwork for several weeks and provides an excellent water-repellent effect. Meredith says it smells really good too—fruity mango scent.
Interior Care
As for the inside of the bug we used Liqui Moly’s Leather Care and Quick Detailer as the dashboard along with most of the interior items in the Beetle are metal. Our focus was to bring the leather back to life and to also get rid of the dirty finger marks on the cream-coloured leather.
The little bottle of leather care is easy to use, you can either apply it to your cloth and then rub the seat in circular motions or apply it directly to the seat and start wiping. It worked like a bomb and has helped preserve the seats for the future, bringing back the material’s grip, and elasticity and will help protect against dirt and wear for many years to come.
Engine Care
Lastly, we turned our attention to the motor and a few other mechanicals with Liqui Moly’s Classic Oil, Petrol Stabilizer and Lead Substitute. We also went full out by doing some routine maintenance replacing the belt, and a few rubber hoses, cleaning the oil strainer and replacing the strainer gaskets. To enjoy the DGD you need to first get there and a reliable bug is just as important as a shiny one.
First up we drained and replaced the oil with Liqui Moly’s Classic Motoroil SAE 20W-50, which is a mildly blended mineral-based oil and comes in both a vintage-designed 5-litre bottle and it also comes in a 1-litre bottle if you want something smaller to top up with.
Additives for cars that are parked for long periods like Meredith’s bug are very important and for that, we cracked open a bottle of Petrol Stabilizer which helps preserve and protect the fuel from ageing and oxidation. You simply add it to your fuel and re-add it every refill and with the clever measuring system, you can use the right mixture for the amount of fuel you have in the tank. For example, the 25 ml dispenser is sufficient for 5 l of fuel and you can permanently use it in your engine too.
Because of our modern mixture of fuel, Lead Substitute from Liqui Moly helps lubricate and protect the valves on our classics that originally required leaded fuel. It also helps reduce wear on the cylinder head, maintains optimal compression and can most definitely increase reliability and longevity for years to come.
I think we can say that was a good 8 hours well spent thanks to Liqui Moly and now we hope to see you all at the dapper DGD this coming Sunday. For more information on Liqui Moly products for your car or classic visit: www.shop.liqui-moly.co.za
