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How to Bring Back the Bling to Your Classic Car’s Chrome Trim

If you love your classic car so much that you use it daily, time and weather will most likely damage a few things, including those once-shiny chrome trims. Fear not though, with a little bit of patience and the right products, you can restore them easily.
GAZ-12 - Soviet six-seat large sedan 6 photos
Photo: Konstantin Dyadyun on Unsplash
Chevrolet CorvetteChrome Wheel CapChrome Door HandleChrome Parts in Need Of RestorationRestored Chrome Parts
Let’s begin by understanding what chrome actually is. Usually found on bumpers, grilles, rims, or various trims, this shiny metal coating is primarily made of chromium, a steely-grey, lustrous, hard, and brittle transition metal.

In the automotive industry, it is used for protection and decoration purposes, being applied to other metals like steel using electroplating.

However, like most metals used on cars, chrome is susceptible to alternating weather and road conditions. These lead to corrosion and there’s nothing more ugly than rusted chrome-plated parts.

Chrome Parts in Need Of Restoration
Photo: Photo by Jack T on Unsplash
If you have chrome elements that have begun to deteriorate but haven’t yet developed chips, you can make them shine again using these simple steps.

The first thing you should do is gather all the necessary products and tools. These include nitrile gloves, microfiber towels, car wash soap, fine grade sandpaper, masking tape, a rust treatment product, and last but certainly not least, a chrome polish or restoring compound.

Make sure to get a premium product for the best possible result. You can find countless metal and chrome polish from brands like 3M, Turtle Wax, or Blue Magic.

Chevrolet Corvette
Before you start, make sure you’re doing this either outside or in a well-ventilated area because you are dealing with some hazardous chemicals that might do a lot of good for your chrome trims but could have some negative effects on your health.

If the component you’re planning to restore hasn’t just lost its shine on the outside but also developed rust on the interior, make sure you remove it as best as you can using fine grade sandpaper.

Then apply the rust treatment to prevent further corrosion; make sure you follow the product instructions about the application and drying time.

The next step of the restoration process is washing your car thoroughly and then taking the necessary time to let it dry. Any dirt, sand, salt, or water can mix with the polish and end up doing more harm than good.

Restored Chrome Parts
Photo: Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
You should carefully tape off the area surrounding the part you will be working on to prevent the polish from damaging the paint or other components.

Once you thoroughly scrubbed the entire surface, clean the polish off with a new microfiber towel. If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, repeat the process several times until you get the desired effect.

Chromed parts that have been neglected for a long time might only get their original bling back after an arduous process of cleaning the old coat off and getting the part re-chromed.

This is not something you can’t do yourself in your garage and will require professional assistance. Mind you, it is not cheap, therefore it makes a viable option only if the car is very rare and it’s impossible to find new parts.
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About the author: Vlad Radu
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Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times.
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