Flown to California for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R: Paint Correction and Ceramic Pro Gold

Some vehicles are worth getting on a plane for. In 2017, Top Rank International Vehicle Importers flew our team from Minnesota to Long Beach, California to take care of a Bayside Blue Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, one of only 11 fully legal R34s in the United States at the time. The job: a full paint correction, bodywork, an interior coating and our Ceramic Pro Gold package. GoldenPeaks Productions followed along and filmed the whole thing.

The car

The R34 GT-R is one of the most sought-after Japanese performance cars ever built, and for years it was nearly impossible to own legally in the United States. Top Rank, one of the country's best-known JDM importers, brought in a small number of legal examples, and this Bayside Blue car was one of them. A car this rare and this valuable does not get handed to just anyone, which is why they called us rather than a shop down the street.

What we did

• Paint correction. Years of washing and handling leave swirls, light scratches and haze in any paint, and Bayside Blue shows every one of them. We measured the paint, then machine-polished every panel in stages to remove the defects and bring back the depth and clarity the color is famous for.
• Bodywork. Where the car needed it, we addressed body and paint imperfections so the finish was correct before any protection went on. Coating over a flaw only locks it in.
• Interior coating. The interior surfaces were cleaned and coated so the seats, plastics and trim resist stains, UV fading and everyday wear.
• Ceramic Pro Gold. With the paint corrected, we applied our top-tier Ceramic Pro package: multiple layers of 9H coating on the paint, plus protection for the wheels, glass and trim. The result is deep gloss, strong chemical and UV resistance and a surface that stays cleaner and washes easier for years.

Why we travel for special vehicles

Most of our work happens in our Edina shop, but we have always made exceptions for vehicles that are too rare, too valuable or too far away to bring to us. When a collector, dealer or importer wants a specific team and a specific standard of work, we bring our tools, products and people to the car. Rare imports, exotics and collector vehicles across the country have been handled this way, with the same process we use at home.

Travel jobs also keep us sharp. Working on cars like the R34, in a different shop, on a deadline, with a camera running, is the kind of experience that makes everyday work in the Twin Cities better.

The same care for your car

You do not need a six-figure import to get this level of attention. The paint correction, interior protection and Ceramic Pro Gold package we brought to Long Beach are the same services we offer every day in Edina. Learn more about paint correction, Ceramic Pro coatings and the Ceramic Pro Gold package, or ask us about interior coating.

If you have a special vehicle somewhere else and want our team to come to it, reach out and tell us about the car. We are glad to talk through what it would take.

Questions? We are here to help. Call (651) 706-9895 or request a quote online. Pristine Detail is at 4444 W 76th St in Edina, a few minutes from Minneapolis.