Detailing a Timeless Icon: The 1966 Jaguar S-Type

At Auto Finesse, detailing isn’t just a task—it’s a way of life. That’s why we always look forward to Sessions, a time when our team from across various departments comes together at the Detailing Academy. It’s our chance to do what we do best on something truly exceptional. It’s also the perfect opportunity to give you a glimpse behind the scenes and share the magic with you.

The Iconic British Classic

For this particular gathering, we’ve selected a 1960s Jaguar S-Type, a refined variation of the iconic Mk2—famously dubbed the "Ronnie and Reggie Special." Back in the day, no self-respecting '60s villain would be caught without one. These classic Jags practically exuded an air of mischief, as if a sawn-off shotgun in the glovebox was just part of the package. And, honestly, we find that quite appealing.

The Key Steps

As with all our Detailing Sessions, the Jaguar underwent a comprehensive detailing process, as you can see in the video. However, this time we’re focusing on three standout aspects that make this classic car a bit different from the usual: the exterior trim, the engine bay, and that stunning retro interior.

Of course, before diving into these unique elements, the car was given a thorough pre-wash, contact wash, and decontamination.

The Exterior

You might be wondering why we didn’t choose to focus on correcting old-school single-stage paint as one of the key processes for this car. The reason is simple—the paintwork on this particular Jaguar isn’t truly old. In fact, it underwent a full restoration at some point in the past couple of decades, meaning it could essentially be treated like a modern car.

After a thorough inspection (and some test patches), we found only minor swirling and a few small marks. These were easily addressed using our One-Step All-in-One Compound paired with Revitalise No:2 (medium foam) pads.

Next, we applied Ultra Glaze to further enhance the paintwork, masking minor imperfections and creating a deep, wet-look gloss that perfectly complements a classic like this. Ultra Glaze also acts as an excellent base layer for the rich shine and long-lasting protection provided by a premium show wax. In this case, we opted for our ultra-durable flagship natural wax, Desire.

The Brightwork

One of our favorite features of this Jaguar — and what makes it such a unique detailing job today — is the abundance of chrome trim. From the wheels and bumpers to the iconic Jaguar Leaper on the bonnet, there’s no shortage of intricate details that needed attention, and for that, we turned to Tripple All-in-One Polish.

Admittedly, it can take some time to work through all of this chrome without a full crew, but the results speak for themselves. Tripple effortlessly removes stubborn stains and oxidation, bringing that faded brightwork back to life. This not only revitalizes the chrome but also enhances the overall appearance of the car, complementing the paintwork rather than detracting from it.

The Engine Bay

Unlike modern engines, classic cars from this era didn't come with much in the way of engine protection. In fact, there was little done to safeguard the wiring or other essential components. This means you have to approach the engine bay with great care — no aggressive pressure washing here!

Fortunately, the straight-six engine in this S-Type was in excellent condition. It just needed a bit of gentle TLC. We used Finale Quick Detailer and a FeatherTip brush to carefully clean away any grime. Then, a little Mercury Metal Polish took care of some corrosion and polished the bare metal to a brilliant shine. The metal details on this car are a real highlight — it’s a far cry from how modern engines are constructed, that's for sure.

A final touch of Dressle All Purpose Dressing on the rubbers finished things off. It was all about enhancing the engine bay just enough while preserving its original character — because, on a classic like this, originality is key.

The Interior

The interior of this car is undoubtedly one of its standout features — the vast expanse of brown leather and that polished wood dashboard truly scream 1960s luxury!

As always with a classic, it’s important to treat it with care, even when dealing with years of built-up dirt in the carpets. For this restoration, we used a full range of interior products. Total Interior Cleaner was applied to the trim, carpets, and headlining. For the dashboard, we used Tripple and Spritz Interior Quick Detailer to bring out the shine. Verso All Purpose Cleaner tackled the more soiled areas, including the carpeted sections and floor mats. Finally, we used Hide Leather Cleanser and Hide Leather Conditioner to deeply clean and nourish the leather seats and door panels. The result? Absolute perfection.

The Final Results

As always, the final results truly speak for themselves. However, there were many other elements involved in this detail. Be sure to check out the video at the top of the page for a complete breakdown.