Most car enthusiasts can trace their passion back to a mentor from their childhood. Not me. My father is a scientist who doesn't know a spark plug from a lug nut. Bless him. Nope, my love for cars came out of nowhere.

We were once hired to detail a nearly brand-new Audi that was so unbelievably gross I wondered if we were being pranked. Its carpets were so matted with dog fur that they had changed color from black to white, pet puke literally filled the back seat buckles so they were inoperable, and there was a sticky goop in the center console so vile it should have been sent for forensic analysis.

The best detailers should have the tools and techniques to dramatically revive a historic vehicle’s appearance without being too invasive to originality.