These two cars were in a lot of five vehicles with various issues (the other three had been trodden on, with one of those also being painted). The sorry-looking lot was cheap, but a closer look promised it to be very good value because of this Karmann Ghia and Opel Rekord. Because underneath that paint, both appeared to still have their headlights. And the paint looked like it was poster paint.
It took more than half a year to receive the cars. The local post first screwed up the delivery, then lost the parcel while on its way back to the seller. But against all expectations it turned up after hope had been given up many months before. The second delivery attempt thankfully went without a hitch.
The headlights were indeed present and the cars were indeed covered in poster paint. Which is water-based so came off in a good half hour of soaking and scrubbing with washing up liquid and a nailbrush (always use brushes with natural fibres to avoid scratches).
The Karmann Ghia had one broken axle mount which was repaired the standard way. And I used glue from a glue stick to secure its headlights. While scrubbing I had taken care to hold them in with my fingers, and then accidentally pulled one out by the suction of my fingertip. Found it in the shallow water in the sink and put it back in place, but it went AWOL a second time while putting the car back together after fixing the axle.
Those headlights are tiny and transparent. As soon as you notice one has gone, don't move. Start inspecting your table top methodically from left to right, slowly. Lift up things it may have rolled under. Check at least an arm's length of surface, for they can bounce quite a distance. If you can't find it on the tabletop, then check yourself next. The folds of your clothes, the breast pocket of your shirt, the tops of your socks or shoes (but don't move your feet). Laced shoes are no fun in these cases and neither are woollen sweaters (luckily I was wearing neither). Seat of your chair is next, and feel under your legs because you will have shifted in your seat. Then get up without moving your feet, don't move your chair and step as far to the side or rear as you can in one step (hold on to the table for support). Then get down on your knees and slowly sweep the floor with your hands. If you have a dark, smooth floor surface then maybe you can see it. If you're lucky it may catch the light. But you may have to sweep the entire floor with your hands, next to and under your chair and table. I have greyish textured carpeting so couldn't see the little headlight, but I eventually found it again by slowly and patiently sweeping with my hands.
The glue from a glue stick is sticky enough to hold in the headlights and eventually dries up. It can be dissolved again with warm water so can be undone, though in this case why would you.
But after all these adventures, the cars are clean again and look beautiful. Poster paint does make an ideal protective coating!
