Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

A very common phrase in the US.  Detailing a car is washing, waxing,
vacuuming, and generally spiffing up a vehicle.  There are many people
who make a living as "detailers".  

http://www.mobiledetailers.net/

It might be, but it's also common in AusE. It means to fix up the little
details of a car, usually in preparation to selling it. This includes
things like cleaning the engine, putting in new wiper blades, replacing
any damaged trim, etc. It would be pointless to do this on a brand new
car, though, so perhaps there's a nuance in there that doesn't exist in
AusE.

A different meaning would apply if the object were a dog rather than a car.

See:
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1
861604117
or
http://tinyurl.com/yf39xo

   detail. transitive verb
   Definition:
   
   3. decorate something: to add refinements or decorations to
   something, especially a motor vehicle

It seems to be mainly AmE.

In BrE "detailing" seems to used differently.

For example:
http://www.fineautocare.com/Detailing-Programmes.html

   Exterior Only Detail - (Approx 3 hours)    
   1. Paintwork Cleaning    
       * Hand washed using pH neutral car bath
       * Wheels and alloys cleaned using non-acidic cleaners
       * Paintwork dried by hand using soft drying towels    
   2. Paintwork Preparation    
       * Swissol paint rubber used to remove surface contaminants
         such as tree sap, tar or paint over-spray
       * Swissol Cleaner Fluid used to prepare the surface, fill
         light swirl marks and remove old wax    
   3. Paint Protection    
       * Application of Swissol carnauba wax (Saphir/Best of Show)
4. Glass & Tyre Presentation    
       * Swissol Crystal Glass Cleaner applied to glass areas
       * Tyres treated with Swissol Pneu
       * Option: Wheels protected with Swissol Autobahn wheel wax
Interior only Detail - (Approx 4 hours)    
   5. Carpeting and Mats    
       * Vacuum of interior and boot areas    
   6. Leather and Upholstery Cleaning    
       * Leather cleaned with Swissol Leather Cleaner
       * Leather fed with Swissol Leather Milk    
   7. Plastics, Seals & Dashboard    
       * Plastics, dash area, door and window seals cleaned
       * Seals treated with Swissol Seal Feed
       * Plastics protected using Swissol Vinyl & Plastic
         Conditioner
       * Wood finishes treated with Swissol Wood Polish    
   8. Windows & Mirrors    
       * Windows cleaned inside and out with Swissol Crystal
       * Mirrors treated with Swissol Crystal

Here "detailing" means cleaning and treating various surfaces of the
car "with attention to detail". Normal cleaning and treating of a
car body or interior would be less thorough.

I know what it means, although I can't find in a quick on-line search in
any British dictionary. However, I have a feeling that the verb was used
in some area like art restoration before the car industry got it.

I suspect he painted a design on it.  Maybe just lines around the trim,
maybe flames on the hood and fenders.

--Jeff

He chopped off those outmoded fins.  He took out her stalker with
extreme prejudice.  He cleaned  the car meticulously and anointed the
animal and vegetable parts with fine silicones.

Is this AmE?

Yes.  The last is the most common.