My son details cars on the side. He uses a product called "Black Box", I believe it is by Turtle Wax. My other son has a black Escort. (The '95 Monte is black as well. )

It is a 3 step process, and I would suggest some rubber/vinyl gloves. BUT, it works realy well, and really leaves a nice shine, and beads up real well. I'd suggest it to anyone.

 

I know this thread is old as dirt but the other day I used/tried turtle wax-lens restorer kit, actually just the lens clarifying compound, looks like glass now.

 

Nothing you do to the trunk panel will shine it up perminently. I polished mine with the buffer at the end of last summer. This is what it looked like:


Now its so dull it looks like a chalkboard. Really the black panel just needs sanded and clear coated. Ive always wanted to paint mine black and clear it but just never got around to it.

 

So, ya, cheaper solution for me: I take a round buffer for cars and add a little toothpaste on the headlamps. Buffs the plastic very nicely, just smells like crap. I'm going to do the same to the back plastic here soon.

 

I've always had the idea that clear coating the trunk panel would last the longest. I'm not sure if anyone ever tried it tho. If not may try it on an old trunk panel I have.