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I'm pretty sure we can all agree on what "Show Quality" paint is on a restored car, But I see so many ads describing the paint as driver quality. Any thoughts on what that really means, other than not being show quality? Would original paint as it left the factory be driver quality? If original paint is 40 years old and looks perfect is it now show quality? Just wondering how others would describe "Driver Quality".
This is my "beater". Definitely driver quality paint. I bought the car about a year ago and haven't had time to mess with it but I was able to take it out for a short drive and wash it the other day. The car was originally red but was painted black some time ago. I think a good buffing and wax will make it shine pretty nice but it will never be a show car and that's the way I like it.
It is "driver quality" because I can drive it anywhere and not worry about it. If it gets stone chips, door dings/scrapes, if I have to drive over freshly tarred roads, if I have to drive on a dirt road, I don't care. I live a mile up a dirt road anyway so I always drive on dirt!
If original paint is 40 years old and looks perfect.........
Most restoration guides say thin or poor coverage on lower under panels, orange-peel, over-spray, and runs was COMMON. The paint was never "perfect" when they left the factory.
Yet many people believe they have to restore a car to be BETTER than what it was when it was originally built. To me, "driver quality" looks good going down the street, or sitting in a parking lot at the local "show & shine".
I`m not out to win any trophies, not being judged for points. I`m not about to drop 20 grand for a paint job then be scared to run it to the grocery store.
if orig paint still looks as new it is show quality in one way and driver in another. bloomington and NCRS give more points for flawed original paint than the best repaint. show quality depends on what kind of show. judging? or just cars n coffee? most of these cars are not worth enough before or after paint to be prospects for 10k "show quality" paint jobs. Maaco painters know how to shoot paint. you take it to them and it will look as good as you prepped it. and they will not roll it into the back of their shop and leave it there for a year or two.
Interesting comment about Macco. Several years ago I prepped a 1969 Triumph TR6 for paint, bought the correct paint (Damson, a deep burgundy) and gave it to Macco to shoot. I sanded and buffed and it was gorgeous. 3 shows, 3 first places. I was told it was over restored by many of the British car folks.
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Originally Posted by derekderek
if orig paint still looks as new it is show quality in one way and driver in another.
This is where I think I fall. My paint is over 45 years old with 77k miles of driving behind it. It ain't perfect. But I can still win a trophy or two.
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Originally Posted by derekderek
you leave that orig paint alone...
Right on brother.
The funny thing is I spent at least the 1st 20 years of ownership dreaming of the day I could afford a perfect paint job.
Every flaw drove me nuts. Light spots....seams. Why didn't they do a better job at the factory?
Now they're like badges of courage. New paint is the last thing I want.
if orig paint still looks as new it is show quality in one way and driver in another. bloomington and NCRS give more points for flawed original paint than the best repaint. show quality depends on what kind of show. judging? or just cars n coffee? most of these cars are not worth enough before or after paint to be prospects for 10k "show quality" paint jobs. Maaco painters know how to shoot paint. you take it to them and it will look as good as you prepped it. and they will not roll it into the back of their shop and leave it there for a year or two.
These are really good points. I used to belong to the ISCA and learned body/paint work while I was getting my undergrad. Over the years I was fortunate to win some best paint awards from the ISCA. On one car I was doing (a '55 mini-bird) I didn't have access to a booth. I did all the body/prep work, bought my own materials, and took it to Maaco to shoot it (I had already checked their work and arranged the best shooter). I paid them full price even though I supplied the materials. I did a cut/buff and it won awards.
I've found the following to pretty much be true: A great paint job is 90% prep work (including final prep before/after paint, removing all the handles, emblems, and such - strip the thing bare, don't just mask around stuff) and the right materials, environment, etc.; 10% shooter.
I think derekderek points out a viable alternative to the $10-20k/1-2 year paint jobs: do all the prep work, buy your materials, and take it to a reputable shop to work it in. Take it home and finish it.
BTW, 'driver quality' to me means it's a 5-10 footer, you can drive it without too much paranoia, and otherwise it looks good.
Driver quality to me means it looks good/great from 10ft, but up close you'll see some minor imperfections and panel gap variations. The paint still shows a great, flat shine and would look at home at any cruise in or show. Might not win any trophies, but certainly wouldn't be that far out of the running.
Now if I'm redoing a car, I'm putting down the best paint job possible. Example would be my daily driver GMC. Stripped it down, blocked out, and laid a BC/CC that was wet sanded up to 5000 grit and buffed to a mirror finish. If I'm going through the hassle of painting, it's gonna be damn near perfect. And that's on a true daily driver.
This is my "beater". Definitely driver quality paint. I bought the car about a year ago and haven't had time to mess with it but I was able to take it out for a short drive and wash it the other day. The car was originally red but was painted black some time ago. I think a good buffing and wax will make it shine pretty nice but it will never be a show car and that's the way I like it.
It is "driver quality" because I can drive it anywhere and not worry about it. If it gets stone chips, door dings/scrapes, if I have to drive over freshly tarred roads, if I have to drive on a dirt road, I don't care. I live a mile up a dirt road anyway so I always driven on dirt!
Not to hijack the thread, but living on a dirt road would drive me nuts. Had to endure it for a summer while our road was being ground and repacked. I hate having a dirty car and it was simply unavoidable that year. Now back to our regularly-scheduled thread topic…
Right on brother.
The funny thing is I spent at least the 1st 20 years of ownership dreaming of the day I could afford a perfect paint job.
Every flaw drove me nuts. Light spots....seams. Why didn't they do a better job at the factory?
Now they're like badges of courage. New paint is the last thing I want.
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Welcome to the "I'm going to do everything possible to keep my original paint nice" club Mr. White......
Also....If you want to know what works best at keeping that St. Louis lacquer looking new...
Griots Speed Shine. That's all I've been using since the '90s.
Not to hijack the thread, but living on a dirt road would drive me nuts. Had to endure it for a summer while our road was being ground and repacked. I hate having a dirty car and it was simply unavoidable that year. Now back to our regularly-scheduled thread topic…
It can be a pain, especially when I drive my C5 which is a bit nicer than the C3. I go real slow so as to keep dust kick up to a minimum.
I like to see them described as 5-10-20 footers meaning they look respectable standing that far from them.
My 1965 HAD very nice paint on it when I bought it having been repainted the original color in lacquer back in the 80. It had always been garaged and never winter driven. It have some paint crack that would not photograph and the car was a 5 footer.
I say HAD because I hit a small Javalina at 80 mph doing some front end damage and one thing lead to another until it turned into a complete repaint if the accident would not have happen I NEVER would have painted the car. Here are some before pictures.
What most consider to be Driver quality is better than the factory put on them through the 70's for sure.
Would you consider lack of coverage on the lower fenders and quarters along with a drip or run or three to be driver quality?
How about this for a factory paint job? 19k mile one owner car garaged its entire life...
What most consider to be Driver quality is better than the factory put on them through the 70's for sure.
Would you consider lack of coverage on the lower fenders and quarters along with a drip or run or three to be driver quality?
How about this for a factory paint job? 19k mile one owner car garaged its entire life...
side grinder or what prior to paint?
Jeez that sucks. And no, I don't consider runs, dry spray, or lack of coverage as driver quality. It's true though, cars back then were cranked out with no regard to quality.
For me, if I'm doing body and paint, it's gonna be way nicer than original. There's no way I'm restoring a classic back to 1960s-70s quality.
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Originally Posted by firstgenaddict
What most consider to be Driver quality is better than the factory put on them through the 70's for sure.
Would you consider lack of coverage on the lower fenders and quarters along with a drip or run or three to be driver quality?
How about this for a factory paint job? 19k mile one owner car garaged its entire life...
side grinder or what prior to paint?
If that was a factory screw-up it's the worst I've ever seen.
It should never have left the factory like that.
And if so the original owner should of had the dealer repair it. There's no way I would of taken delivery of mine looking like that.
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"Driver Quality" paint
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