Has this car been repainted?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 27
From: Minneapolis MN
Has this car been repainted?
I'm looking at purchasing this C5, ... is it just me or does it look like the front and rear bumpers are a different shade of silver than the rest of the car? Maybe it's the sunlight? In the last pic the front bumper definitely looks to be a darker shade of silver than rest of the car...
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by FlyboyZR1; Aug 7, 2008 at 05:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Not where I want to be!!
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19
Could have been, sometimes paint on different types of material will look like a different shade of the color. Perfect example is the white pearl Acura uses, brand new from the dealer the bumpers look like different shades of white. For what its worth, it may have been.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 761
Likes: 1
From: Glendale, CA
You can't always tell just by looking at the shade. Look for details between panels. Check for overspray in the gaps between the panels. Look at all the screws and fasteners that hold they body panels on. They should be black. If they've been removed, they'll have marks on them from the tools used. Pull back the rubber moldings and look for inconsistencies in the paint. Look at the moldings themselves for signs of bad masking. Close your eyes and just feel the edges of the panels with your fingers. You'll be able to tell.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: chandler az
It is probably a GM feature. My Millenium Yellow has the same issue and I was also afraid it had been repainted until I saw my buddies 2005 yellow brand new with the same problem. The paint mix is different for the flexible parts than it is for the hard parts.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Without seeing it in person I would say no. The urethane bumper and the SMC panel display the color slightly differently. They should be a fairly good match though.
The best way to determine if anything has been altered in paint is to examine it at night under florescent lamps. They will show any imperfection or alteration. Look at the creases and crevices, if you see any residual of paint overspray you'll know. Look underneath at panels and components for overspray. Bolts and fasteners should be void of paint. Sanded area will look ultra smooth when viewed at an angle which is where you will normally see the orange peel. You should see some variance of orange peel, absence of it is a big telltale sign.
The best way to determine if anything has been altered in paint is to examine it at night under florescent lamps. They will show any imperfection or alteration. Look at the creases and crevices, if you see any residual of paint overspray you'll know. Look underneath at panels and components for overspray. Bolts and fasteners should be void of paint. Sanded area will look ultra smooth when viewed at an angle which is where you will normally see the orange peel. You should see some variance of orange peel, absence of it is a big telltale sign.
Last edited by Jet-Jock; Aug 7, 2008 at 06:23 PM.
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Cruising
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
I have a silver vette and the front and rear bumpers look like a slightly different shade on mine as well. I am however fairly certain that it is just the material that it's painted upon gives it just a hint of a different color.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
That really isn't a good comparison. All kinds of variables, your computer (color calibrated) and the originator's camera, lighting, color correction, etc.
You'll notice it on each generation, stop by a Chevy dealer and take a look at their inventory. It is also apparent on metal cars too. The color is slightly different on the metal body parts when against the urethane bumper parts.
Can you get super close up shots of that vette with a macro lens? No flash either.
But as I and the others have eluded to this is normal (on all cars/trucks).
You'll notice it on each generation, stop by a Chevy dealer and take a look at their inventory. It is also apparent on metal cars too. The color is slightly different on the metal body parts when against the urethane bumper parts.
Can you get super close up shots of that vette with a macro lens? No flash either.
But as I and the others have eluded to this is normal (on all cars/trucks).
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Boise ID
I too have seen many corvettes with slightly different colored front and rear ends--many still on the dealer lot.
Try taking a good look under the schnozz. Does the clear coat go across the ENTIRE bottom of the schnozz (many fixer-upper paint shops will skimp here)? Are there any funny drips/blobs under there? Is the clearcoat of different quality than the hood or quarter panels?
If the schnozz has been bottomed out you should be able to get a good look at how many layers of paint are on there.
Good luck!
--Ed
Try taking a good look under the schnozz. Does the clear coat go across the ENTIRE bottom of the schnozz (many fixer-upper paint shops will skimp here)? Are there any funny drips/blobs under there? Is the clearcoat of different quality than the hood or quarter panels?
If the schnozz has been bottomed out you should be able to get a good look at how many layers of paint are on there.
Good luck!
--Ed
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,072
Likes: 196
From: Arizona
AND the flexible front and rear fascia panels are not painted at the same time or place as the rest of the body. All makes, foreign and domestic, have this problem -- especially with silver. Next time you're in a large parking lot, take a look around. You'll see the variations. (Have to admit, Porsche does an excellent job with silver.)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Even if it was repainted the shop would have removed the fascias to do the painting so there wouldn't be any vixible overspray to see unless you removed the fascias.
In my opinion the car in the pictures looks fine.
Bill
In my opinion the car in the pictures looks fine.
Bill
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: RSM CA
My silver 04 has the same things I asked a body shop about it and he said it was because of how the paint lays on the different material, they always look a bit different.
There are so many Corvettes for sale for great prices, why would you have to buy one so far away you had to fly out to see it?
There are so many Corvettes for sale for great prices, why would you have to buy one so far away you had to fly out to see it?
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Shawnee OK
go look at an altima or a maxima they are really bad. it is just because of the different material it is sprayed over. almost every car had different shade of bumpers if they are a plastic. my pewter was way off and had never been repainted. no worries looks like a nice car
