GForensic

Hello All,

I was wondering if someone could accurately explain the difference between what tintcoat versus metallic paint is. I am seriously considering a Z06 in Sebring Orange which looks like it has metallic flake but it is not called a metallic paint. For reference I used to own a 2006 Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic which I loved and was a pursuing a newer Daytona Sunrise Orange Metallic Z06. But now here comes Sebring Orange which looks really cool but I am thrown off by it being a tintcoat.

Can someone clarify this for me? Will the new Tintcoat shine bright in the sun like the metallic paints based on its properties. The thrill for me with my DSOM Z06 was when the sun shined bright. Man did that color explode. I'm hoping for the same thing here with Sebring Orange.

Thanks!!
Steve

mdiiulio

Tintcoats are a modified step in the process. They can be metallic or not. Normal metallic and tintcoats are painted the same up until the clearcoat step. In a normal metallic paint job, they simply spray CLEAR clearcoat. In a tintcoat, the clearcoat stage is actually tinted to amplify and complement the underlying basecoat.

If you loved DSOM, get Sebring orange, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Also, GM isn't exactly helping with the naming process...

Laguna Blue Tintcoat was metallic
Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat was also metallic

Why leave the word metallic out of one and not the other?

jimmie jam

Metallic paint: metallic base coat + clear.

Tintcoat paint: base coat + metallic pearl coat + clear.

carsnpars

There are many sizes of metallics, from small very fine to large almost bass boat size.. A lot if what appears to be metallics are actually a pearl.. Some of the more sparkly pearls are Zirillic. Metallics are two stage base clear. Tintcoats can be like a candy where you have a base, usually close to finished color , then a tint coat, then a clear. So a three stage like a candy. Used to get .4hr for the tint coat above the paint time per panel. Some of the reds on gm would sand pink because they did tint the clear but most would sand white just having clear on the top. In Sherwin Williams they had a red Tintcoat on the mix machine just for cry hogs .mid/tint coat hope this helps

C7DriverOnt

Thanks for the explanations. I have a Crystal Red tintcoat, really like the color.

LT1 Z51

Tintcoats are a 3-stage paint and can be metallic. In order of difficulty to paint match (easiest to hardest) is non-metallic, non-metallic tintcoat, metallic, and metallic tintcoat. metallic is usually hard to match because it has "flakes" and the grain isn't uniform on a repaint versus the original. Tintcoat is difficult to match because its another variable in the mix, and the color hue (already hard to match on non-metallic no tintcoat paint) is further harder to match by needing to get a tintcoat with the same consistency as the original.

Paint work is a PITA. I literally buy white cars because they are the easiest to paint match. I assume some doofus will eventually hit me.

jtranger

Is blade silver a tint coat? I get a pearl effect under certain light that looks awesome.

Skid Row Joe

I've not seen any Blade Silver C7s that look tintcoat. In fact, every one I've inspected has looked dull or drab. Very uninteresting coloring, since I generally like all shades of silver.

mschuyler

You can easily tell the tintcoats. They cost an additional $995. Today's tintcoats are Long Beach Red, Racing Yellow, and Sebring Orange.

BJ67

If you see and metallic/flake in the color it a metallic color. Black and white on the corvettes are solid colors or non metallic. Tint coat are mid coats. You have your normal metallic base coat color, the opague (see thru) metallic tint mid coat is just a little different shade of the base color with a pearl in the formula. Then clear coat goes over that. These are considered 3 stage, all three stage colors are metallic. Three stage colors generally are a pita to match in case of repairs. 2 stage colors are much easier. A 3 stage color is more brilliant in the sun. Personally, I would hope the new orange is a 2 stage.

mschuyler

Nope. Sebring Orange is a three-stage. Absolutely beautiful in the sun.

Skid Row Joe

Still have not seen the Sebring Orange in person. Only a couple photographs posted have shown the depth of sparkle and shine. It generally mustn't be photographically easy to reflect it's qualities.

Avanti

In any event, I suggest you find one to see in person so you can determine if it is what you want, irrespective of labeling, etc.

BJ67

So its got a mid tint coat with pearl for the brilliance , thank you. Now I would definitely want to see this color during the day from all different angles to see if there any visual color changes caused by the many different angles of the body sculpture.

orca1946

I had to see -in person - the Sebring Orange to make my choice on my soon to be 2019 GS

papillion

This from a guy with a white car.

Skid Row Joe

This.....from a guy with a sparkling, shiny Arctic White loaded up C7!. .

wrecker3

My 2016 Laguna Blue Tintcoat C7

JerryU

Chrystal Red is what I had on my 2014. It is both metallic and tintcoat. Loved the color.

Did not see it stated but metallic paint is simple, there are flakes of aluminum in the paint. My Street Rod has two sizes, one very fine and the other coarser.

The tint coat is as described. It's a tinted clear. The reason for the higher cost and limited of number of colors where it was offered is the clear paint robots have to be cleaned after it used! That has a cost and takes time so they limited the number of colors that could use the process. Should all change with the new paint line.

I recall for my 2008 I was going to get orange but they added a blue tintcoat and had to remove a color from having it. They said they kept the yellow tintcoat because it had more of an effect on it did than on orange where it was eliminated. It was early in the build year and since I could not actually see the color compared to the 2007 I got yellow!

Now have the first white car I have ever owned. It's neither metallic or tintcoat and love the choice! Is no doubt very color dependent as to what looks good.

PS: There was confusion in the past re tintcoat being another added clear coat, one tinted. That was made clear years ago when a Forum Moderator toured the plant and also defined why the higher cost. At that time the extra cost was the time and material cost to clean the "clear coat" paint robots of the tinted clear to straight clear. It is the same one clear coat that is tinted.

gliot1

The tintcoat is amazing as in the garage or overcast it appears to be a normal matte orange, but in the sunlight it really comes alive. My Sebring Orange Tintcoat Grand Sport is now all of (2) weeks old!