Part I: The Body
Paintwork is like voodoo to many hobbyists, in that few know how much effort goes into creating a really stunning one unless they've done it.
Back in the '70s and '80s, there were discount chains that would paint any car for around $100. That price has increased nearly four-fold today, and anyone who remembers those vintage TV ads must wonder how a $100 paint job back-then could possibly become a multi-thousand dollar custom one today. First, keep in mind the top-shelf custom jobs are done for high profile show cars that participate in high profile shows like SEMA, ISCA (International Show Car Association), and World of Wheels. Second, remember that not all paint and prep work are created equal.
Comparing the paint that was applied to your daily driver back in the '70s or '80s to the House of Kolor (HOK) paint system that will be applied to this '69 Firebird convertible is akin to comparing the quarter-mile performance of a '29 Oakland to that of a Warren Johnson Pro Stocker. Times, technology, and materials have changed. When it comes to prep work, the low-dollar jobs of old were generally scuff and shoot deals that got you a couple of coats of low-cost paint directly over your old paint.
Today, if you want show-quality paint that fits your budget, you will seek out a shop like Classic Restorations in Pine Island, New York. Classic will apply any system that you desire after removing from your Pontiac all the trim, rubber, and glass; then stripping the body to bare metal and performing the required bodywork and sanding.
A single-stage urethane paint job, which requires primer, sealer, and multiple color coats, can be done to maintain a budget or to replicate a factory '60s-'70s style. A two-stage urethane system adds multiple coats of clear over the color coats for deeper appearing metallics, or a multi-stage pearl will provide that translucent glow found in the most modern paint systems. For this story, Classic is using a top-of-the-line House Of Kolor Kosmic Kandy urethane enamel system for owner Melvin Benzaquen's Firebird.
House of Kolor has been producing custom paints for more than five decades. Frustrated with the lack of quality inherent in '50s paints, custom painter and company founder Jon Kosmoski set out to develop more durable finishes that retained their brilliance. He opened House Of Kolor in 1956 and the company has been an industry leader ever since. Currently owned by Valspar, HOK is still producing state-of-the-art paint systems in jaw-dropping hues.
According to HOK, "Our Kosmic Kolor urethane enamel Kandys provide fantastic gloss and depth. Available in 20 stunning translucent colors, they are crack resistant and can be applied over any of our Shimrin' Universal Base Coats, Kustom Bases, or Kustom Pearls."
Follow along to see what is required to produce a finish that drives show goers wild.
...
>>next page