VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION VCCA Judging Questions PAINT

Regarding lacquer factory paints and modern base coat / clear coat paints, how do VCCA judges look at "modern paints" on stock vehicles?

I don't think that points are deducted for modern paints since most cars judged have some type of modern paint. The judges don't even compare the paint color that is on the car to the paint number that appears on the cowl tag. As long as the paint color is one of the colors authorized for that particular year then no points are deducted.

Thanks junkyard dog, have often wondered about that situation.

Modern paints are acceptable on our vintage vehicles as long as the paint job looks relatively original when you are done. In other words, if you paint a vehicle that never came from the factory with metallic paint but the paint you use is highly metallic, then points would be deducted when having the vehicle judged. Also some people wet sand the firewall with 3,000 grit sandpapaer and then buff the firewall to a high gloss. You will be hard pressed to find Chevrolets which received this type of attention to the paint on the firewall from the factory. Therefore, the high gloss firewall would receive a deduction IF this vehicle is placed in the VCCA Judging Program.

If you are having your vehicle judged in the VCCA, the general rule is this..... Paint it so that it looks original when it was produced at the factory.

dtm

I think you would be hard pressed to find that kind of attention ANYWHERE on a vintage Chevrolet production vehicle.

The laquers used prior to 1958 required a compound buffing (which the factory did) and only the exposed outside areas got buffed. Door jambs and firewalls were roough abd dull

That's correct. My all original 1932 Chevrolet Special Sedan with the factory nitrocellulose lacquer has a dull finish on the door jams and firewall. The outside body surfaces are polished.

High metallic would draw a deduction .... would base coat/clear coat also draw a deduction?

My Mayland Black '51 was painted with base coat/clear coat, many years back.

I have not seen where base coat / clear coat has received a deduction during judging. 20 years ago, I painted by 1940 with nitrocellulose lacquer. I ended up changing the color and I also went with base coat / clear coat. The reality is that paint systems and the paint chemicals and materials have changed a lot over the years. Sometimes the change in paint has been made for the health and safety of the painter.

dtm

Thanks, David.