VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 What type of paint do I use

I am getting ready to purchase paint for my 33 Chevy master coupe. The body color will be Regent Maroon. What kind of paint is preferred?

You might want to also pose that question in the "Body-Sheetmetal-Paint etc forum". In my opinion (not being a paint expert) it will be affected by the talent of the person doing the painting and the $$$ you can allocate for the job. Also will it be a driver or show car?

Who will do the paint job? Is it to be judged? I would ask the professional what to use. If it doesn't matter I would at least use a catalyzed product.

The real joke here is the the VCCA allows any type of paint and points are not deducted for not using original type paint, nitrocellulose lacquer.

But yet they are going to judge you on all other parts of the car as to originality, kinda weird if you ask me.

Yes nitrocellulose lacquer is still available and a lot more work than base clear.

mike my 2 cents

Nitro is much more work than newer urethane or even the water-borne paints? From what I've read and heard from friends who spray for a living, older lacquer is very forgiving and easy for a first-timer to jump right in. Its the cutting & buffing that's the killer.

As for judging, I can see your point. Certain types of paints and thinners with high VOC's are being prohibited in lots of areas, especially in California starting in December of this year. Its awfully hard and $ to find prohibited chemicals just to make a car that much more original. If the color match is correct and there's no orange peel or 'newer' clear coat look to it, what's the issue?

Lacquer does have a deep shine when its done right that you can't match in my opinion. I hope to respray our '47 in black nitro someday...if the EPA lets me.

Darryl ,I water sanded and HAND polished my 35 std coupe back in 1980 in ditzler double deep black nitro.. I will do the same with my 35 standard roadster, as i already have 4 gallons of nitro and all the primer and thinners.

My friend Brian sprayed at his body shop, all the primer and i blocked it out under his supervision. He sprayed it black nitro and I water sanded it between coats with 600 water paper a total of 3 times. I hand polished it over 3months of work using medium grit compound and fine grit and then switched to turtle wax scratch polishing compound. Brian introduced me to a new wool pad , electric buffer and a box of dry durham corn starch to super fine remove scratches and swirls. I heard brass polish also works but never tried that , the corn starch is finer.

Unfortunatly my friend and all those at the shop are gone for 20 years.

Two years ago i was replacing my front fenders and figured I could prime , prep and paint them myself , which i did and am extremely happy with the final result.

It was much easier this time doing the polishing and finishing using 1000 grit water paper followed by 1200 , then 1500 and finally 2000 grit.

The polishing secret this time is too use the MEGUIARS POLISHER that is a random orbit and is 6 speeds and 3 different foam polishing pads. I used all 6 of the meguiars polishing compounds and you can count your nose hairs in the reflection. Their system is so easy to use and unless your in dreamland somewhere while doing it , your not going to burn thru like you would with a wooly pad.

mike lynch