Hot Rods Automotive Paint Job That Looks Like Bare Metal

Not Grey. Not necessarily gray, even.

 

Wrap it

 

Sort of funny…like fake patina…if done really well, but think wraps for something like a traditional Hot Rod that hopefully is going to be around for decades seems sort of hokey. Also probably sort of pricey, plus I’m more of a DIY kind of guy. More appropriate solution on a race car though!

 

There is a guy on Youtube that has a technique that might work for you.

He basically takes a cloth with semi-dried metallic silver paint and rubs it over dry black paint. It has the right sort of tones so might have potential with more refinement.

PS: His name is Rat Rod Bob, so don't click if that's gonna offend you ...

 

If I was to try something like this I would paint with the finest silver base coat I could find then tint with black to kill some of the brightness. About five coats then let it dry out for five days or so. Then start scuffing with 3M scuff pads of different, grit?. Then go over the car like you would cleaning the metal maybe scuffing in different directions around difficult areas.
Then coat it with a clear urethane, flat, shiny whatever.
You’ll probably want to use test panels to get the color you want, make sure you clear coat them because clear coats can change the silver color.

 

This paint over a brownish primer coat. After plenty of drying time, a fine Scotchbrite light scrub! It’s metallic, but, what I would call a ****ty metallic, so it doesn’t look very metallic…sort of dull, not shiny…like a chain link fence.
Stop RUST too!

 

Seems a little too blotchy to me. Just spray it on. Bare metal should be smooth. Would like to see it in person. Bob has some interesting videos…most of the stuff he does is actually above RR quality and quite well thought out. Definitely a “do it yourself” Hot Rod builder.

 

Kinda dig that.
Industrial finish

 

Graphite powder rubbed over white paint.

 

Looks very cool…but looks fragile. What would rain do to it?

 

They say the graphite powder hooks in and won’t rub off. I could see many uses for it, dash and trim, valve covers, pulleys, carburetors etc. but a whole car? Idk. If it looks good and eventually rubs off I would imagine you would just rub more on.
If I was going for the look you’re trying for I’d try it, get it wet and see what happens. White rustoleum and graphite powder is cheap.
Btw, rubbed over black paint produces a black satin chrome finish that’s not very hamb friendly.

 

Cool, thanks.

 

Looks very convincing to me…***uming it’s paint. Anyone know? Nice Hot Rod!


Pretty close to this, if you ask me. Wonder what the color code for the paint on the 34 is?

 

C'mon @A ***** , get out to the garage and give it a try already!
That looks like paint to me. For reference, see first picture.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-b***-hemi-model-a-coupe.104314/page-4

 

Out in the garage…but not ready to give it a try yet.

 

Better angle.

 

Might look a little more convincing, if it wasn’t so flawless looking…maybe some slightly darker/lighter spots fogged in, in appropriate spots. Definitely a low buck/interesting solution to the “nice” quality paint job prices, that have almost become deal breaker’s lately.

 

I did it on a race car body. I used a corvette silver from early 2000ish, it had a very "white/bright" tone. I sprayed the base and clear like normal but sanded the clear with 400 AS SOON as it was just hard enough to sand. I used long strokes and removed all the shine. The paint "finished" drying by the next day and a slight shine returned but all the sand marks where visible.
other race teams complained about our use of an aluminum body.