I haven't started a thread in well over a year I bet and while you'd think in that year I'd have something really substantial to offer but no. I have been pondering stupid questions like WHERE was the silver paint found on suspensions in the early 50's coming from? Was is a military paint that was offered? WHY was it used and WHAT is the closest sheen I can get today if wanting to recreate this look? See that image of SHINODA's Chopstick special sitting kinda high with the Cyclone QC peeking out and silver banjo bells flanking each side has cost me nights of sleep. It's about as cool as it gets for me and while I don't think the Quinton/Joehnck was restored exactly how it was in 1953 it certainly looks the part. I have plans to finish my '33 coupe in the same vein. I see it circa 1952 as a stripped fuel coupe racing at Saugus. I even went as far as buying a Cyclone QC for the car and plan on stealing that Comp Coupe look Shinoda made look so good. You can expect that same silver paint on the suspension of my coupe but first things first. I'd like to know if there is a back story to why guys chose that color and sheen. If white was the poor man's chrome back in the 50's what was Silver??? I actually doubt this thread will go anywhere but let's see!! And just so we know that the question isn't completely random, here's my 33 that will eventually look like it could have been running up against the top two cars early in the heyday of hot rodding.
I restored a Husky motorcycle, the frame was that same silver color and nobody had anything like it. I used Martin Senour chrome paint and sprayed over it with the same brand of clear. It looked just like your pictures. Try this and see if it works for you. Tool Roomer
A machinist paint? The light bright color was to see leaks, damage, cracks ect, as well as being able to see literally better when working on the vehicle.
Slammed you may be spot on! Boeing used a similar silver paint on their wings called coriguard. To show fuel and hydraulic leaks, it's still available/used. it looks like a match. Johnny. Geez I could get a paint spec/ part number if you wish
"SHINODA's Chopstick special sitting kinda high with the Cyclone QC peeking out and silver banjo bells" Pin point where/whose shop the build for this car was. Then the area should reveal if Aerospace/military or a very large industrial complex (no, not what Ike warned was coming in his farewell speech) that was a likely source for this coating.
Slammed is right, this is why so many competition engines and drive train components were painted light colors, not just that silver. To see leaks and damage. Rustolem makes a silver hammertone paint that is about the same shade that I think would look boss.
James, In answer to your question in the early '50s is was very likely aluminum paint bought in 5 gallon cans war surplus. the reason I say this is that I painted a bunch of rusty bumpers with that stuff that I bought for about 3 bucks a can at a surplus store in the late '60s and it was still war surplus from WWII and the police action in Korea. On a side note and nothing to do with this thread, we painted a few cars metallic green when I was in high school using OD war surplus paint with gold metallic mixed in. Color sand it a couple of coats of clear and it was beautiful. OK then back to my corner.
hammerite smooth aluminum is nice but it is glossy we used to use non smudge aluminum lacquer for that kind of thing when i worked in a body shop in the late 70's really love your redone chop it looks spot on much classier than that angle job it had before
Sounds like Slammed and some of the others have put you on the right track. Your car is absolutely nuts, and I mean that in a GOOD way. Wow. You've been busy. Nice to see you posting here again. How about some build pics and details on what you're doing for us old farts that aren't so much into social media?
DAM! Jeff I am liking your 33. Going to be one bad ass looking hot rod. Brings Peter's 15OZ coupe to my mind.
A word about wartime and immediate post-war (military) paints; prior to 1943, 'standards' were loosely applied...each branch seemed to have their own requirements, and even then there was a great degree of variance from batch to batch. That year, the ANA (Army/Navy Aeronautical) standard was developed in hopes of simplifying production and procurement. Still, the 'standard' was loosely applied, as the production requirement of the war effort was infinitely more important than perfectly matching paint(s). In 1956 Federal Standard 595 was adopted with more stringent requirements. Enough about all that, right? To more accurately answer your question, "Aluminum" lacquer was used extensively in airframes up to 1943, when pure aluminum clad components became widely available. It is quite possible that a large surplus of this paint was available in the immediate postwar period, so it may well have been used by the thrifty hot-rodder. I would imagine that silver 'aircraft dope,' a plasticized lacquer used since the teens, would be a close match in color if you are wanting to match military surplus paint.
I have used a 316L stainless steel pigmented Rust Proof Seymour paint on most of the running gear and mag wheels on my avatar that I was introduced to by Tar Heel Parts from North Carolina in spray cans. It provides a wonderful look as the OP photo. Tar Heel is a metal finishing supplier into blasting and polishing primarily. That, along with cast blast for cast iron, and aluminum cast blast, are my favorites. For OEM engine colors I discovered my 1940 Studebaker green engine paint formula was readily available from Burbank Paint Company
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