Hot Rods Searching for a hot rod color

Thinking of changing the color of my 32 Chevy, currently in white primer. The car used to be in hotrod black but thinking something different. Want to go to like a gun metal grey satin or something like that . Any help on what to look for appreciated. Thanks

 

You need to pick your favorite color. That way if it is a keeper you will be happy with it for a longer time period.

 

From black, to white, to gray? Are you color blind? There's lots of cool colors out there. Look around!

 

The older I get, the more I am drawn to this color . . .

 

One of my hardest decisions is choosing the right colors, all I know is patina is not a color

 

The most famous '32 Chevy 5 window I remember was yellow and had a later Chevy six in it. Was owned by some tall guy who sold it off for a '32 Ford. Go figure
-Dave

 

A hot rod should be a personal expression of your taste and style.

Pick the time period of cars that got you into old cars, think of the cars that really turned you on back then. Build to that style, not whatever the current flavor of the month is.

Surely there were a few cars that you really liked?

 

Colors that are bright and visible so the muggles can see you coming.
Greys and black blend into the background.

 

Mix white & black together ya get grey, be daring go bold.

Red, yellow or orange. HRP

 

That beach coupe looks good because it's broken up with white and many highlights. Stand back from your car, close your eye's and let the imagination do your choosing. You might be surprised.

 

I am in the same place with my truck @32cruisin , in fact I spent a little time on my way in to work today at the local paint store to confer with one of the brain trust. I had the idea of matte or semi flat black but after leaving the store I think that idea is now moot. He said I would never be happy with it, almost impossible to apply evenly, impossible to repair and match, scratches and bird droppings are there for ever, you have to paint the entire truck (all pieces) at the same time with the same pot at the same temp with the same wetness...nightmare. He said the best painters (which I am not) can't paint matte colors that will please a perfectionist (which I am).

So my advice is stay glossy, no metallic, and spend some time at the paint store. Research is key.

 

I read somewhere years ago that one of the ways paint colors are chosen by car manufacturers for future years is by the color of ladies lingerie today. So just look through a lady friend's panty drawer and pick a color you like best.

 

Gloss Black

 

Lots of vehicles on the road today, cruise a parking lot, find something you like and try and get the make, model and year and color code. Most paint stores can mix up the color and add stuff you want, metallic, %gloss, pearl, whatever. I wanted semi flat, non-metallic 40 Ford Garnet Maroon. Had old PPG paint formula, but it doesn't translate to todays chemicals. Plus PPG has different "levels" of "quality" - Deltron being upper crust $$$, Shopline being lesser.
Try '08 Ford Ranger or '19 Honda Ridgeline greys. I liked 'em.

 

Black...Everything else is camouflage

 

what has worked in the past is driving through car dealerships to see what catches my eye. There are some nice colors being sprayed on new cars, plus they are somewhat easier to match if you need to do touch ups.

 

I've always liked the shark-skin silver color that was on the early 60's vettes. That color would translate very well on a hot rod and would make other colors pop off of it (i.e colorful pinstriping, etc)

 

So I guess my next car is going to be pink with race car lettering that says “It’s not going to lick itself”

 

Used to hate green but now I have 2 cars a 40 and a 32 in different shades of green. The 40 Is Cloudmist Grey and the deuce is Bruces Rod Shop (Cement Green).

 

Let's see, it's a Chevy, it's a hot rod, gotta be Hugger Orange. I had a hot rod '65 Chevy pickup I painted that color and it suddenly was able to do second gear wheelies!

 

Faded, see-through, holes in them. Sounds like Patina to me...

 

Go with a solid color, it looks more traditional than metallic. I like the tans / grey tones.(always gloss) But if you want to play it safe and have the best, go gloss black. It never goes out of fashion.

 

I never know until I walk out of the paint store....just saying.

 

I have had the same problem many times over the years. The colors I chose looked great for a while but I eventually got tired of them or styles changed.
About 20 years ago after talking with several well known painters I decided to go with a stock Ford color. It isn't flashy and it isn't trendy, but it still looks great on my cars, after all this time.
There are three more that are done since this photo was taken, another Victoria, a truck and I am finishing a 2- dr sedan. All cordoba grey.
My paint dealer has my color code on speed dial, and I have no problem matching the color up if some damage happens.
I have had them all, black, candy apple's ,pearls, flat black, red oxide primer, etc.
Never again- the factory spent a lot of time deciding what looked good.

 

Nice!

 

Truly classic, @Binkman!
There were more primered cars in and out of my shop in late '70s to early '80s than I want to remember! I advised, critiqued, even pleaded..."Paint it!"
Some got sold in primer, one in particular, a '32 five window hiboy...(sold for $9k) The seller dropped by 2 months later, I was working on the radiator. (SBC, 400TH, needed more 'core thickness')
Car had been painted, black. Amazing...in a short time.
Previous owner was nearly in tears..."Why did I sell this?"
I was all set. "Cuz ya wouldn't paint it!"
Painted cars can get 'shabby', and then a simple detail will bring them back.
Cut and rub, polish...Go around the edges. Shoe polish the tires. Wow.
Gotta love real paint!

 

32Cruisin, i just check my own drawer for inspiration,how to you like yellow with brown racing stripes?.

 

That depends on how those brown stripes got on those yellow panties.

 

Really? Let somebody else pick the color for YOUR car? It should be something that speaks to you personally, not something you take a poll on.
SMH,
SPark

 

Yeah the wide whitewalls really make it sing.