Gentlemen, i just got me a 51 Mercury Monterey (gook wagon) Preowner painted the Car in Laquer. Unfortunately the Car is in Germany now and i am in need of som quarts of this paint (system not available over seas) to repair a few spots. Anyone can help me? The idea is to send a sample piece to get the paint mixed, shipping adress is NJ or LA. Thank you so much Joe
The only place left that seems to do Automotive Lacquer anymore is TCP global with their restoration series. Not sure if they will color match or just mix preexisting colors. You would need to give them a call. They are in San Diego.
I think I would be tempted to do a bottom half respray in Ivory/cream colour rather than trying to find lacquer that's hard/getting harder to obtain so probably real expensive. Try Photoshopping pics of the car two tone or use some lining paper taped in place to help you visualise it two tone. Nice car, good luck and keep us posted. Bob in Bonnie Scotland
A member here named Paint Guru has a line of lacquer A paint code or formula will help but a small piece you could send would be the best for whoever mixes it
As K 13 suggested TCP global. You can also get lacquer at any place that carries guitar restoration supplies. Lacquer is still the finish of choice for most instrument restorers. Don't know if they can mix to match though. Torchie
Paint Guru's lacquer didn't work like regular lacquers. It mixed more like regular paint and covered like modern paints. I am sure it's a great product but I doubt it would be a very good match look wise to traditional lacquers.
Low VOC due to the listed mixing ratio and reducer. I’ve been wanting to use it with thinner to see how it looks.
Last resort, single stage enamel will not lift lacquer and if it’s sprayed correctly will look very close to the old lacquer.
To be honest, i am confused now about laquer and enamel. We here in europe don’t use these materials and terms, so i am not sure it isn’t Laquer but enamel. Is there a test to be sure? Since Laquer seams to be the more vintage type of paint my logic says to me it was repainted in enamel in 2008. So i was wrong to name it laquer? Thank you so much Joe
Can't help with the paint issue, but why do you refer to it as "gook wagon"? It looks like a sweet '51 Mercury to me. When I think of "gook wagons" I think of cars with every conceivable bolt on accessory to include those little pom-pon balls around the perimeter of the headliner!....Also curious about the Maryland plates. Any thoughts on its' history? Could help with the paint questions......Don.
Someone here named the car a gook wagon. I think he is right since the preowner added every available bling out of Whitney Warshawsky to the car. Visors, Door Handle protection, Crazy Antenna, Cosmopolitan Fender Ornament, strange Mirrors and so long. Car came from MD, pre Owner John Smith. Joe
Joe , I do not think Laquer will wrinkle like that from gasoline , but Enamel will ! Good Luck , Sonny
(nitrocellulose) lacquer, acrylic lacquer ( GM started in '56 ?) , (alkyd) enamel, acrylic enamel ................. http://autobodystore.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-4493.html I'm thinking any modern reference to "lacquer" may actually be acrylic lacquer. On the TCP restoration page acrylic laquer is all there is. https://tcpglobal.com/pages/restoration-shop All over the internet are tests for determining the type of paint in an existing paint job. o So far all seem to involve lacquer thinner on a clean rag.
Cool, thank you. This explains a lot. Nitrocellulose Laquer is what my 33 Rochne have on it. It’s called „Nitro“ over here. Alvyd was used a lot on Cars in 70ies and 80ies. I remember i painted my first Motocycle with Alkyd. But from shine and structure the Paint on the Mercury is more like the GM paint from 80ies. Nice shine, but more matte than modern Acrylic. Very close to the appearance of paint on my 91 Eldorado i had years ago. Theses Laquer solvent test seams to except all 2component Paints with hardener in it. So thank you, it narrows the possibilities... lol Thank you Joe
GM, with partner Dupont, first started using lacquer back in the 30's I believe. Used it up until the 80's. Ford (Mercury) and Chrysler (Mopar) used enamel for that time period. Take some lacquer thinner on a rag and rub it on the paint. If the color comes off (lacquer was most often used without clear) then it is lacquer. If a rag soaked with thinner is left on the paint, enamel will wrinkle up and come off. Lacquer will just soften.