Raw metal finish, is it a plus or a minus…traditionally speaking?

As I look through old photos posted here on the HAMB, it appears the raw metal exterior finish applied to a lot of the “contemporary” built “traditional” Hot Rods is not a traditional technique at all.

Am I mistaken?

If not, would this technique be considered a negative when judging a “traditional” Hot Rod?

The reason for my questioning this is that a high percentage of the cars we see winning awards, published as featured cars in magazines and being placed on pedestals as “traditional” Hot Rods are finished in this manner.

This unwashed one needs guidance from the more knowledgeable on the subject.

Personally I like the look and understand many reasons to utilize it, but I’m not sure it should be considered “traditional”.

Please keep your responses civil.

 

The cars you see today in bare metal like the green grenade or b***'s stuff have one major difference from a lot of the cars of the period in that they are metal finished. Most cars of the day were not done with that level of finishing.

I personally like bare metal cars but I wouldn't necessarily consider it "traditional"

 

Agreed.
But at the same time I've seen bare metal brookville roadsters runnin around, that I don't understand.


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Why would craftsmanship ever be considered a negative.

 

To me, it is a way for the builder to display the metalwork and craftmanship that went into the car. Although I am sometimes awed by the craftsmanship and find it interesting, to me, the car is still unfinished and to leave it that way and consider it finished is not traditional and kind of silly actually. If the metalwork is that nice, imagine how nice it would look with paint on it.

 

bare metal has nothing to do with traditional cars. it is very much a new style.

 

x 2

 

I agree with all the above. It's a modern thing used to showcase the builders metal finishing skills. Perfect example for me, the cole foster built '36 for Kirk hammet was bare metal and a beautifully built car, but I think it looks exponentially better with black paint. It's finished and timeless now...

 

Agreed. Good craftsmanship can be traditional, a bare metal car can be built in a completely traditional style, or even a "traditionally styled" manner with some newer stuff (trans, brakes, etc.) out of sight, but the bare metal will have to get some paint on it ( or primer, if you want to make that argument ) to really be as traditional as a car featured in Hot Rod, Hop-Up or R&C.

Later, *****6

 

Back in the fifties, bare metal used to rust. We would put like paint on it just to stop that. Also so it would look like a CAR, dammit, and not something 3/4 of the way down the body line at the Ford plant!

 

But...I DO think that cars with that level of welding and finishing skill should be photographed bare just to record it. But the idea is still to build a CAR, not a welding coupon to impress the inspectors!

 

As stated, much about hot rods is showing off ones craft. Since the cars of today need as much work to make them look good again as they do to go, I can understand why an owner proud of his work may take a little longer "shake down run" than normal before a car goes to paint.

 

Exactly.
It`s a modern trend that will eventually become stale.
I love the look as it showcases the metalwork and lack of filler but maintenance is a full time job.

 

As much as I admire seeing the craftsmanship that a bare metal finish shows, it's not traditional. Nothing wrong with it though, if it's showing off quality.

 

98% of the bare metal cars running around will get fillers and high build primers to even things out before paint.

the other 2% were built by guys like Ron Covell starting with flat sheet.

 

goofy trend and like ratfink said , they are not ready to paint...

 

Bare metal isn't traditional. The style of the car may be traditional, but the lack of paint is not. Back in the late '60's and early 70's I built bare metal choppers. They stayed that way long enough to make sure everything was the way I wanted it, then I took them apart and painted them. It was just a shakedown phase.

As far as a magnificent bare metal car being superior in appearance when painted, not so. A good body man can slather on gallons of filler, and have a car just as straight looking as one that required no filler. The one bare metal car I saw that I would have left that way was the fellow that scratch built his Model A truck from aluminum. He ran it that way for a while, but painted it green. Someone here knows his name, it has been in magazines.

 

Not if you live in Southern Arizona.

I scuff mine up every couple of years or so, but I had a fresh black paint job bake off a car in less than 6 months.


I realise its not Traditional.

I did it as a inbetween stage to shake the car down after I built it.

But I havent gotten around to taking it back off the road to paint and upholster it.

When I have another couple of projects finished or at a good stopping point, I will.

Paint has always been my plan for this car.

 

In the metal shaping and auto body fab world, it cost thousands of dollars to get a body, or a hand made part just 80% of perfect, and it cost twice that much to get it the last 20% to that perfect state,,, with out any plastic or heavy primer...

 

what he said

 

If bare metal is a new style and not traditional then that means it should not be allowed on the hamb... right?

 

what is the sermon on your avatar ?

 

I took the paint off my 37 and had a bunch of factory lead and few bullet holes. Everyone that came by the shop liked it so much I left it. Clear coated it with POR 15 semi-gloss clear and have a blast in it. Will probably never paint it. Most people agree at car shows they would leave it bare too. Everyone is different thats what makes car shows fun, seeing others ideas and perceptions. Not only car shows but your personality. Your hot rod says alot about who you are and what you like. Its not about what others think unless your into that. Shouldn't care what others think at least I don't.

 

I'm still trying to find the time line or individual, who thought it would be cool to leave a car in bare steel or rust for that matter. Growing up, a bare metal or rusted car was NEVER considered done.

 

"I'm doing it ALL!!!" Thats the FNG trend. And FNGs sandblast or dip & tweet alot of pix, so you will see alot more Raw Metal pix, but not neccessary a finish, unless you're a fanatic & in love with YOUR car.

Back in the day you just got it running & driving. Now that's Traditional!!!

 

Not in my neck of the woods. We couldn't wait to get a lacquer paint job, hand sanded and rubbed. That is my traditional, circa 1957.

 

Just like a car without an interior. Not finished until painted.

 

Bare metal is the new trend, to show off quality body work.

In the forties and fifties you often saw custom cars and hot rods with streaks of primer where work had been done. A guy would have the car nosed and decked, then save up for a few weeks to have the tail lights done etc. then when all the body work was done, have it painted. In the meantime he needed the car to drive to work every day, with primer spots on it.

Sometimes they would primer the whole car just so it would be one color especially a hot rod that was put together from parts off different cars.

Primer was never considered a finish, it was a stop gap until you could afford a nice paint job.

 

I would say its at the discretion of the builder and what he wants.

 

For me personally, that means if its really in one of the stages of a bare metal respray its fine.

As soon as you start doing things to it to preserve it in that inbetween stage,
like slatering on WD40, Gibbs or clearcoat,
I think it gets a little silly.

When I put my Roadster on the road in bare metal, hardly anybody was doing it.

Now that it has become a trend, I cant wait to put some paint on it...