TRADITIONAL colors for TRADITIONAL kustoms???

hey, I just got this one. It says 551. Is it similar to the 552 or sth, else?
Thanx!

 

Hey, anyone knows sth. about my spotlight?

 

The only part in common with a 552 is the post. The bucket is totaly different. the 551 is the shallow bucket, the same as a 451 or 550. In that condition, it realy has no value, unfortunately. If it was complete, with the chrome in that condition, its a $20-30 spotlight.

This is the type of spot used on regular passenger cars, and police cars. its not the type that is wanted for a custom car.

 

All the talk about color history, lemme add some insights. In 1927 Cadillac was building 3 cars for the big auto shows around the US. While mixing a red special color for these one off show cars, the ball bearings used to crush the "japan" (a dry color mat'l) had apparently become worn to the point where the color once done became metallic. After painting the cars the directors threw a fit about the look and ordered the cars re-done. Time was short and only 2 of the 3 were completed. The 3rd was shown in hope it wouldn't get noticed by the public. Well notice they did and as the saying goes the crowd went wild for the color. An instant hit with the general public. While 1928 was the actual 1st year for the use of metallic colors it was reserved mainly for higher end big iron. As time went on more and more entry level cars also got metallics. Coachbuilders of the time (custom body builders) would often use metallics to highlight the lines of their creations. Metallics were a standard offering by Packard as of 29 or 30.

So what does this have to do with your choice? PICK ANY COLOR YOU WANT. Yes, ANY COLOR. It was available. Ever see the "Satan Red" Fleetwood in the museum in downtown Det? Original color. How about the bronze metallic Packard Deitrich sedan? Yes, bronze metallic. The 33 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow which was indeed silver metallic. Pearls? Lincoln did a LeBaron roadster in 1933 in pearl grey and pearl red with metallic red and grey tuck n roll seats. They got the pearl by the use of ground oyster shells and fish scales (yuk!). But hey, that's what true "mother of pearl" was back in the day, but without the fish scales. Depending on how "exclusive" or "classy" you want to be, anything you want is totally correct. I agree with dark. A coupe needs length to pull off what your doing. Dark colors add to the illusion of length. The only caution to using metallic anything is the size of the poly or "flakes" if you will. In the past the effort to grind it fine as possible was the norm. For what it's worth, I love the idea of a rich looking metallic blue. The dark blue with metallic will highlight all of your hard work.

 

Back when I was a kid in the fifties, most of the customs went to the dark colors because it showed off the body well and the bodywork. We were really into looking for ripples and your body had to be straight. I don't believe anyone has mentioned Titian Red that came out on the 54 Buick. That immediately became the color of choice. Red metallic that lit up in the sun. Cool, Daddy-O.
Then 56 Chevy Sierra Gold, 56 Caddy Lilac, and many screwed up paint jobs trying to get Candy Apple red. Barris printed a false formula in one of the little books and guys immediately starting messing up paint jobs using that bad formula.
Bad Barris! Not nice! Bad Dog!

I first saw pearl at the 58 Detroit Autorama on a 57 T-Bird. Dick Dean had a screwed up Metalflake job in the same show. Everybody was experimenting. Flames were done in Enamel with rough edges that you had to try and lay a pinstripe on.

 

O.K. Thanks....

 

I first saw pearl at the 58 Detroit Autorama on a 57 T-Bird. Dick Dean had a screwed up Metalflake job in the same show. Everybody was experimenting. Flames were done in Enamel with rough edges that you had to try and lay a pinstripe on.