Paint on the Car

[Paul R]

It has taken much longer than I expected but the painter has paint on the car. I should be able to pick it up next week after he color sands and buffs it. It is Ford vista blue. Then I'll get the white stripes added. 4390143902439034390443905

[mcwho]

thats a bautifull color !

[rickscobra]

My kit deliver is still 6 weeks away, but I have a question related to body prep and painting. How much actual on the chassis body prep is required, or can the doors, trunk, and hood be fitted with the body on the buck. Same goes for the body seams and prep for painting. The thought of trying to cover all parts of the chassis and related suspension seems impossible.

Rick

[Jeff Kleiner]

...How much actual on the chassis body prep is required, or can the doors, trunk, and hood be fitted with the body on the buck. Same goes for the body seams and prep for painting.

I do all of the initial work to the parting lines (AKA "seams" although they aren't) wheelwell cutouts, blocking, etc. on the buck but go back onto the chassis for the actual panel fitting and shaping. I'd rather get them without the carpet and interior installed but sometimes the customer has already done it so in those cases I remove the seats and steering wheel, cover the dash and use clear carpet mask. Honestly the dust on the chassis is not a big deal to clean up. Once the body is off the chassis for paint I blow 'em off with air, give a gentle washdown with clear water and wipe over everything with detail spray---takes about an hour.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Paul R]

It will take between 30-40 hours prepwork depending on your level of expertise. I would recommend having the body on the car with everything else on it. This sucks because it may mean that you have little or nothing to do while the painter does their thing. It took 8 weeks to get mine painted. I would hate to get it painted and then the doors don't fit correctly.

[Gumball]

That's a great color - have you considered leaving the stripes off? Just my opinion, but I think it would look very unique sans-stripes.

[68GT500MAN]

Looking great

[Paul R]

I have thought about it. I am actually going to start off without stripes and then I will decide. May put out a vote...

[6t8dart]

get vinyl stripes installed, if you don't like them, remove them.

[Paul R]

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Here is my latest. Just have to get the wipers installed and the side mirror.

[ckrueger]

Love the color. What is the blue? Looks a lot like the Corvette Electron Blue.

[Paul R]

Ford Vista Blue

[dspellman]

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Here is my latest. Just have to get the wipers installed and the side mirror.

Really nice! The first cobra I ever drove was a 289 (yes, an original) with a very dark blue exterior and red seats (no stripes), wire wheels. Friend of mine had it in college. His dad owned a high-performance shop and bought it for him, but he was afraid of it, so he flipped me the keys whenever we went somewhere. I was driving an old (61) TR3, black with red seats, and he LOVED that car. Only 100hp, so he was comfortable blasting around in it. We traded cars for whole weekends.

He was justified in being afraid of that car (and his driving skills). He wrapped it around a tree. His dad then bought him a 427 (!), which he drove off a bluff along the Mississippi river. And the next car, another 427, was a victim of a high-crown country road with curbs and a rainstorm. In short, he single-handedly accounted for three original cobra serial numbers.

I really wish I had that 289 today...

[DaleG]

College in Iowa, perchance?