818S Prototype Color Question

[Silvertop]

I don't believe I've actually seen this addressed anywhere -- Is the red 818S prototype finish color from a gelcoat or a paint job? Can an FFR tech confirm?

Is FFR any closer to determining how many gelcoat colors will be available on the 818 at launch?

[wallace18]

They said at SEMA it was painted.

[RM1SepEx]

They also said that the paint didn't look any better than the gel coat... don't remember where I heard that, could have been from Dave when I saw the prototype after SEMA

[Joe Scott]

Hey Everybody, OK the red 818 at Sema was painted, some photos that are being posted are either from painted body panels and some are the actual gel coat. As of right now red is the only color i believe we are going to be gel coating with, unless Jim or Jesper has something up their sleeves. We have not heard any further information on different gel coat colors that will be offered as of right now.

Joe@FFRTECH

[WIS89]

I don't have any confirmed information from anyone, but I have a hunch.

I suspect that the colors that will be offered are from the color pallet that FFR partnered with Sherwin Williams to create. I doubt they will all be available right away, but it is my suspicion that at some point, these will be the colors available.

Please y'all, this is just a hunch, nothing factual nor confirmed with FFR about anything I just stated. Just wanted to share my thoughts...

Regards,

Steve

[ehansen007]

Yeah, if Joe is saying red for the first release then I believe him. When speaking with Jim while I was back there he mentioned that doing different colors was more difficult than one would think. Basically you have to make different color molds to give you the contrast you need while working with the gelcoat. While the idea of offering different colors with Sherman Williams was the original intent, I think it's gone away for until they go back to the original idea of hyrdoforming the panels. The Gel Coat tech will have to be taken up a notch as well to ensure UV protection. And while it does look pretty good next to paint Gel can be polished but I don't think you can get as deep a look as with actual paint where you'll have a solid clear coat. My .02. Dave may have more recent news?

e

[Silvertop]

Yeah, if Joe is saying red for the first release then I believe him. When speaking with Jim while I was back there he mentioned that doing different colors was more difficult than one would think. Basically you have to make different color molds to give you the contrast you need while working with the gelcoat. While the idea of offering different colors with Sherman Williams was the original intent, I think it's gone away for until they go back to the original idea of hyrdoforming the panels. The Gel Coat tech will have to be taken up a notch as well to ensure UV protection. And while it does look pretty good next to paint Gel can be polished but I don't think you can get as deep a look as with actual paint where you'll have a solid clear coat. My .02. Dave may have more recent news?

e

I think your assumptions are probably spot on -- though I hope you are wrong. While the car looks decent in red, it's not what I want, and I'm not looking forward to spending thousands of additional dollars on a paint job. I may get lucky and find that additional colors will be available by October, when my 818 is scheduled for production. But I guess I better not figure on it. Disappointing.

[carbon fiber]

you can have any color you want, as long as you want red.

[ehansen007]

Don't get me wrong, the Gelcoat will look really good. I'll be keeping it. And whose to say you can't scuff the red and then just clear it for more depth and protection? So there are options. I think the car is great in red.

[Silvertop]

Don't get me wrong, the Gelcoat will look really good. I'll be keeping it. And whose to say you can't scuff the red and then just clear it for more depth and protection? So there are options. I think the car is great in red.

Yes, the car will look fine in red. I just prefer to get mine in blue. I actually stopped by my favorite body shop today with questions. For $700 or so, they can white out (or other color) portions of the hood and rear deck to emulate the paint scheme of the 818R prototype. There's really no reason the 818R's striking paint scheme couldn't work nicely with a red rather than a blue base coat. And yes, they verified that adding a clearcoat to the factory gelcoat is in fact no problem at all, and wouldn't be particularly expensive to do.

I still prefer to get mine in blue -- but if I have to take it in red, it won't be a deal breaker. I'll just make sure to do some things to make my red one look different from everybody else's red one..........! :)