Paint Options Discussion. Flat black 2G?

[BLACK'98DSM]

Since the day I bought the car I've had a mind full of ideas as to which direction I should go with the paintjob. It still had the original paintjob when I got it. Unfortunately it wasn't saveable. So I went with the quickest and cheapest option which was to spray it flat black. I did that just so it would look at least half decent while I did the other maintenance and worked out the kinks in the driveability.

It was 2018 when I went flat black. By mid 2019 I decided it was time for something better. I setup a makeshift paint booth in one of my garage spaces and gave it hell with the sander and some gloss jet black. It looked pretty good. But something deep inside kind of missed the flat black. It wasn't the highest quality work but something about the way a flat black 2G looked really caught my eye. It was like a mix between hot rod and 90's sports car.

Anyway, I'm looking for opinions. Because I'm going to respray the car again next spring if the temperature allows. I've always enjoyed doing paint and body work and I finally feel like I've reached the skill level where I can make it damn near flawless. So what I'm trying to decided is if I should do flat black again or if I should order the original Kalapana black that my car came with. Those are the 2 options I've narrowed it down to.

One of my main reasons for wanting to go flat is the wear and tear the car can see sometimes. Any drag strips or race courses can be rough on the paint, and don't even get me started on what this Alabama sun does to paint if you don't leave your car in a garage everyday. It's just so much easier for me to re-sand and respray a panel flat black than it is for me to go gloss and clear and buff etc.

Below I have attached some pictures. Flat vs gloss. The flat wasn't perfect but if I do it again I'll make damn sure I do it right.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Dusty Landrum]

So here is my personal opinion on this and the direction I am going to take with mine. I know it sounds crazy but here it is . We all know how much more value cars hold when things are oem. I know most people say, “ Well I am never going to sell my car.” But we also know everything has a price . SO, I plan on painting my car the original oem paint code so vins match etc and then wrapping it immediately after with the color I really want . I know that sounds crazy and expensive obviously but I myself DO plan on selling the car eventually and with a brand spanking new paint being protected by the wrap, just peel off and boom, full value on oem paint code. Again, that’s just me and my crazy ideas .

 

[jdxnc]

Maybe it's because every flat black car I've ever seen has been half assed but in general, to me it just looks like it was done on a $50 paint budget and never looks appealing.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Maybe it's because every flat black car I've ever seen has been half assed but in general, to me it just looks like it was done on a $50 paint budget and never looks appealing.

I'll definitely do it right. I see what you mean though. It's usually done by spray cans. I've even seen it done with a paint roller .

 

[motomattx]

Flat black on cars of this era just dont make sense to me, it always comes off as the person was a teenager with no money and used Krylon on it, I cant respect a car that is flat black, for the same reason I cant get into those stupid trucks where people disc sand them and let them rust out and then clear over the rust or just leave it, for me leave the flat black on the 1940's cars, at the very least if your going to flat paint it use some type of pearl to make it different than a cheap fizzy can looking job.

 

[Widgmaster]

Really don't matter what we say because you're going to do what you want to do anyway ,but you asked for an opinion... I like the flat black. Knowing that you race this car, I agree with you that the flat would have less maintenance, much easier to touch up in case of a mishap and a hell of a lot cheaper right... I like @motomattx idea to add a little flavour to the flat with pearl or metal flake .. ?. Would the pearl show up without clear coat ?
And to @Dusty Landrum ... what happens to the paint when you tear the wrap off and the new paint comes with it. The adhesive used on the back of that stuff is murder... Cool idea tho if you give the paint plenty of time to cure...

 

[motomattx]

Really don't matter what we say because you're going to do what you want to do anyway ,but you asked for an opinion... I like the flat black. Knowing that you race this car, I agree with you that the flat would have less maintenance, much easier to touch up in case of a mishap and a hell of a lot cheaper right... I like @motomattx idea to add a little flavour to the flat with pearl or metal flake .. ?. Would the pearl show up without clear coat ?
And to @Dusty Landrum ... what happens to the paint when you tear the wrap off and the new paint comes with it. The adhesive used on the back of that stuff is murder... Cool idea tho if you give the paint plenty of time to cure...

I haven't tried using pearl right in the black paint, but I would think it should work fine if he used flat clear on the black with the pearl mixed in with the clear, honestly to do it right it should be a basecoat/clearcoat paint job anyway.

 

[Justin DuBois]

Mine is in the body shop right now. I decided to restore the factory Black/Silver two tone color and keep the factory body style. If I'm not completely broke by the end, I'll do a protective wrap - and that can be as crazy as ever.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

I'll definitely be applying a flat clearcoat if I decide to do flat black. It's the right way to do it. Let me take a look at what's left on my paint shelf. I may still have some baggies of flake or pearl from the projects over the years.

 

[motomattx]

A red pearl or blue pearl would be pretty fancy.