Thread: Change in trends?

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It's funny hotrodpaint
I think there are two issues going on! One flat paint trend, and two the ever ongoing issue of expense. Nobody who is struggling to build a rod wants to pay 5k-30k to paint it, yet your right they want to show it and need a high end look. Most of the guys I've talked to have limited funds, so they are doing what I'm going back and forth on, and what Dave said. Do as much body work as you can, and then take it to the pro's to do the stuff you can't. I met one guy who did all the prep and sprayed the interior, door rails and jams, etc. But had the outside done by Maico, paying extra for color sanding, and his own paint. His came out great, but I know what you mean. If it doesn't meet our standards we bitch, yet it is our own faults!
I think some people go ratrod for tradition, or what they believe was traditional, while others do it because of impatience, poor mechanical abilities and no budget. There are a few death traps around here, but for the most part, lots of cars running primer while they try and save up for nice work like you do.

Jay, I have worked in the motorcycle/bicycle industries for years and have made the following observation on colors and graphics. "They have to change to stay looking new". Looking "NEW" sells, no matter if it's on the showroom floor or at the car show. Picking colors and graphics is the most difficult thing for a manufacturer because it's like hitting a moving target since your dealing with people and not a solid target number like MPG, H.P., etc. They also have a one year lead time to factor into their choice.

I compare colors/graphics to a grandfather clock pendulum. Safe colors are in the middle of the pendulum swing, such as black's/white's/silver's. These colors might not be as exciting, but they will last in popularity much longer. Anytime the colors get into the extreme range (as in my pendulum example) they have a very short popularity life. Think about the flouresent, pinks, mauve colors thet were all the rage in the 80's. They looked very old in just a couple years. I see Flat/Matte colors as extreme colors and they will not last.

What I see in the motorcycle business is people just want something that looks different than all the rest. If it's chrome, they want it powder coated black, if it's billit they want it painted, if it's painted they want it chromed. There is no consistancy right now because we are in a state of change.

I agree with the other comments on cost of materials. I have spent over $1000 in just undercoat materials on my 32 paint job so far and I have not purchased anything for the top coat yet!

I had a conversation this morning with a T-bucket customer. He brought it up by saying he wanted something that people don't normally see.

I started to notice in the eighties that we go through times when most resist change...then 2-3 years later I hear customers talk about wanting something different. Right now I am seeing one of those times. That means in another few years people will be caught in a cycle of resisting it again. :-)

Define primer.

I have several friends w/ high end rod shops. A rattle can primer job will look like a rattle can job. However- a correctly done suede car will cost nearly the same as a shiny job. I guess it depends on the shop- and whether they are shooting a single stage or a 2 stage w/ a flattener in the clear. Same amount of prep, body work, etc for either. For me- even if I went suede- it still would have flat panels & perfect gaps.

For some perspective- my flame budget was more than most paid to paint their entire car.

And to add to that cost- the car was painted too.

To me- a primered car is an unfinished car. It is today & was in the 50's/60's.
And yes, I was there & have the grey hair & creeking bones to prove it.

All I've got too say is that now that people say that flat black isn't cool anymore . It is ! And when people say it is cool again it won't be . It's just the way I see it .And becaue I've got a flat black car . Click on the camera thingy to see just how uncool it is .

Steve, I think budgets are all over the map, and always will be. Some people who play at the high end, can afford it...some can't but do anyway. Others like to "hammer the deal", and will always try to pay the least they can. Others will only pay what they can pay cash for, which is not unwise. I don't pass judgement either way. I figure that since it is their car ...and their money, they get to choose what they like. The choice I get to make is if I can afford to work for them, and still keep the lights turned on. :-)

Manky, I can't speak for others, but I don't have a big issue with flat black. I am just curious about whether things are changing again hobbywide, or if it is a temporary local situation. I also paint lowriders, sandrails, drag boats, new special interest cars, and other stuff, so you can see I like almost anything that is custom or performance oriented.

Just see that I lost most of my post yesterday on an edit------so disregard how the babble came thru-----I have noticed at some shows that the paint jobs are revolving into a lot of GHOST graffics/flames--the west/southwest is ahead of the rest of the country by at least one generation, so we still have time in the midwest to enjoy the 70,80,90s stuff!!!!!!!
The 32 that is in my gallery that I built has some ghost flames on it that you can't even see-----whats the point in that??????a proper flame job should make you want to run away-----

Motorcycle art here seems to be judged by how many skulls you can pack on a tank---

The real ART around here now is murals on the Mexican low riders-----mainly girls, gangsters etc

When I finish my wifes 33, I want to do flames , but she can't make up her mind on paint color----so it will probably be primer/gel coat/rust----but it won't be a rat rod

The big check writers and the TV shows aren't any help -----It will return to artists like Jay that will set the true period art, not the big check writers to win the riddler or national roadster show---it will be the paint on the class cars that line the lower classes that will grow as everyone knows they can't afford the 100k paint jobs and they aren't out there at the local shows or driving around anyway

Jerry, Now you did it! I can't stop thinking about what will define custom paint in the next few years. Right now I would have to say that flat black combined with a fifties home-built style is what has been the main push for the past 3-5 years, and it will take some time to run it's course. I would like to experiment with flat metallics and pinup or bomber art, but don't know if that will become mainstream or not.

The one thing I keep seeing recently is a renewed interest in either traditional, or new flame styles. Of the half dozen jobs street rod jobs that are lining up for this year, one is classic '60s flames...one is a new concept I came up with....one will probably be "trufire" or "real fire" as some call it....two are "old timey" 50s stuff, and the other job is still a "maybe".

Other flame jobs are a "fireball" chopper job if been working on occasionally, and a late model Mustang that may get here.

I am experiencing more interest in illustrations and murals, but I think that is generated locally by my past jobs, and the idea appeals to the "outsider", not mainstream builders. At this time I have a guitarist themed chopper....a tailgate cartoon....and a pirate themed T-bucket with flames that will get done.

As you can see, it can be confusing to decide what is coming down the pipe, and that was the reason for my original question.

BTW...I am thinking that "blue string art" graphics deserve another try! :-) You know, since that is a "signature trademark" for your racecars, it would seem a natural to use something remeniscent of that on your projects...ya think? :-)

too much tape!!!!!! got to keep the budget down!!!!!that was for race cars!!!!!where could I park it when I wasn't with it?????

Raelly---I am over whelmed every time the discussion turns to that and I am truly grateful to have been a part of it----but I see it as a period of time whem those fabricators, painters and letterers(?) did that stuff----candy, pearl, flake, tape shade,gold leaf, metalic---it wasn't only on my cars, but all those cars of that period---the restored cars are better than they were then ---the owners have polished, chromed and kept clean some of the cars that pretty much were neglected after they left the paint shop---

But, Robin's 33 will have flames-----

Jerry

I never thought about tape expense......but then I have paid as much as $8 a roll.

Sorry Hotrodpaint . I didn't mean it like you were saying that flat black was crap. I can't say what is coming out of my local paint shops . Because I just don't know . But high dollar cars have lost a lot in value . They had been seeing prices of $750,000,000.00 for early 70's GTHO Falcons here . Now the same car can only pull $300,000.00 . Which is a huge drop. And I don't see much upholstery work anymore . I had to take a job as a welder .

I don't know if your economy is ahead of, or behind, ours. I was slow for about 1 to 1-1/2 years, which seems to have ended (at least for me) in the last couple months. I talk to a lot of business people (of all kinds) and they all tell me it is slow, but not as bad as the news makes it sound. I am sure that housing and finance companies may be a different story, but I am speaking of general businesses.

The news channels predict that our recession is only for a few more months....but who can believe them! They like to keep us upset, and tuning back in.

If your economy is at a similar stage to ours, I think you may have an increase in upholstery requests soon....at least I hope so....but don't give up your "day job" yet. :-)

My son is looking for work and would like to learn how to block and sand a car. Too bad we are so far away (Ohio). Ref flat black, I was thinking about painting my car one part at a time with rattle cans. I have learned a lot by painting small components. If I screw up, I just sand it out and spray again. Just need to make sure I get the paint thick enough (a common mistake with rattle can paint jobs). I like the idea of fixing my own paint - cause stuff happens.

The economy, my age, and my retirement fund (currently a 101K ), is the primary reason why my 22 year old paint job on my 34 will stay with me a bit longer. Would be nice to be shinier or maybe even a different color, but not going to happen any time soon.

Also the car wouldn't look right in flat black unless I stripped off the fenders, running boards and hood. And the wife says that ain't going to happen either.

22 years old almost qualifies as "vintage", even if it isn't flat black! I may have told you before, but my neighbor and good friend has a 33 Plymouth sedan with Pontiac power that he has driven for well over 30 years. He repaints about every 10-15 years, but does it himself, so the cost is a lot lower. He just had me strip and bodywork the front fenders, then put them in primer, so I guess he is thinking about a new look.

One thing he has done is run a variety of wheels, which changes the look with minimal work. Until recently, it had full moons and whitewalls. He likes to keep the paint something timeless...like flames or scallops.