Classic Cars Forum Vehicle preservation, restoration and discussion!

pryantcc · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 24

Hello All,
I'm trying to decide what colour to paint my 1948 Alvis TA-14. It was originally black and the only reason I'm not going black again is because I've heard it makes imperfections very visible.

The car is convertible, and the interior is dark green, but not sure if that should be a consideration?

I like the look of some two-tone jobs, but I'm not sure whether these would have been used in1948? Authenticity is quite important to me, so I'd like to keep roughly to colours which would have been available back then.

I don't have a good picture of the whole car, but below are two halves! All suggestions greatly recieved! Smile

traction39 · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 43

Check out the colours here for some inspiration!

http://www.alvisoc.org/Site%20Files/Picture%20Gallery/Index1.htm

Alistair
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I know what I need to do; I just have no space!

Nic Jarman · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

It's your car so paint it any colour you like. My vote would be burgandy.
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1928 Talbot 14/45
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500

Finch661 · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 47 Location: Lowestoft Suffolk

I've got as much colour sense as Stevie Wonder but my advice would be to use a modern vehicles colour so in a few years time you can get aerosols for minor touch ups.

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 253 Location: Norwich

we have just had to make the same decision the amazon goes in on the 28th for a bare metal respray at the moment she is dark blue but we are going to her her done in another paler volvo blue it is also cheating a bit as the log book will not have to be changed Smile

good luck with your choice we went through loads of pictures of amazons and with the help of the volvo forum made up our mind

jessejazza · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 17

My advice would be to stick with the BS4800, BS381c and RAL colours. Most paint suppliers will have colour chips for these and send out in the post.

For any colour in this range you can have any paint type you want. I'm using Tekaloid for my vehicles.

Other great advantage is that you can go to a decorator shop and they will mix you up a sample pack [250ml] in any of these colours - yes dulux paint but you can then brush it onto paper or just on the car to see if you like it. Very much less expensive than ordering the automotive paint and discovering that it wasn't quite what you hoped. I thought i had a good eye for colour and twice i've been wrong recently. I tried to match colour by paint chip and just slightly out... but good as a mile when applied.

BJcarblog's mum · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 9

I'd go for burgundy, too. Should look good with the dark green interior. Or anything whitish or beige to match with the dark green.
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lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 75

Before painting my car, I wanted to know what the paint would look like so I took a big sheet of steel and quartered it with duct tape. Then I bought some cans and sprayed away. Some I only did a quarter and binned. Some I went further until I found a colour that on the whole panel looked just right. It's amazing the difference in the appearance when you see the paint on a largish piece of metal and not just the little examples.

Secondly, remember that all cars are colour sensitive. Some look good in a colour, others don't. One example for me is the later S type or XJ Jaguar in red. Horrible!

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 211 Location: Berkshire, UK

If the interior is green and you want to keep it then clearly it will influence your choice. If you're going for a complete re-trim then the world's your oyster! If you're keeping the green leather I would go with black & green two tone or perhaps if you fancy burgundy mainly green with a burgundy two tone contrast or perhaps a bit brighter like a cherry red. Green is a difficult colour to work with.

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 549

I'd go for a 2 tone in dark green and old english white, classy and elegant and will match perfectly ur green leather interior!!

Sorry guys but I'm not seeing any relation between red/burgundy and green!!

Nic Jarman · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

Get yourself a colour wheel as it will help. And the best of luck.
_________________
1928 Talbot 14/45
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 211 Location: Berkshire, UK

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 549

nice alvis and similar to what I was thinking of!!!

pryantcc · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 24

Thanks for all the interesting suggestions guys. I'm not too keen on the two-tone jobs, not sure why really. It doesn't seem as authentic, or too flashy or something. My car isn't sporty in any way and I think something more sober is more appropriate. I do quite like the maroon with black wings combination, but I'm trying to avoid black as it's reputed to be very unforgiving.

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