Back to the paint issue. So here is what has basically happened:
Olds was prepped and painted at MMC. The paint was not cured properly. When the car was reassembled during this time (before they noticed the paint issue), the alignments of the panel and other areas were not good at all. So Rick spent a lot of time getting this fitted properly. Rick also noticed that the hood had issues since it was slightly warped in spots that could not be fully contoured the way it should be. For most, it would have been hit or miss unless someone pointed it out to you. At this point the search was on for a new hood. We eventually found a decent hood (’68 4-4-2 hood).
Once the car was prepped again for paint. The painter that Rick wanted to use committed suicide the day before he was to have taken the project.
While looking for a new painter, Rick went ahead and started to perform some of the finer details on the Olds. Without the extra time we may never have done the firewall evaporator hole closure. Since that was the time Rick was contemplating how to fit the evaporator on the firewall.
Finally, John and Rick identified Kolor by Tuki out of Martinsburg, West Virginia. The gentleman’s name is Travis and he does some wicked custom paint work on custom cars, motorcycles, race cars, general items, etc. Travis had his own ideas. He liked the PPG Scarlet Red and wanted to really bring out and make it pop. He decided to use a Lexus red, on an undercoat that would make the paint look identical to Scarlet Red. He added metal flakes to it as well so that the paint only popped when there was lot of sunlight – not a glitter heavy paint like some cars. Travis also wanted to use the original stencils to paint the side stripes on the fender rather than on top of the paint so that the stripes are behind the clear coat.
Travis sent me a large test sample on a piece of sheet metal with the stripe. He really went out of his way to assure me that he is the guy for the job. It took Rick from March until July to get the car ready for paint. He was very meticulous in every detail. In mid-July 2011, Rick taped the car up and wrapped it in plastic and got it ready to be sent out to Kolor by Tuki. The car was hauled over to Martinsburg and Travis did his magic! All I can tell you is the paint was done incredibly well.
