Can I buy paint for my 76 280z?

Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
When my car arrives, one of the first jobs I'm planning to do is paint the floors. As the car is silver I'm thinking just painting it with POR15 silver, but then I'd like to paint over that with as near a match to the OEM Sterling Silver Metallic 306 code as possible.

Is it possible to buy a small amount of that in the UK, e.g. a large aerosol or even a tin to brush on? Or can it only be mixed by a body shop? And would anywhere do that for me?

Am I best off just leaving the floors unfinished and then getting them done with the exterior when it's time for that?
 
richiep

richiep

Club Member
Go to Colourtone in Stockport (off Higher Hillgate) and get them to mix it for you. They are a proper automotive paint factors. I've used them a couple of times (made me some 907 green basecoat for the project Z, and have just done a custom paint match for the Celica in 2k topcoat). Getting a paint from code in aerosol form is easy peasy for them.
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
richiep said:
Go to Colourtone in Stockport (off Higher Hillgate) and get them to mix it for you. They are a proper automotive paint factors. I've used them a couple of times (made me some 907 green basecoat for the project Z, and have just done a custom paint match for the Celica in 2k topcoat). Getting a paint from code in aerosol form is easy peasy for them.
Click to expand...

Brilliant thanks Rich. That Celica must have been a tricky one to colour match!
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Haha yeah I could. But there might be some bits someone might see, and then they'd know!! 😂 I also just like doing a thorough job on things. Plus I might use this paint to touch up some of the little nicks on the exterior that have surface rust. After rust treatment obviously.
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
richiep said:
Go to Colourtone in Stockport (off Higher Hillgate) and get them to mix it for you. They are a proper automotive paint factors. I've used them a couple of times (made me some 907 green basecoat for the project Z, and have just done a custom paint match for the Celica in 2k topcoat). Getting a paint from code in aerosol form is easy peasy for them.
Click to expand...

Just emailed Colourtone. They can do the colour but they say:

"No problem on doing the colour buts its a basecoat colour and you will
have to put a clear lacquer over it, as the basecoat is a soft product. The original is baked at a very high temperature as its different paint the manufactures use.

Regarding brushing - not ideal as basecoat was designed to go on as thin
light coats."

What do you reckon? Ideally I don't want to be mucking about with lacquer too as this is just the floor of the car.

Maybe there's an alternative paint I could use that might be a close match but is tougher?
 
richiep

richiep

Club Member
Metallics are pretty much always meant to be lacquered - its to do with the metallic flakes. Plus, brush painting metallics isn't really ideal for the same reason. Obviously, Colourtone are talking about professional car refinishing paint systems, which are designed to be sprayed.

Option 1: Get them to do the basecoat in aerosol form. You can mask off the interior nearby with tape and polythene dust sheets. If spraying light coats, it will be easy to do without creating much overspray. Just do it in short bursts, building the colour up. Then lacquer with 1k aerosol clear if you don't want to mess with 2k. Use a tack cloth to wipe down any overspray than does occur and all will be fine.

Option 2: Alternatively - and what I'd probably do tbh in a rolling resto situation like your car - just use smooth Hammerite in silver. It'll be close enough and is self-levelling. Public admission - the interior floor pans in my red Z are painted in red smooth Hammerite and have been since 2006. Close enough to the car's exterior red and still looks good under the carpets. They were primered with Hammerite's anti-rust primer (tan coloured stuff) and then top-coated red.
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
richiep said:
Metallics are pretty much always meant to be lacquered - its to do with the metallic flakes. Plus, brush painting metallics isn't really ideal for the same reason. Obviously, Colourtone are talking about professional car refinishing paint systems, which are designed to be sprayed.

Option 1: Get them to do the basecoat in aerosol form. You can mask off the interior nearby with tape and polythene dust sheets. If spraying light coats, it will be easy to do without creating much overspray. Just do it in short bursts, building the colour up. Then lacquer with 1k aerosol clear if you don't want to mess with 2k. Use a tack cloth to wipe down any overspray than does occur and all will be fine.

Option 2: Alternatively - and what I'd probably do tbh in a rolling resto situation like your car - just use smooth Hammerite in silver. It'll be close enough and is self-levelling. Public admission - the interior floor pans in my red Z are painted in red smooth Hammerite and have been since 2006. Close enough to the car's exterior red and still looks good under the carpets. They were primered with Hammerite's anti-rust primer (tan coloured stuff) and then top-coated red.
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich!

Looking at some examples of the hammerite online (like this and this), I think you're right - looks good enough!

Next question is, would it be better to spray on or brush on? I feel like I know the answer already :)

So just checking, this is the stuff yeah?: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/p...t-metal-paint-smooth-silver-400ml-328658.html

P.S. let me know when you feel like coming over to have a ganders at the car!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top