What a whirlwind the last couple weeks have been but we finally have it in color! And what a beautiful color it is. The owner went back to the original Dino color of Rosso Rubino Metallizato…stunning! We first had to lay color on the jams but prior to that we blocked the car complete… again! (400 wet and 600 wet).
After many hours of sanding and stripping the undercoat from underneath the parts I was thrilled to see some of the marks from the old craftsmen. Some of the old pick marks and hammer and dolly marks were revealed. I love to see stuff like this. It surely gives the car even more character. And I love the idea of keeping the patina…don’t you think it should stay?
Finally we head to the spray booth and set up for final inspection before base coat. My apprentice, Beau Van Nornam, spent about 90 minutes blowing and tacking the car off while I mixed the Rosso Rubino. Beau trimmed out the hard to reach places with his mini Sata that the big Sata Spray Gun can’t get to and then I spent the next few hours spraying color. 200 hours of prep work boils down to a seven hour paint day!
The color went on great! I really can’t wait to color sand and rub this baby out. I don’t think there will be a lot of color sanding needed though ‘cuz the clear went on so nicely and the entire job went so well. The metallic is even and has great depth. Check out the Dino 246 GTS Project Page for more photos.
This project is moving along really well. We finished body work and resurfaced complete last week. We got this baby in primer / sealer over the weekend and we’re now looking at a smooth finish coat. This fly yellow car is soon to be restored back to its original color of Rosso Rubino Metallizzato #106.
Today we’ve pulled the doors off and we’re getting the jams prepped for color later this week. Can’t wait to post pictures of the color process.
Body work almost completed. Another 3 or 4 hours and we should be ready for our first primer. Can’t wait. Moving this project right along. Watch the surfacing process on the Dino 246 Project Page.
Delivered the Pontiac Catalina for final assembly today. The paint turned out great. The client is happy and so am I. I can’t wait to see it fully assembled and road ready! This ‘baby’ is sure going to turn heads. A very special car… one of a kind (1960 Bubble Top Catalina exterior body with a specially ordered Bonneville interior, Corvette 4-speed, 383, three duces…and to stop this beauty, very rare 8-lug, vented drum brakes. Try to find one like this…). Check out some of the details & photos on our Pontiac Catalina Project Page.
Just received delivery on a Dino GTS last week. Started on fit and finish already. She’s a beauty!
There is a lot of surface on this car but they sure don’t make them like this any more. The classic lines are head-turning. We’re working on the second primer now followed by a good blocking and some TLC she’ll have the flat lines we’re looking for.
This American Classic is in for a color change to Newport Blue. The original paint is in fabulous shape and there are no signs of any cracks or rust beneath the surface. The original paint and primer is feathering back perfectly and no signs of poor adhesion. The first stage of blocking is complete. The photo shows us moving the car into the spray booth for its first stage of primer/filler/surfacer.
Thanks for stopping by. I’ve wanted to share my passion for automotive restoration with my clients, friends, family and all you car guys for a long time.
For those who don’t know me, I’m an automotive painter…or rather an automotive artist… been that for more than 30 years! I’ve worked with some of the best automotive designers and manufacturers in the world, I’ve had four different automotive paint shops, worked for two custom, hand-built car manufacturers and owned a business that specialized in automotive prep for car commercials. It was the work with the production companies and advertising agencies that gave rise to my performance driving career – I’ve been doing that since 1984 (I actually hold a Screen Actors Guild card!)
I paint cars. It’s my specialty and my passion.
Sometimes I feel like I was born with a spray gun in my hand…I’ve been doing it for so long I know the smell of properly mixed paint and hardener, know the feel of a perfect paint job before it’s buffed out, and I know what it takes to make a car surface shine like a brand new penny (it takes a lot of hard work). So, to say custom and classic cars are my passion would be an understatement. You see, I know these fabulous works of moving art like others know the starting lineup of the Chicago Bears (my hometown team by the way). I know what years had chrome bumpers, the difference between a Euro Dino and a domestic, the style changes of all the classic muscle cars and the lines of a Ferrari like the lines in my calloused hands.
After painting cars for more than three decades this blog is an opportunity to share with you my expertise and experiences. You’ll be able to watch as I make my way through my clients’ restoration projects and I’ll give you my special tips and tricks to maintaining your car. Eventually, I’ll give you a peek into my driving career and my art. I may even let you in on the restoration of my 1967 Dodge D200 Sweptside Pick-up Truck (a project that keeps me busy on Saturdays and an occasional week night). I hope to hear from you and I’m happy to answer any questions about automotive paint or surfacing.
Bella Classics by Steve Kouracos 