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25/07/2018 6:22 am
Paint on 50;s cars
Dad had a 55 Chrysler Imperial, Black ( with the rear fender bullets) bought used in 57, costing less then a new 57 Chevy Bel Aire stripped. Question..did they use lacquer or enamel type paints?? Wanted to impress Dad with a wax job, started with cleaner and after 50 rags the car looked like glass.... never did get to the polish or wax. Is that unusual ??? Don't know what paints ( gel coats etc.) they use now, but are they better ???
25/07/2018 7:24 am
My limited knowledge of paint used in the 50's was - Ford and Chrysler used enamel and GM Lacquer
I think in the early 60's it changed mostly to acrylic enamel or lacquer. Enamel was shiny on application - lacquer required multiple coats and fine sanding and rubbing out with rubbing compound - beyond, they went high tech with clear coat, lucite, resins, whatever....
26/07/2018 7:45 am
To my knowledge a change in chemical makeup of automotive paint was necessary for environmental reasons. Plus all of the harm to lungs that was caused by poor ventilation in body shops and private garages. Modern paints are now water born instead of the alcohol or lacquer thinners and so there are clear coats needed over the base coats to give us more gloss. It is true the older paints could both shine better and would fade easier than what we buy today. But times have changed.