odonnell

I've had a nice 951 bumper for a while now and I decided instead of selling it (it's been for sale for almost a year) I'm just going to install it like I originally planned. Problem is, it's white.

I don't want to shell out $150+ to have it painted, I think I paid about that much for it in the first place. However I've read about guards red (ish) spray paint and wanted to see if anyone here had first hand experience.

Recommend? Stay away? not looking to go ghetto cheap, just under $100 would be ideal.

(and if anyone has a red 951 badge panel and headlight lids...)

Van

Rustoleum Sunrise Red is really close. Give it a try.

Tiger03447

Or, you can go to an Auto supply store that mixes DuPont paints. Many have a digital "color"camera that tells the tech exactly what colors to mix for an exact match. Most will charge about 25 bucks for a spray can of the custom mixed color. Takes into account all the sun fade too. The tech will hold the camera up against the paint on your car, take a pic and that will give him the info he needs..

944crazy

If you can get the right colour, and put down enough coats on a nicely prepped surface it doesn't matter how **** you are at painting because you can polish it to perfection. I did this cheap paintjob on my old car, the rear is how it came off the gun, the front is after I'd polished it like a maniac. https://i.imgur.com/gGMqrQ3.jpg

And the finished result after polishing the whole car: https://i.imgur.com/SHzQYsB.jpg

fiily

Did you shoot single stage paint or base/clear?

mytrplseven

These guys have the right coded paints in various quantities and they're a great resource:
www.automotivetouchup.com

odonnell

Good info thanks guys! I'll be very meticulous about prepping. I want to have the entire car resprayed in the next few years so it's ok if it's ever so slightly off. But it looks like some solid options are out there. Need to get my hands on the rest of the parts needed for the conversion and paint them all at once.

bonus12

Nice! Glad I found this thread. I just got a new nose panel (valence?) for my 951 and I'll want to paint it. Graphite metallic is very uncommon so I'll probably use this resource to get a good color match.

Except I wonder how brand new paint will look next to old paint.

odonnell

Looking to unload the old nose panel?

bonus12

I suppose so, but it does have a dent. I'd consider it of course.

Noahs944

Michael, I think you should mount the turbo front end too.

944crazy

That was grey primer, with gloss black base and clear. All acrylic paint bought from my local auto store. Comes in buckets to use with a gun, or you can buy it in spray cans. You need to know how to wash a car properly though, or it will be full of swirl marks in no time because it's pretty soft paint.

Metallic is much harder to match because not only do you need to match the colour shade of paint, you also need to match the amount and size of the metallic flakes other wise it will look different to the other panels.

BeerBurner

I have used auto paint in a rattle can periodically for years. The stuff is great for smaller projects but it becomes a bit more of a hassle for the bigger ones because I can't get the paint to layer smooth enough to not require a lot of wet sanding.

Fortunately, my cars are all drivers with various flaws and dings on them anyway so my expectation is lower than if they were garage queens or something.

BB.

Van

I've also used Dr. Color Chip - my wife broke off the gas door on her Passat - I got a new one on ebay for $35 and then cans for color matched paint and clear. It worked out pretty well. Good enough for a daily driver.

Steve314159

"it's pretty soft paint" (acrylic enamel). Acrylic enamel is what rustoleum is, what they used on cars in the 60's. What I found really really helps acrylic enamel is to add a hardener to it. You can buy it locally some places here in Indiana, Rural King's tractor paint section - (I painted my Civic New Holland Blue although Kubota orange was tempting) - and you can buy it online. It really makes the paint shine more and makes it harder and not affected by gas or chemicals as much. I used a $15 Harbor Freight spray gun which worked pretty good.