Like all facets of the automotive hobby, exterior finish technology and trends are continually changing. A few professionals shared their opinions on this topic in the article "It Ain't Just Paint" (HPP, Mar. '07). We learned then which products best replicate a vintage sheen, those that yield the most visually-appealing finish, and some of the legal hurdles hobbyists face when attempting to perform home restorations.
While compiling information for that article, one of the professionals we spoke with, Ron Stazzoni of D&R Auto Paint and Supply in Omaha, Nebraska, commented about the various types of paint available today, the high number of specialty colors that are popular with hobbyists, and some looming technology that he feels will eventually affect all hobbyists-but not necessarily in a negative fashion. Follow along as he shares his opinion on the current trends and future of automotive exterior finishes
PPG's Deltron line contains...
PPG's Deltron line contains a full line of easy-to-use professional-series products that are quite popular with collision repair shops. The wide range of color availability makes it a popular choice of restoration professionals and street rod builders.
Today's Trends
High Performance Pontiac: When mixing colors today, how difficult is it to accurately match an original hue like that applied by Pontiac?
Ron Stazzoni: Solid colors aren't as difficult to match, but metallic colors can be challenging. Pearl powder is commonly used in place of metallic today, but pearl typically isn't as vibrant when used in the same amount as metallic in a formulation, so more of it must be added when mixing an original color or the results can vary. We can get very close, however.
HPP: What do you feel influences custom color trends and what's popular today?
RS: Paint trends are like clothing fashions-they come and go. Legislative regulations can have an effect on the way paints are produced and applied, but television shows seem to have an effect on current color popularity. Such shows make restorations seem easy, and the builds often feature custom colors.
At one time, hobbyists were limited to the OEM colors used by auto manufacturers, but when custom colors were introduced, they were an immediate hit. Color-shift hues were popular a few years back-they gave a hologram effect that changed shades as you walked around the car, but they were expensive and very tough to repair. Today, it seems as if everyone wants a unique color for their street rod, and PPG presently offers an endless array of custom colors for that market.
Available only through its...
Available only through its Platinum Distributors, D&R Auto Paint and Supply in Omaha, Nebraska, reports that PPG's Shop Line is its fastest growing market. Though value-based, Shop Line products offer an economic compromise that yields a quality finish at an affordable price.
HPP: What types of products do manufacturers typically offer, and how does quality differ?
RS: All manufacturers typically offer a premium and value-based line of urethane products. Lacquer and enamel-based paints are still produced in limited quantity, but because of high Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, paint manufacturers aren't devoting further resources to these products. Both are essentially dead technology.
PPG's premium lines, Deltron and Vibrance Collection, contain a large palette of colors that feature higher resin quality, which cure quicker, and are more durable than value-line type products. They're the overwhelming choice of restoration professionals. They're also required by insurance companies since the finished repair must be in better-than-new condition when paying on a claim. Premium clear comes with a lifetime warranty against ultraviolet damage.
Though premium line sales are on the rise, our fastest growing segment is PPG's Shop Line. It's a value-based line with limited color availability and little ultraviolet screen in the clear, which means there's no manufacturer warranty. Since it costs about half as much as premium-line products, Shop Line is usually the choice of budget-minded hobbyists restoring vehicles that won't be driven much, but that they still want to look good. That doesn't suggest that Shop Line paint is low quality, however. In fact, the way paint technology works today, value-line products are better than professional-line products were as little as 10 years ago.