Autocolor...heard of it?

[Happyfunballs]

Apparently its a PPG line for collision centers. My local paint rep said it's PPG's version of DuPont's Spies or Standox. I've sprayed a friends car with it and like it alot, but I'm not sure it's Spies or Standox comparable. I wanted to get a little feedback on wear, fade and the like before doing my own car with it. For reference it's $320 gal for factory pack black. The clear is $500/gal, hardner/reducer included.

[200horse]

You might want to look at automotive art. Its a new company in the USA but its a top of the line paint just in an ew can. It competes with sikkens,spies and standox at 1/2 the price

good luck

sorry couldnt help you on the other

[ErikLS2]

My company's body shop which repairs all the high end exotic luxury and sports car lines uses it. Ferrari, I believe, comes with it from the factory and I have it on my car.

I haven't subjected it to the elements yet but when I was installing an axle shaft I bumped the quarter panel wheel opening pretty good with the sharp edge of the axle and did no visible damage whatsoever. Pretty good if you ask me.

[Happyfunballs]

Cool. Thanks for the reply.

[HotRod47]

I am a PPG Tech. Rep. for a large (31 stores) jobber. I have had a ton pf experiance woth the Autocolor line. I can tell you it is a great line of paint. It was ICI Autocolor until PPG bought them in 1999. It is still a European line. Made over seas and everything. I would use it on my car without hesitation!

Pricey..yes, but a very good line. Which clear are you looking at for $500? Their P190-643 is a great clear, but keep in mind it's a 5 liter of clear, the hardner is 2.5 liter and the gallon of reducer. So for that $500 you are getting better than 8 liters of sprayable product. Look at it that way and it isn't too far off the mark.

PPG bought them to be able to compete with the Euro lines of paint. There are an awefull lot of shops out there that will not spray anything if it isn't European.

Glenn

[Happyfunballs]

Excellent. Thanks Glenn for chiming in. My local guy said to save my money and try a U-POL clear, which I've never used. It too is based on the 5 liter quantity. I'm looking to have some good durability as the car will be my fair weather DD. Can you recommend a a Autocolor clear? Inexpensive, but with excellent finishing properties and UV protection?

Info on the U-POL:

http://http://www.u-pol.com/product-cat/8/clear-coats.htm

[HotRod47]

We sell the U Pol as well. Not a bad clear. I just have a problem with off brand or cheaper line clears. The first thing every paint company does to keep the price down is take out the UV screeners.

I did a truck for a guy using Omni clear. He wanted to keep the price down. 5 years later the clear is falling off the truck on all the top surfaces. I checked it out. Did a mil. thickness check with a digital mil. gauge. It still had plenty of clear. When I talked to PPG about it, they said yeah, 5 years is all you will get out of it! So you can see why I am now very hesitant to recomend any lower priced or off brand clear.

As far Autocolor, I would say your best bet for clearity, depth, UV protection and mar resistance would be to stay with the P190-643 clear. I know, I know, it's expensive. However 10 years from now it will still look like a million dollars! Factor the price over the life of the paint on the car and it really is worth it.

[Happyfunballs]

That post may have cost me an extra $300. Thanks Glenn.

[HotRod47]

Sorry to do that to you....

It has been said that the cost of all the paint products and the paint job itself cost less than 10% of the entire build of most hot rod/restorations. And yet it is the very first thing that people notice about a car. But because it is usually done towards the end of a build it seems to be the area that most people try to cheat on, or cut way back on.