A one of a kind Gold 2003 Corvette from the NCM

[Last Ride]

To bad GM was not willing to do it for real. If they can paint one they could paint 3000 even if they had to job the panels out to Chrysler. Kinda looks like the PT cruiser gold color. Funny how the Bowling Green plant always has "problems" painting Corvette colors that other makers spit out like gumballs. Even Cadillac has a color close to this in the CTX. It would appear someone at Chevrolet is mighty afraid of color otherwise Corvette would have a couple daring colors on there palet.

They could be afraid of "daring colors", but isn't painting fiberglass different than painting sheet metal? I think more daring colors would be a great addition. I have seen pics on another forum of a member's C5 that has been painted Lamborghini Orange and is looks awesome!! The first Corvette I ever saw that made me want to own a Corvette was an Orange '73. I think they are going in the right direction with the Electrom Blue, but even more variety would be great.

 

[Black Ice]

The Corvettes SMC panels are easier to paint then steel ones. This is because they are all painted off the chassis. The Corvette's panels are only "Chassis Covers" and go through the paint dept. on robotic trams by themselves. Where in Springfield do you live? I will be at the State capitol filming a segment of Legally Blonde II for MGM in about a week. We will all be housed at the Hilton downtown.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there, Lastride,
Yes, they did attempt Aztec gold in the 98 model year, and yes they had problems with it for the following reasons.
First, yes, Black Ice is correct, all panels are run through the paint booth on racks, and sprayed accordingly. The problem was basically the different kinds of plastics used on c5.
You see, the lower sills are fibreglass, while other parts are sheet molded compound, and still others are reaction injection molded plastic, while still others are urethane plastics.
Even though these are all plastics, they all accept paint pigments in different ways. This is the reason that they didnt stay with the Aztec gold, as there was too much paint pigment difference with the way the paint accepted the plastics, and vice versa. It was simply painting issues.
This particular gold was hand done, not by machines.
I am with Ice on this point, I wish that they had done something else with the color on the 50th, however, IMO, still the finest Corvette yet.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Black Ice]

The problem in 1998 with Aztek gold was the outside venders that paint the outside mirrors and body side moldings, they could not get the color right. Hence all of the 1998 gold cars made had the BSMs deleted and outside mirrors hand re painted. You cant tell me GM could not have solved this problem? They just always take the easy way out. Drop the color. If other makers can paint unusual colors there is no reason at all GM "cant" do it. It just may take a little more effort and they dont want to bother with it.