Going to paint, opinions please!

[Gary Wilkerson]

I'm ready to take the 66 to the paint shop, but I'm still torn between keeping the luggage rack or not.
Prior board discussion seems to confirm it to be a dealer installed option.
I really think they compliment C3's but I'm on the fence on C2's.

Should it stay or should it go?

Gary

 

[61 Silver]

Should it stay or should it go

Hi! Gary



What would be your intent with the 66? If it is a matching number car that could be restored to NCRS standards, even if your not, I would probably remove it. If it is a non-matching number car that you want as a very good driver, than build it the way you like. I like to restore the cars as they left the factory, but I am going to base coat/clear coat the 65 because this car was designed for cursing, 250HP, 4-speed with 336 gears and I like the durability of the newer paint.








Good luck with your 66!


Ray

 

[BarryK]

Hi Gary

That's a hard call. I actually kinda like the rack on the C3's somewhat but not as much on the C2's. It doesn't look BAD, but I think it kind of hides or takes away a little from the beautiful lines of the car a bit.
On the other hand, my car is a '65 coupe so I don't have the need for the rack for extra storage but since yours is a vert if you really need the cargo storage ability than leave it, it's not all that bad. I would think it comes down to how much you REALLY need the rack to haul things. If you need it than keep it but if aren't using it much and can get away without it I personally would take it off.
just my 2 cents and i'm sure others will offer different and various opinions.

BTW, love your choice of cars
I have the same 327/365 motor in my '65 as you have in your '64 and my '65 is also the same Milano Maroon as your '66 vert!

 

[BarryK]

Gary

is the Milano Maroon on your car still the original paint by any chance?

The reason i'm asking is that my car is currently in the shop getting a new paint job also. i've actually only come across 2 or 3 other Milano Maroon cars that i've been able to look at in person and each one was different not only from what my paint looked like but also from each other. Mine had an older (i'm guessing approx 12-15 years old) lacquer paint on it and had a very small amount of metallic in it. Of the others I saw one had much more metallic in the paint, and one had no metallic at all.
i'm trusting my painter to make it look as accurate as possible against the original paint color allowing for slight differences because we are going with BC/CC instead of the lacquer again and i'm trying to find out if the original Milano Maroon actually did have metallic in it or not.
Thanks

Barry

 

[youwish2bme]

Gary, I'd get rid of it. That just my opinion though. Not really b/c I don't like the look as it is unique but b/c it looks as if it's a pain to keep clean and to clean around (wow that was runon)... btw who are you going to get to paint it up in the Peoples Republic of Virginia??? Dave...

 

[Gary Wilkerson]

Barry and Silver,


Thanks for your feedback! Let me offer some more details and maybe it'll help all formulate their opinions better.
The car is a numbers matching 427/390. Second Lacquar paint job, two top car.
Originally Milan Maroon w/saddle interior. The second owner dyed the interior black. I'm going back to saddle.

Barry, I agree with your findings. There's a bunch of variations of Milano out there. Mine is the original lacquar and theres not much metal. It makes for a dark Maroon, med. shinny finish.
BC/CC is probably going to come out with a little more shine. I don't mind that, thats where my personnal opinon over rules originality. I attached another photo which may give you a better idea.
Besides if I wanted the car I've dreamed about and was original it would Rally Red. But RR big blocks are way out of my price range.

Gary

 

[Ron Miller]

I'm gonna be in the minority here, it appears, but I especially like the look of the luggage rack on C-2 convertibles. To me it has a classic look, probably a hold-over from my "Route 66" days where Todd and Buzz motored across country. That was my idea of a Corvette, but I'm dating myself, I guess!!

Just my thoughts . . . .

 

[Gary Wilkerson]

Dave,

You're right it is a pain to clean around. Jon Brower is doing the body and paint work. He's in Haymarket Va. He's done alot of restoration work. Fabulous quality. His way of working fits my need as well. His money maker is collision work. He works on one or two vettes at a time for filler work. Less expensive for me because he doesnt have to take valuable shop space and time and works out for him because he's got something to move to when filling time.
I'm going to work the frame and mechanicals while he's working. Probably 3 - 4 months.

Gary

 

[lifeguard_bss]

No rack

Just my 2 cents -- but if holding on to the originality is secondary to the looks and lines of the car, I think the car is much nicer without the luggage rack. When is the last time anyone said "Hey -- cool luggage rack" anyways. No offense to those with the racks but I think it is addition by subtraction.

 

[BarryK]

Barry, I agree with your findings. There's a bunch of variations of Milano out there. Mine is the original lacquar and theres not much metal. It makes for a dark Maroon, med. shinny finish.
BC/CC is probably going to come out with a little more shine. I don't mind that, thats where my personnal opinon over rules originality.

Gary

Although it's pretty hard to find anything that is shinier that a perfectly buffed out show-level lacquer paint, I agree that most BC/CC jobs are going to look at least somewhat shinier or glossier than original. Like you that doesn't bother me as i like the shiny glossy look. For me the main issue is the level of metallic that is supposed to be in the paint.
My car is not NCRS. it's just a really nice numbers matching, ORIGINAL motor, restored driver but I'd still like to keep the car as close to the proper original appearance as possible. Without having to worry about NCRS judging, personal opinion DOES rule over originality, but for me that's limited within the aspect of still trying to keep it looking as original as possible but with my own tastes thrown in....... (damn, did that make ANY sense at all??!!)

Good idea on changing the interior back to original color. I like the black myself (mine is blk leather) but I prefer keeping the colors proper as it came new and is listed on the trim tag. If you sell the car in the future that could help bring you more value on the car also.

 

[61 Silver]

If I could afford a matching number big block or even find one with documentation, I would restore it to NCRS standards. There are only so many real big blocks out there; most were dirven hard and put to bed wet. Today there is probably more big blocks than the General ever produced! My .02$ for what ever it is worth!

Ray

Barry and Silver,


Thanks for your feedback! Let me offer some more details and maybe it'll help all formulate their opinions better.
The car is a numbers matching 427/390. Second Lacquar paint job, two top car.
Originally Milan Maroon w/saddle interior. The second owner dyed the interior black. I'm going back to saddle.

Barry, I agree with your findings. There's a bunch of variations of Milano out there. Mine is the original lacquar and theres not much metal. It makes for a dark Maroon, med. shinny finish.
BC/CC is probably going to come out with a little more shine. I don't mind that, thats where my personnal opinon over rules originality. I attached another photo which may give you a better idea.
Besides if I wanted the car I've dreamed about and was original it would Rally Red. But RR big blocks are way out of my price range.

Gary

 

[Gary Wilkerson]

Ray,

You're probably dead on. I wouldn't doubt there's twice the number of BB's out there then ever left the generals shop.
I'm lacking complete documentation for the car. I have all the supporting documantation necessary to confirm original engine, tranny etc.. Trimtag to prove color combo, but I don't have adequate documantation to prove options. There's plenty of tell tale signs for many but they're hard to prove if someone really wanted to haggle (spelling?) about price.

Gary

 

[IH2LOSE]

Gary good luck with your paint job,talk about a mixed bunch of opinions,

I happen to like the luggage rack,For one reason,it adds bright work to the car,I think there is nothing better then some shiney chrome on a car.

Now as for your motor I would highly recomend you immediatly replace that rubber hose you have for a fuel line.I am always afraid of a rubber hose on the pressure side of the fuel system,Paragon reproductions has them from the fuel pump up to the carb connections.

 

[JohnZ]

If you really like the rack, keep it - if you decide to have the car judged at some point, it's a very minor deduction - there's none for the rack itself, just for the holes in the body where it mounts. On the other hand, if you decide to remove it, filling the holes almost always results in barely visible "dimples" eventually where the holes were as the repair shrinks. The original Milano Maroon lacquer had a very low level of VERY fine metallic flakes, almost hard to notice; many repaints with current materials draw deductions due to excessive metallic, with flakes that are much too large.

 

[studiog]

My 3¢ Take it off fill the holes and paint. If you can't live without it you can always reinstall it later. Good luck I'm sure it will be fine either way.

 

[bonll]

no rack

I agree with lifeguard bss.

They look good on the c3's but on a c2 hmmmm....

#1 cool car doesen't need a luggage rack unless your really gonna use it.
Good to hear your gonna go back to the biege interior. Your car had a nice color combo.

Just my opinion since you asked...

 

[Gary Wilkerson]

Thanks everyone for your input. It was a mixed batch of opinions alright! But a valuable one. I think I'll remove the rack.
As for the rubber fuel line. The engine sports a Holley 3310 replacement carb. I'm waiting for Jerry Luck to finish a 3370 for me. At that time I'll put the hardline on.

Thanks all and I'll keep you posted on my progress!!!

 

[firstgear]

I dont like them.....and would take it off if I had a car with it on....looks like an English MG when I see them......

 

[vette]

On the first hot day you will see the repaired holes. No matter who or what process they use, it will show up. Leave the rack. Or be ready to see where the holes where. If it where a white or maybe silver you could get away with it. But not with that dark color.

 

[Gary Wilkerson]

Vette,

You guys are starting to scare me!. My paint guy told me it would eventually show as well. Is it because of the difference in materials?

Gary