I sure liked your post because I have thought about doing my 78 in a brand paint called Hammerite. It is a glass filled paint and works well against rust. It has a built in primer and about 45 dollars a gallon at the hardware stores.

I have used the “smooth” finish around the headlight years ago. I applied it using a rattle can of the stuff off the shelf. It has not peeled or faded, of course it was sliver. It is hard to see silver fade.

I might have to check it for gasoline resistance. I think this company makes a line of automotive paints but do not know if it can be purchased in this country. I think the Valspar Company owns them now as they use to be or are still in England.

Using a roller might be a good idea because using Hammerite right out of the gallon can you should use a large orifice gun. I have some black “hammered” finish that I am going to paint some steel workbenches. I might try both methods of applying, thinned or not, on them and see how I like it.

The 1978 clear coats sucked, so in 1982, I had the whole car repainted with DuPont Imron for 500 dollars, less the stripes. It was more a paint for truckers, commercial tanks and was the new urethane stuff, then. It required breathing equipment to spray it. It held up very well for more years than I ever expected for gray/silver paint. Now it is over 300 dollars a gallon. That darker gray silver color, considered normal on cars today is like my 1991. The 91 is actually quite a bit darker.

Automotive paint prices have gone nuts for everyone. When you add labor costs, you want to find a shop with robots or a dipping tank. A roller would be the next best thing. I would have to sand/polish the drivers side really well because that would be the side I see the most.

Thanks for the post again. Now I do not feel so bad thinking the way I do.

I get it from my Grandfather, a true Tennessean. I can remember him having a 1950 or 51 Chevy in the mid 80’s and he kept the rust at bay with a paintbrush!

As I think of it now, with the age of both of them, being vain, would have been a waste of time. He did tell me that a fellow knock on the door one day and offered him 500 dollars for it. He was happy because he paid that for it and could not see to drive it anymore!

I guess I am a chip off the old block or a brick today!
Phil