patina or no patina?

[slash crashley]

i like the true patina look. it makes me think of the truck as ressurected. pulled out of a corn field, new power plant dropped in, new shoes and suspension etc. a new lease on life. from still life to rolling art.

i have yet to see a 73-87 really pull off the patina thing. i think they're still too new for it to be as effective.

spotted this gem on craigslist the other week: i think it looks great, but i wouldn't / couldn't pay $5500 for it.

what I think I'm going to do is put some wheels on it and drop it and then go ahead and put the logos on the doors and do the body work...then I'll start on the interior and when the interior is done, I'll paint it back factory blue and white like it is now...but it'll have a 73ish front end on it...to give it an older look...

great idea.

[Richard D]

I remember when I was growing up, everyone wanted their rides to look nice. The old timers I have spoken to agree that this rusty crap is NOT what they did in the 50s. I blame it on the youngsters who learned about cars on T.V. and ignore history. Whatever, it's your truck, let it rust away to nothing if you want.

[Thumpin455]

Originally Posted by Richard D

This whole rusty "patina" crap is the stupidest fad ever. When I was growing up, and not that long ago, we wouldn't be caught dead in a rusty vehicle.

My thinking is along these lines, but slightly different. I just finished painting my first car, it sat in primer for 20 years. In that time I have driven others, built projects, raced, and of course my 76 was ratty, rusted and just plain used hard looking. So I can be seen in a car that isnt purdy and rust free. Almost everything I have ever owned has been a barn find or rat rod so to speak.

What irks me is people who take something nice and make it look old. Drilling rust holes in a fiberglass body, scuffing the paint so it looks kinda weathered, adding old looking lettering to the doors. Sorry but patina is EARNED, you cant take a 20k mile pampered garaged cream puff that has never seen rain and give it the personality that something that has worked its whole life inherently has. You can try but it isnt earned, its made up, fictitious, like a prostreet vehicle with a huge set of tires, jungle gym cage, and a stock 350 with TPI under the hood. It doesnt have it because it didnt earn it, you can look the part, but its walking the walk that matters.

If you want something that looks old or unfinished, build it from stuff that is old and unfinished. Paint is optional, weathering comes along on its own. Spending $40k to make something that was nice look old is a slap in the face to guys who build old stuff because they can afford it. Its gotta be earned, you cant buy it.

Its like retro rice when you weather something.

Earned.

[staggerd86c-10]

any pics of a truck with patina that looks like that hot rod city truck i have seen alot of 67-72 but not too many of our body style i would like to rock this style for a lil while before i paint my truck. let me know about some proceses you guys might know of.

[bw4sale]

Don't listen to the haters. If you want patina, go for it. It's your truck and that is all that matters. They don't have to drive it. Your not going around trashing their shiny paint jobs.

[Stitch]

bw4sale, you're right, I'm not going around trashy their shiny paint jobs, and I'm not going around trashing mine...I was asking if my truck had the look to be an old shop truck for my interior shop or should I paint it...I don't need a lecture about why I shouldn't take a good truck and make it look old and weathered....I have an old and weathered truck already...it seems like a few in this thread think I want to make my truck look patina'd...I don't want to do that, because it's already on its way there...

on the other hand, thanks for the positive feedback and suggestions guys...

Chuck.

[jdurant]

Originally Posted by Richard D

I remember when I was growing up, everyone wanted their rides to look nice. The old timers I have spoken to agree that this rusty crap is NOT what they did in the 50s. I blame it on the youngsters who learned about cars on T.V. and ignore history. Whatever, it's your truck, let it rust away to nothing if you want.

Hey man, $#!+, we get it. You don't like the "fad". Which is a shame because your truck fits right into that catagory I think. I like your truck just the way it is--I hope that doesn't piss you off.
To beat a dead horse, nobody was ever talking about taking a nice clean truck and making it look old--that probably doesn't make much sense to anyone on this board. But there is nothing wrong with a truck that has a great stance but not a great paint job. I often like unfinished projects (maybe that explains why I have so many), but alot of projects are ruined when they get paint anyway.
In conclusion, I think it is great business for your upholstery shop to do it that way--old on the outside, new on the inside.

[boatpuller]

do what you wanna do.......there's lots of "fad's" i don't really care for.small rimmed lowriders,ratrods,donks,patina,ricers with wings.but you know what?those guy's don't give a $hit what i think.their doing it their way.and i respect that and respect and appreciate their time and effort.like iv'e said on these opinion threads before."your funding the show,do what make's you happy"...if we all liked the same thing it would be boring as hell.

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by Richard D

I remember when I was growing up, everyone wanted their rides to look nice. The old timers I have spoken to agree that this rusty crap is NOT what they did in the 50s. I blame it on the youngsters who learned about cars on T.V. and ignore history. Whatever, it's your truck, let it rust away to nothing if you want.

Guys did not try to make things look rusty.....but, alot of younger guys from that era could not afford a nice paint job so it would be a flat color or whatever was on there. There is a difference between a rusty look (ie surface rust) and rust through, I don't think most people want rust through.

Rat Rod's are a whole different case.

[grinch4om]

Originally Posted by boatpuller

do what you wanna do.......there's lots of "fad's" i don't really care for.small rimmed lowriders,ratrods,donks,patina,ricers with wings.but you know what?those guy's don't give a what i think.their doing it their way.and i respect that and respect and appreciate their time and effort.like iv'e said on these opinion threads before."your funding the show,do what make's you happy"...if we all liked the same thing it would be boring as hell.

amen brother! we should build em for us, not someone else...

for a business venture, look at your market, demographics and what is necessary for sucess ...

[SnS C10]

over, out, DONE!!

[Thumpin455]

Dont think I hate the look, most of my stuff is finished when it runs, drives and stops, not when its shiny..

If its built right a square will look good. Wide whites and red steelies isnt the right 'era' so to speak. When you see wide whites on something from the 70s it brings to mind a guy in a purple suit, that drives a Lincoln Continental, who has his 'ladies' working for him.

Now slam it, but not to the point of rocker scraping, with a rake, flat black or red oxide, some deep polished slots, and raised white letter meats under it, yeah thats more in line with the vintage. Im not a fan of the big 18"-24" wheels, or trucks that hop, but keeping it usable as a truck would be great. Awesome parts chaser that can still haul a crate engine. If you want to get really in the era, some sidepipes would be just the ticket. Maybe a p-shop is in order on what is runnin through my mind, but me thinks it would look killer. I would avoid the side pipes but that is me.

Build a step urged by a healthy rat with a minimum of chrome and it would be perfect. Of course something with decent sheetmetal under the primer would give a better impression on the average commuter car driving type, they wouldnt really appreciate a rusty hulk like mine was. No big holes or dents, and it doesnt have to be shiny to be cool.

Your taste may vary.

[Richard D]

Originally Posted by jdurant

Hey man, $#!+, we get it. You don't like the "fad". Which is a shame because your truck fits right into that catagory I think. I like your truck just the way it is--I hope that doesn't piss you off.
To beat a dead horse, nobody was ever talking about taking a nice clean truck and making it look old--that probably doesn't make much sense to anyone on this board. But there is nothing wrong with a truck that has a great stance but not a great paint job. I often like unfinished projects (maybe that explains why I have so many), but alot of projects are ruined when they get paint anyway.
In conclusion, I think it is great business for your upholstery shop to do it that way--old on the outside, new on the inside.

I also like the look of an in progress project. Mine will be painted as nice as possible eventually. To each his own, better than the rice crowd.