Z3 project...no going back now!
- Thread starter Pondrew
- Start date
Spaldingski
Car is all ready to go to the bodyshop on Thursday.
I have also been doing work on the interior trim, so while the car is away I can hopefully get the upholstery done.
I need to find someone who can fit tyres to the wire wheels (most tyre places are too scared), and I will be buying a period reg number so I can get plates made up and drill the front bumper to fit them.
Expensive couple of months coming up. But hopefully by mid Summer I should be 90% there with the car.
I have also been doing work on the interior trim, so while the car is away I can hopefully get the upholstery done.
I need to find someone who can fit tyres to the wire wheels (most tyre places are too scared), and I will be buying a period reg number so I can get plates made up and drill the front bumper to fit them.
Expensive couple of months coming up. But hopefully by mid Summer I should be 90% there with the car.
Red of course, Ian.IRD said:
I haven't had the conversation yet with the bodyshop as to which red. I have two options of red, but I don't know whether they will be able to get codes for either. My preferred colour is a very old and long gone shade. I know Fiat also used it in the '60s and '70s, so it may be possible.
The Italians are not the best at divulging their paint codes to the wider world from what I have found.
Special Kay
Active member
Pondrew said:Red of course, Ian.IRD said:
I haven't had the conversation yet with the bodyshop as to which red. I have two options of red, but I don't know whether they will be able to get codes for either. My preferred colour is a very old and long gone shade. I know Fiat also used it in the '60s and '70s, so it may be possible.
The Italians are not the best at divulging their paint codes to the wider world from what I have found.
It must be frustrating, maybe someone from another 'kit-car' forum could assist. I know myself, I'd want to get that period colour code correct. Or maybe call a few high end bodyshops or classic restoration places if they can help. I understand, they may be reluctant, but its worth the cost of the calls if you get the result. Good luck
I have lots of codes for both colours, but they seem to be from decades ago and paint suppliers who no longer exist.Special Kay said:It must be frustrating, maybe someone from another 'kit-car' forum could assist. I know myself, I'd want to get that period colour code correct. Or maybe call a few high end bodyshops or classic restoration places if they can help. I understand, they may be reluctant, but its worth the cost of the calls if you get the result. Good luck
I am going to give my paintshop all the info I have and see what they come up with. I am paying them a lot of bucks so they need to do a bit of the work!
My preferred colour is Rosso Cina (china red). I have found at least five old codes for it (4 Fezza, 1 Fiat) but none are recognised anymore.
Having seen posts on Ferrari owners' clubs sites, the Italians don't give out codes to anybody, only their own bodyshops.
I do have a modern code for my second choice, Rosso Barchetta, so if all else fails it will be that.
Ferrari have produced over a hundred different shades of 'Ferrari red' over the years, so red isn't just red!
I have seen one 250 cali painted in a modern Vauxhall red colour. It looked awful. It was just the 'wrong' red. I presume the owner was a bit naive and just said he wanted it 'red, like a Ferrari should be'.
The correct shade is important for the overall effect of the car.
Special Kay
Active member
I've just done a quick google on classic paint. My original understanding was that pondy would probably be using cellulose paint on the car, but the forum recommends TPA Thermoplastic acrylic paint. I've no idea what it is, the advantages/disadvantages, comparison to cellulose. I'm sure his sprayer will be far more knowledgeable than a humble fool like myself.
Whilst I appreciate the OCD-ness of your approach, are the various shades so dissimilar that anyone, other than yourself, would notice?Pondrew said:Even if it were, I have no access to a 1960s Ferrari painted in Rosso Cina. It doesn't help that the shade I want was only produced for a very short period, on a very select number of models, and a very long time ago!pvr said:
I'm thinking anyone who is devoted enough (I deleted several words before I chose 'devoted'
) to spot the incorrect shade would already have had a coronary over it being a kit. :roll:
I get what you are saying but it's not ALL about finding the 'correct' shade. It's finding a shade I like more than anything, then it has to 'sit' well on the car.enuff_zed said:Whilst I appreciate the OCD-ness of your approach, are the various shades so dissimilar that anyone, other than yourself, would notice?Pondrew said:Even if it were, I have no access to a 1960s Ferrari painted in Rosso Cina. It doesn't help that the shade I want was only produced for a very short period, on a very select number of models, and a very long time ago!pvr said:
I'm thinking anyone who is devoted enough (I deleted several words before I chose 'devoted'
The colour I want was never offered on the 250 cal anyway! :lol: :lol:
I will probably end up having it painted in the colour I know they will be able to find TBH.
It's all a bit silly anyway, as in the 1960s paint was mixed in a bucket, so no two cars were ever exactly the same colour. :wink:
Couldn’t agree more. It has got to be red. But as you say the’right’ red. But bearing in mind how long you will keep the finished project will it matter that much.Pondrew said:Red of course, Ian.IRD said:
I haven't had the conversation yet with the bodyshop as to which red. I have two options of red, but I don't know whether they will be able to get codes for either. My preferred colour is a very old and long gone shade. I know Fiat also used it in the '60s and '70s, so it may be possible.
The Italians are not the best at divulging their paint codes to the wider world from what I have found.
The other problem is that it’s likely you’ve seen the rarer colours only on line or in printed photographs, and they’ll look different in person under the Mediterranean sun or the grey skies of England. Any car you’ve seen in the metal might have changed colour over the years too.
There’s no simple solution! The safest bet is a colour you’ve seen in real world conditions that’s currently available - which sounds like it makes your second choice more likely to become the first choice.
There’s no simple solution! The safest bet is a colour you’ve seen in real world conditions that’s currently available - which sounds like it makes your second choice more likely to become the first choice.
Usel
Senior member
At work there's a fully resprayed E-type and an original Dino and both are red. In the garage the E-type looks so much nicer. The Dino looks almost like a red/orange in comparison.
The Dino looks really drab indoors but when you get it outside it transforms and looks amazing. The E-type looks great in and outdoors.
I have pictures of the E-type but not on my phone but here's the Dino which are readily available to post:
I'm sure somewhere I have photos of them in the same garage next to each other to show the difference but that means I have to fire up the PC
Thought I'd share this because I'm sure your car will spend most of its time in a garage where you'll admire it.
The Dino looks really drab indoors but when you get it outside it transforms and looks amazing. The E-type looks great in and outdoors.
I have pictures of the E-type but not on my phone but here's the Dino which are readily available to post:
I'm sure somewhere I have photos of them in the same garage next to each other to show the difference but that means I have to fire up the PC
Thought I'd share this because I'm sure your car will spend most of its time in a garage where you'll admire it.
I am getting ahead of myself a bit Ian. As long as my bodyshop can sort all the 'issues' out on the body, I will be happy for it to be green with pink splodges TBH.IRD said:Couldn’t agree more. It has got to be red. But as you say the’right’ red. But bearing in mind how long you will keep the finished project will it matter that much.
I know my paint shop have done a Dino recently. But it was yellow, so doesn't help!Usel said:At work there's a fully resprayed E-type and an original Dino and both are red. In the garage the E-type looks so much nicer. The Dino looks almost like a red/orange in comparison.
The Dino looks really drab indoors but when you get it outside it transforms and looks amazing. The E-type looks great in and outdoors.
I have pictures of the E-type but not on my phone but here's the Dino which are readily available to post:
20160514_122828.jpg
20250117_132851.jpg
20250117_132752.jpg
I'm sure somewhere I have photos of them in the same garage next to each other to show the difference but that means I have to fire up the PC
Thought I'd share this because I'm sure your car will spend most of its time in a garage where you'll admire it.
