Single Stage Original vs. Base-Clear

[FastbackJon]

Considering having my 1968 Charger R/T QQ1 blue repainted.

I am fascinated with the thought of having a single stage metallic paint job, just like the car would have had new instead of a super-shiny over restored looking car. I believe the original paint was acrylic enamel.

I assume most cars these days are basecoat/clearcoat. I am worried the color will come out wrong with that too. My red Charger was painted base/clear using a new car code and it came out a lot brighter red than what the new cars look like (my reference).

Is it abnormal to put a single stage metallic paint job back on the car or does anyone else do this?

[alfaitalia]

Live and learn,,,,I did not know that they were ever painted with single coat metallic....or that you could paint like that. Cars over hear had a base and top coat metallic at least back to the mid 60's.....Jaguar claims that there XK150 was a two stage met paint back in 1957.

[maxwellwedge]

Yes - original Mopar paint from that era was acrylic enamel, single stage. I restore everything with acrylic enamel....because I'm sick - Lol. It is getting harder to find. If it is a metallic - the metallic colors are even harder to get to look right.....the flakes are different in modern paints.

[spoolinhard]

I believe they were originally sprayed with lacquer. Sometimes technology is a good thing.

[hemi-hampton]

I think it was GM that used Laquer, not sure about Ford. I would not advise Single Stage Metallic. Unfortunately I'll be spraying a big School Bus converted to a Camper in Single Stage Metallic gray in the next week or 2. Won't be fun. LEON.

[maxwellwedge]

I think it was GM that used Laquer, not sure about Ford. I would not advise Single Stage Metallic. Unfortunately I'll be spraying a big School Bus converted to a Camper in Single Stage Metallic gray in the next week or 2. Won't be fun. LEON.

Yes - GM was lacquer...Ford - not sure.
Chrysler, during the muscle car era was definitely, 100% for sure acrylic enamel. The FSM's did say that lacquer could be used on touch-ups. 

[JR]

Single stage paint has a deeper color and more depth.

Base clear is much easier to repair when you get light scratches, or ever have to repair/repaint a single panel.

I use base clear, but there's nothing "wrong" with either.

[myk]

Wouldn't base/clear be more durable also, with the clear coat protecting the base?

[Highbanked Hauler]

Considering having my 1968 Charger R/T QQ1 blue repainted.

I am fascinated with the thought of having a single stage metallic paint job, just like the car would have had new instead of a super-shiny over restored looking car. I believe the original paint was acrylic enamel.

I assume most cars these days are basecoat/clearcoat. I am worried the color will come out wrong with that too. My red Charger was painted base/clear using a new car code and it came out a lot brighter red than what the new cars look like (my reference).

Is it abnormal to put a single stage metallic paint job back on the car or does anyone else do this?

    You could do it in single stage urethane and it would probably be a tint to match.  Basecoat is by far easier to repair and blend in. Acrylic enamel  never did repair or re-coat well with feather edge swelling or lifting  and it has to set quite a while to buff if you need to BUT to its credit improvements were made for durability....

[superbirdtom]

the hemi orange actually has flake in it u can barley see.  i used to do acrylic enamel Metallic s quite often back in the 80,s  we never cut and rubbed them as u will mess up the metallics. i did however put clear right over it sometimes the last two coats if u wanted to cut and rub it.  i would actually use fast reducer for the metallic and let it set up for an hour then spray clear over it very carefully.  most ppl cannot tell a single stage from a two stage.. if your finish work aint perfect i mean very minute stuff specifically an engine compartment single stage covers and fills wheras basecoat has zero filling properties unless u use color blender in the first three coats.  its just a preference really