Another paint question - Age

[428street]

I understand ERA has been around for years so there could be people who have had their car for 15 to 20+ years, maybe longer!

How has the paint held up? Are you still running your original paint or has it been re-sprayed? Any cracks?

Please let me know how long you have had it and who painted it if it was done by a local ERA vendor.

Thanks in advance.

[xracerbob]

I spoke with Ron Randall and I know his paint is at least 15 yrs old and from pictures at least, still looks great. I've seen some FFR's he has done and they are outstanding.

[Pete Munroe]

My car was prepped and painted by Tony...he paints for ERA as an independent contractor.

The color is metallic maroon, still looks great. ditto for the body.

Car is stored inside, but has 12,000 miles so its in the sun a lot.

Pete

[Pete Munroe]

Forgot to mention the car was prepped and painted the summer of 1998, I took delivery six months later due to space, or lack thereof.

Hard to beleive I have had the car almost 10 years.

Lots of fun, no car problems.

Pete

[Bryan Wilson]

My car is 23 years old and the paint still looks petty good from being looked after by it's three owners.
The only downside is that over time Fibreglass moves and when you look down the panels a slight rippling of the glass can be seen. So I reckon a repaint every 10 years wouldn't hurt.
Cheers,
Bryan

[Metal-morphous]

Byran that is typical of any fiberglass product but you dont have to repaint, just have it color sanded and polished out ( assuming its basecoat- clearcoat paint), it will look like it just came off the show room floor .


Ron Randall

[Don]

Check with Peter @ ERA, but I believe an outside vendor they have used for painting is Conn Custom Cars in Enfield CT:

http://www.conncustomcar.com/cobra.htm

[Excaliber]

My ERA was built in 1986. The paint is surprisingly good for it's age, but I'm thinking about a re-spray. No rippling or waves that I can see, the biggest problem is simply the accumulation of nicks, scratches and road rash it has from over the years.

If I do a repaint it will be with a local shop with a good reputation and WON'T be a 'show' job. Just a good solid long life type of paint job is all I'm looking for. I'm over that 'trophy hunt' car show thing, I'd rather DRIVE it.

[Jim Holden]

Last fall at the Vintage Races at Lime Rock, I saw my first ERA #140 (circa 1986). Still in original paint and the fenders were straight, not a ripple in sight. Of course back then they used materials that OSHA, etc. have long since forced off the market. The car still looked great.

Jim

PS: The other painter that ERA uses is Tony up in Mass. He does the majority of ERA's cars (and mine as well).

[Metal-morphous]

Heres a picture of the right rear of my ERA #148, like I said, alittle TLC ,, ERAs look like this for a Loooooong time

Ron

[era427tp]

My ERA was painted by International Auto Body in Granby,in 1991.I've picked up a few rock chips,(and some scratches from a tire wall at Watkins Glen,which buffed out).With lots of care and wax it still wins trophies.They had done my other cars,my '67 Mustang ,which despite a few chips still looks great,and it was done in 1982.Unfortunately the owner retired about 10 years ago.

[428street]

Thanks guys for all your responses..

[Traveller]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

My ERA was built in 1986. The paint is surprisingly good for it's age, but I'm thinking about a re-spray. No rippling or waves that I can see, the biggest problem is simply the accumulation of nicks, scratches and road rash it has from over the years.

If I do a repaint it will be with a local shop with a good reputation and WON'T be a 'show' job. Just a good solid long life type of paint job is all I'm looking for. I'm over that 'trophy hunt' car show thing, I'd rather DRIVE it.

I have ERA 003 built in 84. Like Excaliber it's showing its age due to an accumulation of nicks, rock chips and scratches. It's also a lacquer paint job which has a tendency to crack over the years but this paint job hasn't.

I will also be getting a repaint soon.