A bit of paint restoration

[White Spyder]

I have been traveling the last couple of weeks with work and finally made it home. Not being able to go to the shop to do some metal work I went to the garage to rub a bit on Bonnie and see what I could do to freshen up her original paint. Rubbing compound, cleaner wax and nano wax. All by hand. my arms are sore from all that wax-on-wax-off. It does make a difference, What do you think?

[RobertKB]

Definitely an improvement! A little elbow grease can make a huge difference. Please show us pictures of the car when you have done it all.

[oldodge41]

looks to be well worth the effort. Nice job...............Tim

[DLK]

I have been traveling the last couple of weeks with work and finally made it home. Not being able to go to the shop to do some metal work I went to the garage to rub a bit on Bonnie and see what I could do to freshen up her original paint. Rubbing compound, cleaner wax and nano wax. All by hand. my arms are sore from all that wax-on-wax-off. It does make a difference, What do you think?

I just worry about taking too much finish off. My 50 Dodge has had water spots on the hood and fenders that are embedded under the wax. I am reluctant to use a rubbing compound in case my finish coat (the car was repainted in 2001) is too thin.

[White Spyder]

As far as all the history I can determine this is then original paint. I have very goo documentation on the car and itnhad only twomowners prior to the man I got it from one of which was a dealer that kept it as a display.

With that said, i did the work by hand and that kept it from burning through.

[Shifticus]

Very rewarding and worth the effort, especially if we're talking about saving original paint... just do a panel at a time.

Did the original paint on mine, by hand. The paint would rub off on your finger in the as-found condition!

[Niel Hoback]

I am curious about the body style of the 53's I see on here. In high school I had a 53 Cambridge but it has different rear windows than what I see here. Mine had a small 1/4 window and a chrome divider strip separating the rear glass which rolled straight down into the 1/4 panel. Is this the difference between a club coupe and a two-door sedan? Or whats going on here?

[49 Dodge Dude]

Lookin' good!

[Drdialtone]

WOW!! Now that is a rebirth!! Nice job!

[Shifticus]

Mine is a business coupe, where as yours was a 2 door sedan. The difference is between the trunk lid and the B pillar; the sedan was geared for more rear passenger comfort and has a longer roof.

[Niel Hoback]

Wow! Thanks, I never thought to look at the roofline.

[White Spyder]

Finally made it back off a 2 week road trip for work. My son was able to take a photo of the finished work. Here are the before and after shots.

[Drdialtone]

Finally made it back off a 2 week road trip for work. My son was able to take a photo of the finished work. Here are the before and after shots.

INCREDIBLE!! What a beautiful car...

[Niel Hoback]

That is about the classiest thing on wheels!

[boxer_inv]

Great job - it looks lovely. I quite like the grey colour - is this original?

These really are big cars aren't they....it looks 40 foot long in the photo - and graceful.

[White Spyder]

Thanks all. They are big, got quite a work out as I did it by hand.

[Dodgeb4ya]

As far as all the history I can determine this is then original paint. I have very goo documentation on the car and itnhad only twomowners prior to the man I got it from one of which was a dealer that kept it as a display.

With that said, i did the work by hand and that kept it from burning through.

If you look on the Data plate on the firewall ( 3" X 5" ) look for "Paint" and under it is your paint code number. Two grays were used on 1946-8 Chryslers.... #7 is a darker "Dove Gray" and "Gunmetal" (lighter gray) was a #8 code.

The data plate will also tell upholstry, radio, trim, and other factory installed items.

Bob

[White Spyder]

It is a #8 paint code. Gunmetal gray.

[DLK]

Finally made it back off a 2 week road trip for work. My son was able to take a photo of the finished work. Here are the before and after shots.

I love the looks of those 46-49 Chryslers. Unfortunately my garage would leave me at best 6 inches between the door and the car if I pulled it up against the front wall which is part of the reason I stopped shopping for a Chrysler of that vintage.