How to determine if car has original paint?

[central52]

I have a 47 Dodge sedan. Just bought it, and the paint looks pretty darn good. The color is a light gray, and it continues into the engine compartment on the firewall. Plus also on the doorjams and into the trunk compartment. Would this be the original paint? Or a very good repaint? How can I find out? Ed

[casper50]

one way is to look under a piece of rubber molding or by taking something off that most people don't remove when repainting.

[desoto1939]

Also look arounf any molding to see where it might have been taped and the new paint if it was repainted is on some of the trim or rubber gaskets.  ususeally you will find a tell tale sign of this areound the windsheild modlings or rear window modings and some times the vent windows.

 

If you can also loosen upa taillight assembly and then pull in out of the fender alittle you might see a difference in the paint.

 

Rich HArtung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Eneto-55]

If the above hints don't show anything, and it was actually repainted, then they were probably also careful not to get any overspray on the frame, but that would be a clue as well.  If it was an old frame-off restoration, then there may not be any indication of a repaint.  (Unless someone knows how to detect if the paint is enamel or lacquer, but of course they could have also repainted with enamel, but that would have been a specific choice, or done very long ago.)  

 

Also, you could search for indications of leading anywhere on the body.

[Plymouthy Adams]

your areas on the car that should be ecosheen..is this original finish still in place with no overspray?

[BobT-47P15]

You can look under the fenders where things join;;;;;;;;underneath things like rubber door stripping and windlace cord.......

anyplace original paint might have remained covered when a repaint was done.

 

If they repainted with the original color, it may be harder to tell.   

 

Is there any fading of the present paint?    Is it thin in any areas?   It's possible someone kept the car inside

and maybe even covered up so the original paint remained good all these years.   

 

Nice car..........have fun with it............welcome to the forum.

[pflaming]

If that car were mine, I wouldn't care if was the original paint. Wow. Yesterday I saw a similar Dodge, two toned green that looked OEM. I found who the owner is and will contact him and get some pictures, I was led to believe it was for sale.

[Uncle-Pekka]

Only one way to know for sure: Carefully grind it all off. In case you'll only find one layer of primer underneath it - it was the factory original coat.

[RobertKB]

My car is a survivor with original paint, interior, and engine. There are some good points above explaining what to look for when checking for original paint, especially about looking for poor masking on trim and window gaskets. Also, as mentioned, looking under areas that would not have had new paint, even with a good repaint job, is another good tip.

 

No matter how well looked after a car is there will be other signs that the paint is original. A car cannot be used without getting a few small scratches, dings, and paint chips. On my car, althought the paint looks perfect in the picture, there are a number of small scratches and dings, as well as lots of gravel rash on the front as there were a lot of gravel roads in my area when the car was new. If the paint is too perfect it is likely a repaint.

 

I have owned the car since 1975 and have always kept it inside. It presently is about 400 miles shy of turning 100,000 miles. When I bought it, the paint was badly oxidized but cleaned up nicely. It has been waxed once or twice a year since then. I personally will never repaint the car and hope the next owner(s) won't either. Bumpers also show signs of age but again I would not rechrome them. I have other cars that have been repainted and rechromed and they are fun, too, but remember, "A car is only original once."

 

 

Gravel Rash (What look like scratches to the side and above the hood emblem are just reflections of my fluorescent lights).

 

Edited February 5, 2015 by RobertKB

[BigDaddyO]

Robert,

 Is yer car in here?

[Plymouthy Adams]

those are 54's could be mine on the right...

[RobertKB]

Mine is old compared to those!

[central52]

Thanks, guys, for all those tips and information.  Will check out those points mentioned.   Ed

[Frank Elder]

I don't see you showing your Chrysler sedan anymore Robert....did you sell it?

[RobertKB]

I don't see you showing your Chrysler sedan anymore Robert....did you sell it?

 

No, I still have it but am seriously debating selling it. I have too much stuff. Talk about non-original paint because the '38 Chrysler has base coat/clear coat.

 

I am also seriously thinking of selling the '53 Plymouth pictured above. I have owned it for 40 years and maybe it is time someone else enjoyed it.

 

That would leave me with my '48 Dodge D25 Club coupe and the '51 Dodge D39 business coupe project I am current working on, both Canadian models. I would still keep my '63 Ford  Fairlane as my primary road car. I know it is a Ford but it is a very pleasant car to own and drive.

 

All things are in flux right now but I seriously need to move some vehicles. I am going to part with my '78 GMC Triple E Class C motorhome also as my wife can no longer camp and it isn't fun without her.

 

Sorry for the long reply but yes, I do still have the Chrylser sedan.........for the time being.

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 2015 by RobertKB

[Frank Elder]

Aaaahhh..still beautiful....wish I had a fist full of C-notes for ya!