Repaint for '39 Plymouth Sedan

[likaleica]

Hi Fellas

 

I'm in  a dilemma over what paint color and scheme to repaint my lovely 39 Plymouth Touring Sedan here in England to preserve its authenticity and would welcome some opinions.

She's in very nice lightly restored/original condition but the black cellulose paint is cracked and micro-blistered in places and it's not the original color - I think it was a mid blue originally.  It needs a re-paint.

I'm tempted have her repainted two-tone - off-white up to the waist suage line on doors, bonnet sides and radiator cowl, with everything else black - fenders, hood tops, trunk and roof.

But this is such an original car I'm worried about damaging its value and appeal if I do this.

Was two-tone paint an original option ?  Would I be better advised to go for an original color and scheme ? Does a color card for the 39 Plymouth exist?

All posts gratefully received.

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

paint the car to suit you unless you have immediate resale in mind that you would consider a color/cut line change to have an effect on the resale..these cars have only x value as it is...and as more rare in your neck of the woods...would not see it a major factor as long as the job is done tastefully and well, overall good quality..I chose my colors based on the character of the car as it reveals itself during building stage  and rarely on..originality..

 

one can always look to the internet and search P15 two tone as an option to see cut lines and schemes..or just trip over to our own gallery here on the forum

Edited May 22, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[desoto1939]

if you lived inthe staes and were going to have the car judged at national car shows then painting it inthe colors and style you mention would hurt the car for points judging. If you are planning on having this car as a driver and to have fun with the car and are not worried aboiut judging then paint it inthe color scheme that suits you.  You are the one that will be enjoying the fruits of your labor and it is yours do towith as your personal tastes dictate.

 

These are not the cars that can demand the outlandish prices that you see on the Major car auctions. They will only sell for what a person is willing to buy it for.  Just enjoy the car and have alot of great fun dribing it.

 

Rich HArtung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[deathbound]

Use your favorite search engine & search images:"1939 Plymouth Sedan"......lots of paint ideas.

Edited May 22, 2015 by deathbound

[RobertKB]

You are asking for advice. Here is mine. I do not believe cars in the '30's were ever two tone from the factory (I stand to be corrected) and I personally do not think two tone paint jobs suit cars from that era or the '40's. I personally like black, as seen on my '38 Chrysler touring sedan, but any solid colour will do. Again, I personally like darker colours on the old cars as seen in my avatar. As others have said.....it is your car so do whatever tickles your fancy.

 

Edited May 23, 2015 by RobertKB

[deathbound]

I thought I read somewhere base/lower end models in the 30's had black fenders & color (other than black) body....or maybe it was the opposite????

[likaleica]

Thanks guys - some very informative replies to chew over.

One thing I HAVE decided - to doit in modern two-pack paint (rather than cellulose solvent based) to give a more durable finish. Classic car folk over here often cut the two-pack finish back with 1500 or 2000 grade wet n dry paper then apply cutting polish - to make the finish look less "plasticky" and  more like the original cellulose appearance.

I'm hoping to get the job done within a month - so I'll post some photos of the car after that.

Thanks again guys

[deathbound]

You are asking for advice. Here is mine. I do not believe cars in the '30's were ever two tone from the factory (I stand to be corrected) and I personally do not think two tone paint jobs suit cars from that era or the '40's. I personally like black, as seen on my '38 Chrysler touring sedan, but any solid colour will do. Again, I personally like darker colours on the old cars as seen in my avatar. As others have said.....it is your car so do whatever tickles your fancy.

 

 

From the Allpar site, 1938 Plymouth:

Modern observers may be surprised that the lower-priced Roadking series came standard with two-toning. That is because all Roadking fenders were painted black no matter what body color was chosen. (Of course, if black was chosen as the body color, the whole car was black.) Roadking buyers had to pay an extra five dollars to get the fenders painted to match the body. All Deluxe models were painted with a single color.

 

1939 Plymouth (year of O.P.'s car):

Bodies were available in solid colors only, although the fenders and sheetmetal parts could be ordered in a second color if so desired. Prior to 1939, the Roadking models had all received a two-tone treatment with the fenders being painted black (solid colors were optional), but now the Roadking and Deluxe were painted alike.

 

There may be other years & makes....Dodge, Chrysler, DeSoto, but I only checked the 2 included, since I have a '38 & the O.P.'s car is a '39 Plymouth.

[RobertKB]

From the Allpar site, 1938 Plymouth:

Modern observers may be surprised that the lower-priced Roadking series came standard with two-toning. That is because all Roadking fenders were painted black no matter what body color was chosen. (Of course, if black was chosen as the body color, the whole car was black.) Roadking buyers had to pay an extra five dollars to get the fenders painted to match the body. All Deluxe models were painted with a single color.

 

1939 Plymouth (year of O.P.'s car):

Bodies were available in solid colors only, although the fenders and sheetmetal parts could be ordered in a second color if so desired. Prior to 1939, the Roadking models had all received a two-tone treatment with the fenders being painted black (solid colors were optional), but now the Roadking and Deluxe were painted alike.

 

There may be other years & makes....Dodge, Chrysler, DeSoto, but I only checked the 2 included, since I have a '38 & the O.P.'s car is a '39 Plymouth.

 

I stand corrected. However, I still think they look better a solid colour.

[Plymouthy Adams]

proper cut lines and complimenting colors make about any car look better...takes no imagination to go solid color...

[likaleica]

Interesting information about the factory two tone paint options - thanks very much for that! I agree that proper cut lines are essential if you want to accentuate a car's shape - otherwise the two tone paint just doesn't work. There are at least 5 different ways of dividing the two colors that I've found on the internet.

Can I throw another spanner in the forum's cogs?!

My car's interior was professionally retrimmed a while ago to a high standard - but in rather looking drab brown Naugahide (vinyl). I believe the original trim was cord fabric - though mine is an export right hand drive car and I seem to recall that Buick export cars for example had leather seats - was it the same with Plymouth? Rather than retrimming it again - has anyone any suggestions? Years ago I successfully painted an old Mini's blue seats black using vinyl paint - perhaps I could paint the Plymouth's a nicer colour - perhaps dark grey ? Or maybe original type fabric coverings that could go over the vinyl are available somewhere ?

Once again, all advice gratefully received!

[Plymouthy Adams]

IF you wish to change the vinyl color..do it with a penetrating dye and not a just a gloss overcoat like that marhyde garbage...the dye will do the job you want easily and will give you the results you want..like painting a car...your surface area of the interior must be proper cleaned and prepped

 

Ihave used the dye on manythings from injection molded plastic to vinyl to seat belt straps with equaly great results...a good paint shop can mix any color you wish...

Edited May 24, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[pflaming]

Plymouthy, it takes no imagination to PAINT!! Patina is the new NORMAL, that is the color of the gods!!!

[casper50]

The gods are blind.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Plymouthy, it takes no imagination to PAINT!! Patina is the new NORMAL, that is the color of the gods!!!

PATINA  is the catch phrase of a new generation of folks who are either too cheap or unskilled to see a job to the end......I will not deviate from that...check my signature..

Edited May 24, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[pflaming]

Question: Do you wear make-up? If not I rest my case!

[Plymouthy Adams]

you do not even have anything near to a case...when presented to my parents at birth there was no make up....maybe you needed makeup at birth..I cannot say one way or the other as to your conditions

Edited May 24, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[Darbone85737]

I like a nice paint job

[Plymouthy Adams]

Plymouthy, it takes no imagination to PAINT!! Patina is the new NORMAL, that is the color of the gods!!!

HERE'S YOUR SIGN:

[Young Ed]

Plymouthy, it takes no imagination to PAINT!! Patina is the new NORMAL, that is the color of the gods!!!

Explain how patina requires imagination? True patina is just leaving something alone as found and aged by nature etc. So sounds like a true patina job would be owned by just a check writer

[Plymouthy Adams]

true..Ed  and a lover of patina would not in any manner do any prepping and clear coating...when that is done..it is not longer patina but a conditioned coated surface...I still contend that Patina is the sultan's youngest daughter...sister to Fatima

 

NOTE..for the record..it is not pronounced as spelled...it is pronounced FAT-AH-MA.....heard it said in the mid east a couple times...and don't get me started on Toshiba...genuine oriental commercial says TOSH-AH-BAH

Edited May 24, 2015 by Plymouthy Adams

[casper50]

how much patina does your house have? Just wondering.  lol

[Plymouthy Adams]

how much patina does your house have? Just wondering.  lol

 

very good point casper...not sure this inquiring mind wants to know the answer...nothing like clear coated mildew...but I can see that image in my mind...

[Don Coatney]

A true patina lover would have used burnt clear coated lumber to rebuild his garage after the fire.

[Plymouthy Adams]

B A --------- Z I N G A   !!!!!!!