The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop CAN NEW PAINT LOOK OLD??

I want to have my truck painted JUST to change the color...the Po had it done in a _____ color.
I don't plan on taking all the dents out,that doesn't bother me.
Can the painter put something in the paint to have it come out semi-flat or flat without being 'chalky'? Something to make the paint look "old"?? if it's painted glossy...it's gonna look BAD.
Thanks!

As a general rule, darker colors like forester green and black show alot of surface imperfections. Lighter colors, like white or tan dont show problems as bad. I'm pretty sure an auto paint shop can mix you a semigloss or flat in any color you want. A local shop in my town custom mixed Shelley's interior color from a few paint flakes I brought in.

Some experts can probably post alot more info for you.

Olive drab?
Seriously, white will hide a lot of dents.

Thanks...
I'm thinking of a light gray,to 'hide' alot of dents.But anything shiny will show too much.
In fact...I just don't want it to look TOO good;cars or trucks painted over dents,poor masking,etc. allways looks BAD.
The PO of my truck painted it inside and out ALL over with a metallic blue/green that I just can't handle....

Paint it with a base coat and not a clear coat for a last coat. It won't shine. It will look dull as old paint if not clear coated.

You know, I like 4's idea of olive drab. Naturally flat color, then find some stencil letters you could paint something official looking on the door. People would think it's an old military truck and who'd know the difference. If I had it to do over again I might have done that with Shelley 20 yrs ago instead of that brushed on red tractor paint I used
Gray is cool too

I have a box on the flatbed of my '48 that covers up the back of the cab. I've tried out several colors there including a flat tan. I like it. It reminds me of dirt.

The military had other flat colors too. The navy had differant shades of gray, and all the camo paint jobs were flat, so any one of the camo colors- green, brown, tan, gray, white, etc. would work if you can find them. The military painted everything flat so the sun wouldn't reflect off it.

I read this question before on a paint forum. The answer is to have your paint dealer mix in something that will make the paint flat or semi flat. Apparently the "primer look" is popular with hot rodders.

Use a tintable primer/sealer. If you start with a light base primer, you can tint it any colour you want. Personally, I'd go with a satin black body with gloss red wheels....

Wannabe

Wannabe, all primers are designed to be top coated and most are not very UV resistant. Apparently even an epoxy primer will not last forever if not topcoated.

If you use a proper paint you are sealing and protecting the metal.

Doing a color change is a lot of work to go through and not straighten the body.
But, that is your choice to make.
These newer two-part and epoxy paints are too expensive to put over dented sheet metal and isn,t going to give the look you want.
If I'm not mistaken, the look you are after isn't a look at all. You want people to look at it and not think it needs painted or that it was just painted.
I knew a guy, years ago, that was painting cars for iron lots. He would shoot them, take the paper off and drive down the street to the automatic car wash. If it still looked like new paint he would send it through again. He was using synthetic enamel which is slow drying. The car wash didn't have a real high pressure spray and the scrubbing wheels just knocked the shine off.
From your post it sounds like you are going to take it to a paint shop. Tell them what you want. Use the cheapest, slowest drying paint they can get. Do everything that you shouldn't do to new paint. Have it painted on a windy day, drive home through a construction zone and let it sit out in the sun dirty. Wash it with a shop wrag. You'll be very happy.
I'm getting a little carried away, but I think you get the idea.
Like the other guys said, white and light colors are your best choice. I think the flattening additive would be too much. It's usually used for lower body moldings and bumper areas.
Ok, I've had enough fun for one day. I have to find an EGR problem on my daughters car.

I think Richard forgot the tip of rubbing a dead chicken all over the paint. But I believe it only works on Tuesdays when it's not too hot. :o

THANKS... All the ideas will help. Richard,yea,I'm gonna take it to a shop.
The thing is, there is allready signs of body work here and there..even lead work. I HATE doing bodywork,and the funds aren't so good,so I'm just going after a color change without it LOOKING too "pretty".
In fact,all this talk of military type colors got me thinking...I camo'ed a Myers Manx once that looked great!