Proposed Color Scheme for my Wagon

Hey all... Ive been thinking about how I want to paint my wagon every since I bought it over 2 years ago.

Of course there are generally 2 schools of thought... stock/original or custom. I've decided to go custom. Just need to save a bit of money and do some prep work myself and I think Ill have a good result.. as I want to do it on a budget and have it still be 'cool'. I havent touched the body since I bought it and its totally rust free. Took it to a body shop today and they said since it doesnt need any body work...if I prep it and remove the trim Im looking at under $1000 to do it all (and nice).

So... here is the starting point. My 72 T&C. My main focus has been the mechanicals...now Im ready to starting thinking paint...leaving the interior until last.



So.. this is my idea... think Mad-Max beyond Thunderdome... the movie.

Entire body would be Olive Drab Satin paint...nothing shiny and special...something durable and down-right MEAN looking.

ALL of the chrome trim around the windows etc including the bumpers would be Satin or Flat Black... basically a 2 color monochrome style theme...very military..very wicked almost rat-rod looking.

Interior would stay Black... tint the windows.
Wheels would stay stock with Olive Drab baby moons to match...

The finished product would resemble this 'theme'...but NO CHROME and Half moons on the wheels...not full moons.



I know those of you who like 'original' might poo-poo the idea... I just think it would look like a bad-azz battle wagon my way. I can appreciate both sides.

So... tell me what you think? Ive been kicking it around for 2 years now and im pretty sold on the idea finally.

 

Well, it's your wagon so what you like is all that really matters

May I sugest getting a fresh pic (day lite) and having it photo shoped before you jump into the land of no return. You may love it even more or you may not.

 

Satin, eh? Well, gas mileage would normally be affected on a smaller wagon, but not those 440's.

I think that would look mean with the mean-green and black trim too.

Obviously the vinyl goes, so she'd certainly look smoother and longer. Can't beat the paint price, that's for sure.

Go to it!

You Arizona guys are lucky.

 

Good idea... for sure.

 

As stated it is your car and you can do what you think you will like the best. That said you are asking for opinions so I'll state mine. I used to think the rat rod/satin/flat look was cool. Then I really started looking at some of those cars and realized a lot of them were wearing that paint for a reason. Now I think it just makes the car look crappy and unfinished whether it really is or not. Like you are trying to cover something up. Clearly the body is in good shape with no rust. So why cover it up? That's also a lot of nice looking chrome to have to paint over as well. I'm honestly not a huge fan of that body style, but that color combo you have going there with the wood and the black steelies works for me. I'm even 50/50 on dog dishes and I am a huge proponent of dog dishes.

What color is it below the wood grain? It looks like it is black, but it's hard to tell.

Anyway, color/paint fads come and go, but it seems like factory paint schemes almost always look good.

 

This is a good point.

It is your car, do what makes you happy. If I had to do something custom on it, I'd look at what the custom trends were in the era. Or maybe modifying some of the Mopar muscle graphics to fit your wagon

 

"What color is it below the wood grain? It looks like it is black, but it's hard to tell"

There isnt any woodgrain on it anymore.. the car is in black primer (rattle can) from the belt-line down to the bottom...I really like that look too, just ready for something different.

As far as MOPAR graphics... I am giving that some thought too. I thought about adding the dual scoops to the hood from a Superbee...painting the hood black and the rest of the car would be off white with a black strobe down the side and over the D-pillar in the rear.. kind of like an R/T.

 

Here goes.. my 2c worth....leave the woodgrain off. My color choice would be a Cadillac Firemist charcoal gray (lots of metallic). Mopar cop rims with dogdishes (with or without trim rings). You could paint the trim body color or leave it shiny. Use single stage urethane or acrylic enamel topped with clear urethane. Stay away from base/clear. I think the dull, flat finish would get old really fast. Just keep us posted on the progress whatever you decide.

 

I'm kinda liking your idea, LargeBarge. Normally I prefer wagons looking mostly stock, but IMO, your year of T&C looks pretty 'Large and in Charge' already, so why not go all the way. i do have a couple of suggestions:
1) It sounds like you're deleting the wood. If so, I'd suggest also eliminating the upper molding at the edge of the wood, so there's more of a 'fuselage' effect for the side.
2) I think a (simulated) gun turret on the roof would look real good.......

 

I thought I would just add a few more pics that I took today... for giggles. The original photo I took was at night..and when it was in full black primer. Since then..ive sanded some of the primer off the worn wood trim to give it more of an aged look. Plus these pics have my baby moon caps.





Still kicking around paint themes...

 

IMO this is why you should not do the flat black paint scheme. Warranted or not, people will assimilate your car with this thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3gVZu82HWE

Thank you to Cermo for posting this in another forum

 

Go with the olive drab but keep the majority of the chrome. Btw, there is rattle can flat black and there is real satin black. Big difference!

 

I grew up in a '59 black country squire, so I'm kinda partial, but since the body's so nice, did you ever think of just making it an outstanding stocker?
Forget the green, since you've a black interior, you can go with anything!!
And the woodgrain can be replaced with contact paper, if necessary - who cares if it's original woodgrain?
IMO - anything but a Cop Magnet!!
$1000 seems VERY cheap for paint, as good materials should cost more than 1/2 that - what type is he planning to use?
Does that include the 5 door jambs if you change color?
My [and probably your] Daddy always said; "Do it right, or don't do it at all!!"

 

that wagon made me throw up a lil bit in my mouth...........

 

ive kicked around a lot of ideas... stocker, rat-rod look, 2-tone, solid etc..
Ive just always like the 'battle-wagon' look if you can call it that..not a cop magnet but certainly something that looks bad-azz while still being functional.

The paint work would just be to wet sand the body with 400 (no body work necessary) and paint it with a satin or colored primer of some sort. NO door jams... I can easily do those myself if needed. Not interested in a show car by any means..so 1k should be more than enough to do a great job (for the look I want) as most of it will be labor.

I like the idea of having a car that states... I am 'used' and I can be 'touched'..etc.

I once saw an episode on Muscle Car TV where they did an old 50's truck with what they called a faux-tina. That look a vehicle gets by sitting in the sun for about 40 years...but done in about a day. They used a roller, brushes and a few different colors and then sanded thru to thier liking for that multi-colored/aged look. I really like that look.

IDK - dont have the money right now anyway.. so its just sitting around as is - getting better with age.