Azzurro Metallizzato - single stage or base coat/clear coat?

[JohnnyRay]

A good portion of my 330GT is original paint that is completely worn through in spots, thus I am having a respray done in the original color of Azzurro Metallizzato. I posed the question to my painter if we should consider using a single-stage finish vs the base/clear that is so often applied these days. I believe single-stage is a truer look to the original finish. He said that his color system allows a single-stage mix, but that it limits how much buffing can be done after the fact if there are imperfections. A mottled appearance could be the result due to the fact that it is a metallic finish. As this is a sympathetic recoat vs a 98-point restoration, what are your thoughts or suggestions on which path to pursue?

[Davewathen@msn.com]

My general opinion is that the modern clear coats are so tough that they make it “easier” to drive our collector cars. My Daytona and my Series one Etype are both black with clear coat - Lori and I were driving home from an event inn the Etype and a garbage truck up ahead flipped up a tennis ball size rock that despite my attempt to dodge it, skipped across the hood and broke the windshield. I was actually able to buff out the clear coat. Our Vignale Spyder is Maserati’s version of Azzurro and the clear coat on it survived a plastic barrel rolling in to it.

I think most people expect paint finishes nowadays that are better than factory finishes ever were. Sanded and buffed clear can look mighty good, and save you some grief in “normal” traffic. Dave

[tyang]

Although some people accuse me of being a purist, I feel some modern advances are worth considering. Two stage base/clear is worth the durability and difference in look. The clear coat layer offers a level of protection not only in durability, but also from UV allowing it to last longer. Once it is flattened, it does not need to be polished to the super gloss look they do with some cars. Some painters also apply a lot of layers of clear to allow for that "wet" look, but it's all up to you. The skills of painters have also diminished in their ability to spray a single stage without a lot of orange peel because the paint layers are sanded smooth after application of base/clear. I think the lighter colors don't look as different with base/clear as the darker colors because they reflect light differently. That light blue will look great in base/clear. Now, getting someone who can lay metallic well, that's a whole other issue...

Good luck.

Tom

[JohnnyRay]

I believe the answer is"clear"...

[JohnnyRay]

I was told that Italver actually was a base coat/clear coat system when originally applied to these cars, so the decision becomes moot at this point. We will be using an AkzoNobel base/clear from the shop's existing paint system.