Matching faded paint

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Matching faded paint

Postby keithlard » Tue 14.09.2010, 22:32

There are one or two tiny scratches and stone chips (well, they look massive to me, but I'm sure all Elan owners suffer from Scratch Magnification Syndrome) on the car which I've attempted to fix using a touch-up paint from Bell & Colvill. The colour (BRG) is no doubt a match for the original car, but looks much too dark on mine.

I'm wondering if there's a way to lighten this paint, short of waiting 20 years! Could I just add a dab of white paint to it, and if so would it have to be special automotive paint, or would a tin of enamel from the Airfix shop work?

Or could I just take the car to a paint shop and ask them to match it? Would it cost an awful lot of money for a tiny pot of paint?
1991 200Tdi Defender 90
1991 Lotus Elan SE
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Re: Matching faded paint

Postby Nickydee » Wed 15.09.2010, 09:08

Keith

You could try https://www.paints4u.com/

I dropped something on my spoiler in my garage causing considerable and very visible damage. Everybody told me that it would be impossible to blend in the paint for repair and to get satisfactory result I would have to get the whole panel repainted professionally.

I brought order a kit from these guys including some calypso red off the shelf and its a perfect match. Previously had some made up at Halfauds before someone recommend me to these guys and its was pants.


Using this company's products and instructions I have managed with a bit of time and effort but no skill to get a very good finish.

They also do a paint matching service if you send them a sample for example the fuel filler cover.
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Re: Matching faded paint

Postby Ade » Wed 15.09.2010, 13:41

Hi

I use a local paint shop. I take my car there and they tweek the original paint code to match the colour now. You can then buy the paint in ltrs or they will make up a spray can at £10 a can. My car is white so you will understand how difficult that is to match. Perhaps there is a paint supplier by you you can use. Find a small paint supplier as they are more likely to be most helpful. The one I use is Auto Paint supplies Telford.

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