May Repaint my '95 F355 | Page 2 | FerrariChat

May Repaint my '95 F355

Discussion in '348/355' started by Robb, May 19, 2017.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,629
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    Robb,

    It's one thing to do a repaint, another to properly do a color change. I sure I don't have to tell you that. Be patient and wait for the right car. Took me 4 years, but I found what I wanted in the condition I wanted at the price I wanted.
     
  2. BRADAN

    BRADAN Two Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 29, 2009
    22,661
    West Babylon, NY
    Full Name:
    BRADAN
    We have done 19 color changes so far on F355s, most guys go with a retro color not offered originally during production. The cool thing is Ferrari is offering most of those colors on new cars so you have a chance of seeing them in person now. I would narrow it down to 3-5 colors and have your shop spray samples to pick from. Once you find 1 color you love have a body panel sprayed in that color and carry it around with you for the day to compare in different lighting.

    It's a good idea to do it during a major service as you mentioned. With the engine out of the car you avoid the mess from removing paint getting in the engine bay and can pull out the radiators/scoops to paint inside the door jams.

    Try to paint strip the flat panels to avoid warping them and sand blast all the edges and hard to reach places. Glasurit zinc chromite primer is an awesome base to start with if your going down to bare metal which I recommend. F355s tend to hide rust in the 1/4 panel seams and under the door jams. Also take advantage of the bare metal and weld the 1/4 panel seams to avoid flex cracking in the future.

    If you guys have any body questions feel free to email me at [email protected] I can try to save your shop some headaches.
     
  3. Kevallino

    Kevallino Formula 3

    Feb 10, 2004
    2,257
    Mid-Ohio
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #28 Kevallino, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Blu sera is metallic - my car is blu sera metallica FER 504/C. So badass they even called it "Metallica"... :p

    That said it can have a purple cast to it so if you don't care for that this may not be your color.

    K
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  4. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie

    Mar 17, 2006
    4,675
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Brian White
    Not anymore! :)
     
  5. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie

    Mar 17, 2006
    4,675
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Brian White
    #30 bjwhite, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. Mmckee

    Mmckee Formula 3
    BANNED Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2016
    2,339
    Alta Loma, Ca
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #31 Mmckee, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  7. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    Since you asked for opinions I'll throw mine out there-- unless you just *have* to have a color not available on 355s I'd suggest buying another car. It's much easier to sort a car mechanically than it is to get one painted correctly, especially when a color change is involved. The car will not be original anymore, and it won't be the same after having been taken apart to that level unless the work is done by true concour$ re$toration $peciali$t$.

    I'm not a fan of color-changed cars because they're almost never truly right. If you do decide on a color change I'd vote for darker blue over lighter blue, especially in bright sun. Also, while I used to really dislike black interiors (thought they were too gloomy) I appreciate them a lot more now that I own one. I'd prefer Cuoio with a darker blue though.
     
  8. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2008
    1,967
    Northeast U.S.
    Full Name:
    Jim
    That was ASK's(Andrew,s) car. I think that is a beautiful blue on that car. Robb, black is a neutral color, so most colors will work with it, which is why I like it. If I was going to change the color and was limiting myself to just colors offered by Ferrari, this would be it. However if it wasn't marque limited, other brands offer some very nice choices. I would be glad to help.

    I agree with Jim on the color, but I don't care for the tobacco interior.
     
  9. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    I agree with a good portion of this with some exceptions:

    If Robb is not concerned about resale or the investment (which won't be sort money), the benefits are great. 355's don't have thick paint. Whatever blue car he finds is likely to have rock chips, micro scratches, etc. Fresh paint will resolve those issues and if done properly, will afford a few good corrections.

    I never set out to paint my project car and I do have great concerns but I've gone so far, it's just a bit foolish to not go the rest of the way in the restoration.
     
  10. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,629
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #35 johnk..., May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    Fair enough, but I'd rather buy a car in the color I wanted and repaint it than to do a color change, even if I had to do some mechanical sorting as well. Now, if he wants a color that's extremely rare or unavailable on 355s that's another story.

    I don't mind resprays if they're done well but not a fan of color-changed cars in most cases. The newer the car, the more difficult it is to do a proper color change and the 355 is new enough that a truly righteous color change is extremely labor intensive. It'd be a different story if we were talking about a 246 Dino, for example.
     
  12. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    Robb is talking about a bare metal respray so a color change is a moot point.....
     
  13. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,469
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    :D
     
  14. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    Perhaps it is to most people but it's not moot to me. Look at the pics of the most recent car Bradan is doing-- they did not fully strip the inner door panels, etc. I suspect there are other areas not shown in the pics that weren't fully stripped as well. That kind of stuff bugs me because sooner or later I'll see it if I keep the car long enough since I do my own work.

    But even if you don't consider that to be a big deal the level of disassembly required is still a factor. I seriously doubt most people will put the car back together again as well as it came from the factory. There are certainly people out there who can do so, but they're few and far between and they charge accordingly.

    If you respray a car that's already the color you want going to bare metal may not be necessary, or even advisable, and it certainly wouldn't require the level of disassembly needed for a decent color change.

    I can see doing it on a tatty car that needs a lot of work anyway but I can't imagine taking a nice car that far apart for no other reason than just to change colors. Heck, the 355 looks good in most colors so speaking for myself it'd be easier to learn to love the color I bought than it would to deal with the issues presented by a color change. I suspect it'd be easier for me to find someone with a nice example in the color I wanted and swap with them than it would be for me to be satisfied with a color changed car.

    That's just me-- Robb asked for opinions so I thought I'd offer mine. The best decisions come from considering a full spectrum of advice. :)
     
  15. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,562
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    You got my touch up color LOL
     
  16. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    13,875
    Full Name:
    Robb
    Great shot. Love the brush.

    Looking forward to seeing you in late June.

    Robb


     
  17. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    13,875
    Full Name:
    Robb
    I appreciate everyone's opinions on color combo's.

    It will be a fun year for sure. We'll see where the rabbit hole goes.

    But in the meantime. Keep the color combo's coming.

    Robb
     
  18. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    I would personally not paint a Ferrari or any car I'm restoring without doing the jambs, etc. So, doing a color change is the same amount of work. Unless of course you would be bothered by the different colored over spray when removing the dash or door panels :D
     
  19. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    13,875
    Full Name:
    Robb
    #44 Robb, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Bottom line though, there just aren't that many blue berlinetta's or gts in America. I see many blue spiders.

    Narrow that to a '95 and you will be waiting a long time if ever. So that is the premise of the thread. Repaint may be the only way to get it all...

    Sticking on topic, here is a car that used to be in Texas. I think it is lemans blue over crema / b,ack. Very nice.

    Have no idea where it is now.

    Robb
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  20. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    13,875
    Full Name:
    Robb
    #45 Robb, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,469
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    That's perfection.
     
  22. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,487
    Lake Villa IL
  23. tres55

    tres55 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2012
    3,480
    Canada
  24. tres55

    tres55 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2012
    3,480
    Canada
    #50 tres55, May 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

Share This Page