Paint Questions?????????????????????

Use a modern paint system. Durability and shine is greatly improved.

From the days of carriages until about 1923 cars were painted with what was basically varnish. Several coats were brushed on and then sanded smooth and polished. This was repeated until a satisfactory finish was achieved. This process often took 40 or 50 days. In 1923 a dentist invented a spray gun an paint companies had developed nitrocellulose laquer. Automakers jumped on th chance to paint a car in far less time. Laquer need to be wet sanded and polished and was prone to discoloration and cracking. In the 30s alkyd or synthetic enamel was developed and became the standard automotive finish. Before long paint companies had come up with acrylic laquer. Until the late 60s auto makers used either synthetic enamel or acrylic laquer. In the late 60s paint companies had discovered how to utilize the acrylics in enamel (acrylic enamel) which produced a better lasting product that shined at the completion of the paint application. In the 70s paint companies started developing various paints that hardened through chemical procedures instead of "air dry". These were the urethanes, polyurethanes and hardeners for acrylics. Since the initial development of those products there have been significant improvements in automotive paint. Single stage urethanes shine and are durable. Base coat clear coats make application of a nice smooth base and super shiny top coat easier and countless color additives such as pearls, candies, midcoates have made paint the most versatile it's ever been. The newest products are extremely low in emisions and even water based systems. Paint has come a long way from the old, brush it on and sand it smooth, days. Durability is greatly improved. (you couldn't spill gas on the old cars and expect the paint to remain unaffected)
So, don't even consider the acrylic enamel from the days of old (unless you are doing an EXACT 100% reproduction and insist that the sheet metal is covered with the inferior products of the time, in which case it won't be exposed to elements anyway. Use one of the modern urethane products or even the new waterborn systems. Far , far superior.