'68 Barracuda Formula S Fastback Restoration Background
Part Four--Restoration Paint and Assembly
Cars Remember When uses PPG DPLV Epoxy Primer which Scott described as a harder primer than the typical automotive primer. It is more difficult to sand but results in a more stable and harder surface for paint. The body work went smoothly as the doors and fenders were in excellent condition, and the new sheetmetal was in place. There were a few metal adjustments made to fit the trunk to the rear quarter panel in the drivers side, both other than that, all went well. The car was primed and ready for final sanding and paint.
Figure 17 The Barracuda Body after initial priming.
Figure 18 Final priming before blocking for paint.
Figure 19 In the paint booth just after final coat of black. Passenger Side
Figure 20 In the paint booth just before final coat of black, Drivers Side.
As the car was a solid color, it could be panel painted which is how they proceeded. Each panel was separately painted so that all sides were well coated.
Figure 21 Hood, fenders and doors after painting.
Although the underside of the car was rust free, I had them undercoat the car with what is essentially bed liner material.
The car was then assembled with the next step being Cut and Buff. I didn’t expect this to be done as I was planning on the car being a driver, so a perfect paint job was not required. But once I saw how perfect the paint looked, it was hard to complain that they went one step further than I asked for.
Figure 22 Final paint after Cut and Buff during assembly.
Part Four--Restoration Paint and Assembly
Restoration Paint and Assembly
Painting and assembly of the car after the metal work was completed was a daunting challenge. The car had to be essentially perfect for a black paint job or it wouldn’t look right at all. I visited a number of shops in the Denver area and most were working on rods or Chevies. None gave me a warm feeling that they knew Mopars and cared sufficiently enough to do the kind of work I wanted done on my car. My going in position was to have a straight body and nice paint but that the car would be a driver and not a show queen. I had known about Cars, Remember When as I visited their showroom on Santa Fe in Englewood, CO. I didn’t know they had a restoration shop until I searched for local businesses that could do the work I needed done. I met with Scott Morton, the shop manager of the CRW Restoration Center on Datura in Littleton, CO and was immediately impressed with the business and the people. Scott is a Mopar fanatic like me having owned a number of E-bodies in his time including an AAR and 440+6. Scott took on the project and managed every step along the way.Cars Remember When uses PPG DPLV Epoxy Primer which Scott described as a harder primer than the typical automotive primer. It is more difficult to sand but results in a more stable and harder surface for paint. The body work went smoothly as the doors and fenders were in excellent condition, and the new sheetmetal was in place. There were a few metal adjustments made to fit the trunk to the rear quarter panel in the drivers side, both other than that, all went well. The car was primed and ready for final sanding and paint.
Figure 17 The Barracuda Body after initial priming.
Figure 18 Final priming before blocking for paint.
Figure 19 In the paint booth just after final coat of black. Passenger Side
Figure 20 In the paint booth just before final coat of black, Drivers Side.
As the car was a solid color, it could be panel painted which is how they proceeded. Each panel was separately painted so that all sides were well coated.
Figure 21 Hood, fenders and doors after painting.
Although the underside of the car was rust free, I had them undercoat the car with what is essentially bed liner material.
The car was then assembled with the next step being Cut and Buff. I didn’t expect this to be done as I was planning on the car being a driver, so a perfect paint job was not required. But once I saw how perfect the paint looked, it was hard to complain that they went one step further than I asked for.
Figure 22 Final paint after Cut and Buff during assembly.
