I like ugly

[30ccpickup]

I like ugly. If my wife was to describe my Model A coupe she would say “It was ridden hard and put away wet”. I bought it with the intent of “drive it now and restore it later “, but the patina has grown on me. It appears to be painted in the late sixties/early seventies. The paint on the fenders is crackling, leaving some places down to bear metal. Has anyone out there found a way to preserve this look from further deterioration? Can I spray it with a clear satin or should I just keep it oiled and waxed? Note it is a daily driver and will see all seasonal elements at one time or another for at least the next five years.

[1931 flamingo]

I like "patina". I would just keep doing what you've been doing. JMO
Paul in CT

[joe plumber]

Beauty is only skin deep ,but ugly goes clear to the bone .

[Jordan]

My brother keeps asking if I want to repaint my fenders because they are kind of starting to chip and get the spider webs. But I would rather have ugly fenders than nice ones. I can sit on my fenders, I can play car games without fear. It's just easier. My car has always been the car where people don't have to worry about being nice & neat. It's always been the fun car.

[Brobrian]

Yeah, that's my style too. I look longingly at the nice shiney ones, but nothing I have stays that way for long. I like to be able to set a bottle of beer on the gas tank while I'm working on the carburetor if I want too, and sit on the fender without worrying about anything. But I truly do appreciate the work that has gone into a nice clean restoration.

[ronn]

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Just keep waxing and put your paint money away for another car....

[Randy in Illinois]

I like it! My coupe I had for over 35 years and the guy I got it from only did what was necessary to keep it on the road. It had a Nabraska inspection sticker from 1962 when I bought it. I've been doing the same, restore what is needed and drive it. I use rustolium and a small brush on chips.

[rossofozini]

Yeh my A was restored back in 1968 and is still in very good condition. The trick is replacing parts and not letting them look too new.
Love it like a new one.

[Bob-A]

My '31 roadster was repainted in the 50's along with new interior, top and motor block. Now she looks like she was just pulled from out of the barn and never had any work done on her. She is my "patina Queen" and will stay that way. Any restoration work will be for mechanical/safety reasons only and spray bombs will supply the paint.


Bob-A

[1crosscut]

I like to use Johnsons paste wax.
Dave

[Marcus]

30CCPICKUP: I think you are on the right track - Clyde, my all-original (but VERY much full of character) '29 CCPU gets a rub-down every six months or so with nothing more than WD40. Other than that, he gets nothing (lives in a garage, if that makes any difference to you). I will NEVER restore him, mechanicals only, and only when required. I can park him between two high-dollar cars at a show, and the crowd will walk right past the others to look at Clyde.........

[dustyp489]

On the show FAST n Loud they spraied clear over the 1950 car they were doing

[1928Pickuppain]

ya im the same way my truck looks beat and used becouse it is i use it as my daily driver and work truck, over the forth weeked i was driving up route 16 about 50 mph to my lake house about a 125 mile ride when this ass whole big rig cut me off at like 70 and spit a foot long 2x4 into my radiator. She was leaking bad (obvously) but i had to continuew driving the last 45 miles up to the lake house i realy didnt have an option took me about 3 hours havig to take it slow and get water every 15 min but i got there left the 2x4 in the radaitor becouse i figured it would really leak worse if i pulled it out. well my big plan was to go to my first car show that weeked and just becouse i had a hunk of wood sticking out that wasnt stoping me. I drive it to the car show and every person there loved my beat up truck they all thought it was barn fresh origonal wicked funny cuz my paint job is only two years old. i ended up winning a 100$ gift certificut to some resteraunt wich was pretty cool.

[eagle]

Our A is a family car, like brobrian I too appreciate the beauty of a nice paint job but then I would be continually yelling at the kids to stay off. The other day I was at threshing show and kids were climbing on her, old guys were sitting on the running boards, and I was loving it all. Mine was painted in the 50's and looks Wonderful for 60 year old paint.

[fordman]

"enjoy as much of the original as you can, you can restore it later. you cannot put the original back in it." a quote from my 3 sons

fordman

[30ccpickup]

The 2x4 in the radiator is great! I am glad to see soo many like the weathered look. To take it a step farther. Someone posted “What is the best looking hood and/or radiator ornament” I hesitated to post, because I like the old, weathered ugly look of wings and a motometer. It just fits the Model A.

[glenn in camino]

If the whole car has patina, it's beautiful. One piece at a time, needs restoration.

[Bruce Adams]

I would be tempted to purchase a pint of flat black paint and a bunch of 1/2 inch bristle brushes and sneak it on the bare metal spots where, hopefully, it will not be as obvious as bright metal or rust.

[Brad in Germany]

Well loved Model A's are cool!

[28RPU]

Is it painted with lacquer? If so I think you can spray a lacquer thinner on it and it will all meld back together. But I am no painter so a pro could tell you if this is ignorant BS or not.