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Hot Rods What year was metalflake first seen?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by rockabillybassman, Jun 15, 2014.

  1. I'd like to know when metalflake first started appearing on hot rods. I imagine customs would have used it first, but I'd like like to know when hot rods first showed up with it. Thanks.
     
  2. Cymro
    Joined: Jul 1, 2008
    Posts: 755

    Cymro
    Member

    Apparently flake was first used on drum kits, not much help but another avenue to explore, tom Woolfes.The Kandy Kolored Streamline Flake Baby was published in 65 and is a collection of older articles this may give you something to work from.
     
  3. Dad's dodge bucket was painted in apricot flake back in 67-68, I'm guessing it was probably one of the first cars here in NZ to use metal flake but I could be wrong??


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  4. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Introduced in 1960 or early 61 by a company called Dorman or Dolman. There was an article in Hot Rod or Car Craft, they had a well know customizer paint 2 cars, a brand new Chrysler and a 1950 Buick to demonstrate how it worked and how it looked. It was first seen on show cars in 1961 and of course, on the street as well.

    A 32 Ford roadster was one of the first metalflake jobs in 1961. The owner kept it nice for many years, every few years as the clear yellowed and faded he would sand it down and reclear. For all I know the car may still be around, still wearing its 1961 metalflake paint job.
     

  5. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Considering how popular it is as a retro paint job, it barely makes the HAMB cutoff. Funny how some things that were rarely seen on a '64 or older car become acceptable as the norm today.
     
  6. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Here is the Hot Rod cover that introduced metalflake paint, February 1961.

    http://stblogs.hotrod.com/files/2012/01/HR-196102-623x818.jpg

    In the article they painted 2 cars, so the paint must have been available in late 1960 to get into a Feb magazine, but was not well known.

    There was a lot of advertising and publicity in 1961, and it was seen on a lot of show cars as well as on the street.
     
  7. I read somewhere that Dick Scritchfields deuce roadster was the first to be painted in metal flake but what year that was I have no idea but to hazard a guess probably in the early 60's.
     
  8. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    You are right about metalflake first being seen on customs but hot rodders used it too. There was a 32 Ford roadster painted with metalflake in 1960 that the owner preserved for many years. Every few years as the clear faded and yellowed, he would sand it down and reclear.

    Later................^ I think this was the Scritchfield roadster
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2014
  9. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    The first car I remember in Charlotte was Tony Young's Candy Apple Red metalflake '55 Chevy hardtop painted by Hudson Brothers Paint and Body in Charlotte in 1961 or 1962. I talked with Tony and the Hudson brothers about that revolutionary paint job at a show about 20 years ago. Charles Hudson commented it was risky to take on a project that they had never seen before.
    That car is remembered today as a game changer and was the first of numerous custom paint jobs performed by the Hudson Brothers over the next 3 decades.
    Tony went on to become a legendary custom painter and car restorer who is still at it. He repainted his '55 Chevy in Red Metalflake himself years later and still has that car.
     

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