Wrap or paint?

[t-topflyer]

I have a black 1987 with mostly original black lacquer. It's pretty well known that the original paint jobs are not the greatest quality. However one of these with original paint is often more valuable. So I got to thinking with advances in vinyl protective film about maybe doing a gloss black wrap. I wanted to see what thoughts everyone had about wrapping vs painting an original paint car to make it look better and fresh without removing or messing with the original paint and possibly protecting it with film or is it a bad idea?

 

[Turbo6inKY]

A wrap is only as good as the shop that does it. Just like a paint job.

But they can work in a pinch, and they're cheaper than paint, but still not free. To do it right, they have to strip all the emblems and will have to take the nose and tail apart to get the vinyl around the seams, and thoroughly clean the paint. Any dents or dings will also likely show through the wrap, too.

They won't last like well-cared for paint. It's vinyl. If you get gloss, it'll scratch/swirl really easily. Sun will also fade it. But if you're just trying to get by for a few years, or you want to test out a goofy color without making it permanent, you really can't beat a wrap.

The longer the wrap is on the car, the harder it is to remove.

 

[t-topflyer]

A wrap is only as good as the shop that does it. Just like a paint job.

But they can work in a pinch, and they're cheaper than paint, but still not free. To do it right, they have to strip all the emblems and will have to take the nose and tail apart to get the vinyl around the seams, and thoroughly clean the paint. Any dents or dings will also likely show through the wrap, too.

They won't last like well-cared for paint. It's vinyl. If you get gloss, it'll scratch/swirl really easily. Sun will also fade it. But if you're just trying to get by for a few years, or you want to test out a goofy color without making it permanent, you really can't beat a wrap.

The longer the wrap is on the car, the harder it is to remove.

Great info. Car will be garage kept, covered and rarely outside. Lacquer out gasses so is it a bad idea to wrap it? Anyone ever wrap a car with lacquer paint? If so what were the results. Will it be ok? Would it pull the paint off when the film is removed? Quotes are ranging from $1600-$5000 with most in the middle around $3500.

 

[Royal-T-Ltd]

You could always have someone install a Paint Protection Film... XPel Ultimate is a self-healing film with a clear coat... You can still wax it. If it gets scratched you can warm it up and the scratches disappear. Its thick, its porous - so gases can escape. It allows UV light through, just in case everything is not covered - the paint will "fade" at the same rate if it were left out in the sun. So as to not leave mitch-match panel colors. Its removable and the paint under it remains intact and as good as it was when applied.
AGAIN- INSTALLER is EVERYTHING!

-aaron

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Great info. Car will be garage kept, covered and rarely outside. Lacquer out gasses so is it a bad idea to wrap it? Anyone ever wrap a car with lacquer paint? If so what were the results. Will it be ok? Would it pull the paint off when the film is removed? Quotes are ranging from $1600-$5000 with most in the middle around $3500.

That lacquer is done outgassing by now.

Will it pull the paint? OE GM? No. It won't. If you've resprayed parts, those might get pulled off. That depends on prep. A good detail job before the the wrap will get a good coat of wax down on the paint, and you likely won't have any problems with the vinyl damaging paint when removed.

As for results. That's up to you. Good thing about vinyl is if you don't like it, they can just do it over again. If the dislike is localized, they can just re-wrap the panel. No blending needed.

 

[ITSAV6]

http://www.autoflexcoatings.com/

 

[ITSAV6]