Re: [CR]1970's bike paints

(Example: Production Builders:Teledyne)

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:20:43 -0700
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: Scott Sweeney <goscotty@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]1970's bike paints
References: <BAY4-DAV151otwBP8xi00006530@hotmail.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Scott,

There are ways to get reasonably close to the finish of say, a 1971 Masi, using modern paints. Nothing we have now is exactly like what was used in Italy back then. With modern materials, grain structure, basecoat, and clearcoat all combine to give a thin appearing finish. Your Masi DOES have clear over the paint and decals. Much of it has oxidized by now and it may even have worn off the decals. At that point the decal ink is exposed and will deteriorate much more quickly than the paint. If one does not "Bury" the decals in clear, a finish simular to an old Masi can be obtained. It's mostly in the "touch" of the painter and proper materials. The gloss of Imron is easily dulled to an acceptable level to look close to an old finish if it were just painted. There are several methods that work for this. It will look as close as you can get, and it will last for a REALLY long time. Properly applied, a finish like this is very durable on account of how thin it is.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
>
> Do the bike paints from the 1970's still exist? Were they made of special laquers etc. that today are now outlawed? My 1971 Masi has original paint which is very thin and not particularly glossy, much like the thin paint I have on my French 1972 Gitane Tour de France. It seems the bikes that are repainted today have a much thicker glossier finish with multiple layers of clear coat. I don't think my Masi or Gitane has a clear coat.
>
> I want a finish where you cannot tell the bike was repainted. How do you specify such a paint job? I have 2 other bikes that presently need to be repainted both from the mid 1970's.
>
> Scott Sweeney
> Salinas, CA