Metallic Paint?

[Brian Crump]

When was metallic paint first offered on cars?
By whom?
Was it originally only silver that was available?
Just curious.
Regards,
BC

[Brian Crump]

22 views and nobody knows the answer? Huh? I can't believe that.
Michel - maybe you know?
Regards,
BC

[116Benz]

I'll take a stab and say Rolls Royce Silver Ghost?

[oscar]

BC, I have two Gregory's body and paint manuals that talk about the use of mica flakes or powder in paint and when they came in to being but whether it refers to the Aussie market or not I'm not sure plus the books are AWOL in my shed somewhere.  So no answer from me - yet.

[Brian Crump]

Before the mica flakes aluminium powder was used to make silver paint but I can't for the life of me find out when. At one stage Honda used shellfish flakes but they were not successful - chips were optional. 
Regards,
BC

[Des]

All I could find on the net

http://www.protectall.com/artpaints.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-75561.html


earliest car I can think of that came out with metallic paint was the HK Holden, 1968, surely Australian wasn't setting market "firsts" so maybe a few years before in America or Europe.

[Michel]

I recall the 1956 Chevrolet (in the US) had an optional colour that was metallic.
I will make a few phone calls today (senior paint executives) and see if i can get some answer.

[Brian Crump]

Thank you gentlemen. I had thought the finding out would be easy but most of my web searches drew a blank..
Regards,
BC

[OzBenzHead]

[...] earliest car I can think of that came out with metallic paint was the HK Holden, 1968, surely Australian wasn't setting market "firsts" so maybe a few years before in America or Europe.

The HD Holden Premier came in a metallic blue and metallic 'mushroom' - 1965.

[WGB]

I have the original paint charts for USA Fords and light metallic blue was a special option colour in the late 1930's.

I will check the chart but I think Ford started to offer it as a "special order" option about 1938.

Prior to 1930 a lot of car finishing was still hand rubbed lacquer using a "rubber" as is used in traditional shellac French Polishing - this would not have been compatible with metallic finishes.

I think Henry only started spraying his cars in 1927 when they brought out the "New Beauty" Ford T - the only year any colour other than black was optional on USA T's - but I will check my history books when I have time.

Bill

[Des]

I was thinking about this today, then dawned on me, the gullwing, 300SL

[Brian Crump]

Mercedes-Benz race cars in the 30s were all silver because they were polished aluminium - later painted white and now again silver......
Regards,
BC

[Des]

yes that's correct Brian, they were over the weight limit by 1kg for the, I believe 1935 race season, so the team manager ordered them to sand the paint off the cars to reduce the weight.
And the legend of the silver arrows was born,


However the gullwing is painted, not polished alloy.

[Brian Crump]

However the gullwing is painted, not polished alloy.

Oh well, Des - no Gullwing for me then!!!!
Regards,
BC

[116Benz]

Not that knowledge'd on Rolls Royces, was the original Silver Ghost painted or polished?