Out of the paint!
05/07/2026
What is the worst thing about working on old cars? There are, of course, various aspects that don't seem particularly enjoyable at first, such as when an oil line has burst, for example to the oil cooler. The gunk in the engine compartment and under the car is not something you're going to enjoy fixing. Just wiping the stuff out of all the cracks.
But I have a very special relationship with the paintwork. I've never really got to grips with it. Either I don't have the patience for the preparatory work, which leaves visible sanding marks, or despite the greatest care, a tear still runs, or a speck of dust settles in the middle of the smooth surface at the last moment. We simply never become friends. And it may also be because you rarely achieve a good result by doing it yourself. Even a professional can't always apply a flawless coat of paint straight away. So how am I as a layman, in my modest circumstances, supposed to achieve a reasonably successful paint job?
Well, I do try from time to time. However, my efforts are not limited to valuable parts that are worthy of note, but rather to "utility paint". For example, I replaced a hubcap that was torn off my rim on the Italian highway after an evasive maneuver in front of a pothole. I also took the opportunity to repaint a couple of original Swiss Army rear-view mirrors so that they now fit on the VW T1. For once, the result seemed to be quite acceptable. But what is the saying? Even a blind hen sometimes finds a grain of corn.
