To Rat Rod or to Paint?

[jmz]

So I've got this little '68 SWB 911 that I will be starting on assembly pretty soon. It will hopefully end up being a pretty fun little car. I've got lots of cool bits to install and make it a very fun sports purpose build.

I originally wanted to build a "rat rod" but it is stripped down to the bare tub and if I ever want to paint it, now would be the time. I'm still torn.

It will be receiving a detuned 2.8 twin plug race motor. 21/26 torsion bars with Rebel bushings, bilstein HD/Sport struts and shocks. Tre Motorsports vintage style roll bar with an early luggage deposit in the back seat, vintage scheel buckets and a few other cool bits. It should be a handful and a ton of fun.

Below are a few pics to enlist a few opinions and comments. To Rat Rod or Not?

[tmaull]

I LOVE the rat rod look. But I'd still paint it. Now's the time.

[dicklague]

paint it.

[Jonny042]

Rat Rod it while you enjoy it, work out the bugs, drive it, add rock chips, etc. then in a few years when you've gotten to know the car, blow it apart and paint it.

So. .... do both, in that order!

[ADDvanced]

Rat.

Why?

Because having nice paint SUCKS. It adds a ton of stress to everything about the car. Would much rather have a perfect stance, amazing mechanicals, and horrible paint so I don't have to worry about it. No worrying about parking under trees, no worrying about passing someone and rock chips, no STRESS. Plus you can always paint it later. Maybe paint the engine bay and interior but just leave it, IMHO.

[racer]

Paint.

[ryans65]

shiny paint sucks, put it together safely and drive the **** out of it

[darrin]

seems there's already some rust on there that isn't going to stop spreading unless addressed/fixed. Perhaps focus on eliminating all rust and then determine whether you can live with the unpainted result?

[jmz]

The comments pretty much express my thoughts... a little of this and a little of that.

All structural rust which there wasn't much of has been addressed. Any surface rust seen in the above pics will be treated and the car will be protected against further corrosion should I choose
to go rat rod.

The car is on the frame bench getting checked over and will be perfectly straight when it is time to assemble it so it will be right.

The general idea has been to build a rat and work through the details and should I decide to paint it at a later date.

I've even thought about doing some distressed air brushing on it perhaps making it look like a tired sun baked old race car or some other form of an "art car"

I've had all kinds of ideas of things to do with it.

Anyway I go it will be a driver first and I suspect a pretty quick and agile one at that.

...also, this is my first SWB so if I don't like it I can always sell it the guy that wants to paint it I guess but I think I'll end up liking it.

Feel free to offer up any suggestions.

Cheers,
Jay

[Bill Douglas]

Paint. Should you want to sell it at some time it will be worth a lot more.

If you want that rat rod look, just don't wash it for a while. Hell, leaving it outside my place will give it that look in no time

[ADDvanced]

I had ****ty black paint, it was crazing in some areas, and on the other side, someone buffed through the black into the primer on the fender, door, and quarter panel.

I just ran with it. Sanded the car with 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, then buffed the hell out of it to make it shiny. I get compliments all the time on it, it cost me nothing, and if it gets more beat up, I just buff it more.

I also added a JPS livery in vinyl to add a bit of spice.

[Jim Richards]

Jay, I recommend you paint it. Either the original color, or an interesting color that was available for the early cars. Perhaps Ossi Blue or Bahama Yellow.

[blucille]

I'm a patina hunter, I like my car pretty but showing the miles we have enjoyed.

BUT.....it sure seems to me, you've gone to the point that painting it now would be easy. If a year after sorting the car you decide to paint it, you will strip all the bits back off, and paint.

Do it now....if you want it to stay pretty, liberally apply a clear wrap/bra in the vulnerable areas. Whatever the case, paint it.

You'll have far more fun creating the patina, and having the stories that go along with it, over years and miles.

[Cook&Dunning]

Rat. The only paint you see from the drivers seat is the top of the fenders. Keep the AR torque thrusts (on the front at least) Sounds like & looks like it will never be a numbers matching all original "survivor", which to me means: Do what you want.

As someone on this forum once said - It's a car, not a Picasso

[RWebb]

Brush & Roller

[jpnovak]

Finish the underside and get the car mechanically sound. Bolt on the bumpers and drive it. Paint it later.

[AG81]

Paint sucks..... while I do love a great paint job I hate the time and cost. If this were my car I would make it mechanically perfect. Stellar motor, amazing suspension.... do a great interior and engine bay detail. Killer stance and mechanical's are, to me, where it's at.

[75 911s]

Originally Posted by Jonny042

Rat Rod it while you enjoy it, work out the bugs, drive it, add rock chips, etc. then in a few years when you've gotten to know the car, blow it apart and paint it.

So. .... do both, in that order!

I 100% agree with this sound, smart logic.

[jpnovak]

Remember, it's not just the paint on the car. It's all the new trim, seals, light lenses, etc so that your patina parts match shiny paint.

[jmz]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

Remember, it's not just the paint on the car. It's all the new trim, seals, light lenses, etc so that your patina parts match shiny paint.

You make a very good point.