If you haven’t read any of the other pages on my ’53 Chevy website, you wouldn’t know that this car hasn’t had shiny paint since late 2000. That’s when I started stripping her down to do the custom work. Before that she was seafoam green and white, not factory colors for that year but very 1950’s looking. She was originally painted that color combo in 1991. By 2000 the paint was peeling and rust was popping through (products of Jersey Shore salt air and no garage).

Fast forward to January 2020. That’s when I started prepping her for the new paint job. You can read all about that journey here. And even though she still isn’t finished and isn’t perfect, she’s got a mirror shine now that rivals any multi-thousand dollar paint job…and I did it all myself, from bodywork to final detailing.

So now, as far as the body goes, I get to enjoy this beautiful, shiny car, and just have to do a light cleaner-wax coat now and then. Eventually, when the body, top, and interior are all truly done, I’ll strip off the wax and do a ceramic coat. But for now…just happy that she shines!