TR2/3/3A TR3A wheel paint

[Got_All_4]

Just ordered a set of Vredesteins for the Tr3 thanks for your guys help in this matter. I worked out a deal with the tire shop to dismount the tires and store the new ones until I can recondition the wheels.

My question is what would be the proper paint for the steel wheels? 1960 TR3A commission # TS67708.

I may start on a fleshing up project on the 3 soon. May be this year or next. I do want it correct. There is a 69 TR6 there too waiting it's first restoration and I'm a little torn. The 3 was purchased on 1976 and the frame off restoration was completed in 1983. Tired paint, dings and horrible engine compartment and I can't bare to look at it after what it was.

 

[angelfj1]

Earlier cars had wheels painted to match body color but yours would have been silver. I don't have the paint code handy, but the rattle cans available from Moss and Eastwood are very close. You may want to add a clear coat also.

 

[mrv8q]

MOSS and Eastwood have an "Argent Silver" that works well; I did mine 5 years ago, and it still looks nice. I second Frank's clear coat suggestion, as well....

 

[mallard]

I third the motion for the Eastwood paint and clear. I would wait at least a week after painting before you handle them. I used Eastwoods Detail Silver on mine though. The paint color went very well with the brushed aluminum trim rings on my TR6. I also painted the center caps as well. I used four cans of the silver, and two clear. I did not use the clear on the back side.

 

[NutmegCT]

Just my 2¢, but my car still has the original (?) steel wheels, all quite "experienced" and out of true, but with very old paint in the original body color - Signal Red.

Edit: Piggott (p. 87) says: " ... silver lacquer was the correct finish for TR3As and 3Bs with disc wheels." Also says in "from the TR3As the wheels were finished in a color described by the factory alternatively as "silver lacquer" and "aluminum wheel paint."

 

[Got_All_4]

You guys that clear coated the silver did you use a rattle can clear? Does the silver have a metallic in it?

 

[mrv8q]

You guys that clear coated the silver did you use a rattle can clear?

Yep!

 

[angelfj1]

Not sure, but doesn't all "silver" paint have metallic particles, I believe aluminum? But, the Eastwood wheel silver is authentic and their clear does not "yellow" with age.

 

[Don Elliott]

I used spray cans marked Honda silver spray paint for the late 1960 TR3A we finished in 2006. My wife used to own a Honda Civic which was Silver. There was some left over from a re-spray job on the Honda so I used that for my wheels and had them clear coated too. They have always looked that same as when I bought my 1958 TR3A brand new.

 

[Got_All_4]

Ya Don looks great! Started to strip the wheels tonight and much to my surprise there is white paint under the silver. My car is white.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I have used silver/aluminum with clear coat and got what I think was a very close to original finish. That said, mine are now body color just because I liked the look. Possibly some day I'll return to correct (then whoever strips them 50 years from now can wonder why there is red under the silver).

I am surprised no one has mentioned powder coating. I have seen some wheels with PC that looked great and are presumably less prone to the edge marks often left by ham-handed tire mounting techniques.

Argent Silver (yes, I know that is what they call it) -- should be on the shelf next to Verde Green and Blanca White.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Argent Silver (yes, I know that is what they call it) -- should be on the shelf next to Verde Green and Blanca White.

All found, as always, in the Department of Redundancy Department.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Thank you Monty.

 

[Twosheds]

In my own personal opinion, Argent Silver is redundant.

 

[Don Elliott]

I am Canadian from French Canada. It's not redundant. It's bilingual. Just according to law. I have begun to see three languages on some products since Mexico is in the No. Amer. Free Trade area. But very recently, I have been seeing Chinese also added as a 4th language.

Is that a sign of the way it wirr be in the futule ?

 

[TR3driver]

Is that a sign of the way it wirr be in the futule ?

Resistance is futule!

 

[martx-5]

In my own personal opinion, Argent Silver is redundant.

It may seem that way, but in reality it just means that it's <span style="font-weight: bold">French</span> silver as opposed to <span style="font-weight: bold">plata</span> silver. :laugh: