My silver/Grey Renault 4 - Help needed!!!!

[Verycherry]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could help me I have recently been given a Renault 4 (as my first car) and I am very excited and pleased with it! Everything is perfect except the colour (Call me sad) so I should be really happy but I think I would be even happier if I customised it a little, is this a good idea?
I haven't seen many renault 4's around and I have no idea what colour to have it, at the moment its a faded silver/ grey and looks really washed out! does anyone have any inspiration or imagination and could help me?
Many thanks
VeryCherry

 

[Alpineman]

I love em in that colour! Do you want to sell it?! Seriously using some quality fine cutting compound from your local paint suppliers, you may be surprised how well it cleans up. I've just done that to an awfull looking beige (really beige) mark 1 5 and it looks much better now I've cut the paint and polished it. The problem with changing the colour is that there is so much painted metal visible on the inside so unless you do a full strip out and paint the bare shell it will always look "half cocked" I'd be inclined to leave it. However slightly lowered and levelled off with some Gordini Turbo alloys and it'll look great. Well thats just my opinion but you asked. Have a look at the Renospeed site and follow the links to the "Wolf In Sheeps Clothing" for some more inspiration.

 

[Verycherry]

Thankyou! I'll check it out, im still in two minds whether to just leave it alone! gonna have to put some thought in to it. But thanks very much!

 

[Steve Hennessey]

If it's definitely a metallic silver then the silver could be a matt base colour with a lacquer final coat to give the shine. In that case, no amount of polishing/cutting will get the shine back. What normally happens is that you end up cutting through the lacquer in places and it looks horrible. Might be worth testing a patch on the inner wing to see if it's clear over base.

Steve

 

[Alpineman]

I hear what you're saying Steve. however I see no reason why the laquer won't shine up with a cut. Take a look at the attached picture of my Merc which has just had its first wash and polish (after a cut with a fine compound) in over a year. Boy was it dull and grey looking. Its a mirror finish now, take a look at the reflection in the rear wing. Gotta be careful on the edges though. Like you say don't go through the laquer, it looks dreadful. Anyway I still think a colour change might be a bad idea. R4s look great with a certain "patina"! If my pic hasn't attached can someone explain to me how to do it and I'll post some of my F6 too. I'm browsing my files for the pics, selecting , then clicking add attachment. Can't see it in the preview though. Cheers, Lee

 

[RichardIRL]

I think a colour change is not a bad idea, but I think you should wait for a few months before doing it. This is because you might discover a colour you really like during that time, instead of a colour you choose now that you will regret later. Also, you might find that the car needs a repair that will cost a lot, and that you need to spend the money on that instead.

Finally, you may grow to like the colour it is already and decide against the expensive repaint altogether.

I have only just discovered the Renospeed site. Who runs it? It looks very impressive.

 

[Alpineman]

Hi Richard

Renospeed is run by Derek Flavell. His Gordini engined car is featured in this months Retro Cars magazine. Very impressive.