Painting the SVX...which color?

[Geoff]

Sometime this year, I'll need to paint the SVX.

My '94, purchased from pegdrgr, was rear-ended and totaled. I picked up a 1992, which we're swapping the motor/tranny over to, since the '94's motor was just rebuilt, and it had a 4.44 swap in it.

Currently, the silver car is mixed with laguna blue - Its got the best of both cars. Blue hood/fenders/bumper, black roof, silver everything else.

The car's going to need paint, especially since it's got original dings, scratches, etc.

I'm debating between steel blue mica, a color from the GC Impreza, sparkling graphite metallic, a BMW color, or Interlagos Blue Metallic, another BMW color.

I'm going to do the entire car in one color - Not keeping the top/trunk black. Also putting a JDM S4 spoiler on the car, which will be painted body color.

I know there's a lot of folks who believe painting an SVX anything other than original colors is sacrilege - I can appreciate that, but I'd like to do something a little different.

Any thoughts/ideas? :)

Pic of the car is attached. Car still has silver fenders on it, but I'll likely be using the blue ones to get repainted. :)

[dbarnblatt]

How about an OEM color that was only offered in another country? I know Japan and Germany/Switzerland had very nice colors. Have a look here:

http://k-staff.net.web002.userver.jp/docs/SVX/svx-s4.htm

http://k-staff.net.web002.userver.jp/docs/SVX/svx-vl.htm

Have a look at this thread as well. Worldwide color options:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30141

[Geoff]

Already searched. More interested in specific color opinions. :)
How about an OEM color that was only offered in another country? I know Japan and Germany/Switzerland had very nice colors. Have a look here:

http://k-staff.net.web002.userver.jp/docs/SVX/svx-s4.htm

http://k-staff.net.web002.userver.jp/docs/SVX/svx-vl.htm

Have a look at this thread as well. Worldwide color options:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30141

[RojoRocket]

Already searched. More interested in specific color opinions. :)

Geoff, basing an opinion on a "description" of your choices is difficult. How about a pic of each of your color possibilities? :confused: A poll would be the way to go here. IMO a color closest to original, avoiding large disparity when opening the hood would be preferable. So, show us the colors!

Glenn

[LetItSnow]

Magenta paisley vinyl wrap. No, not so much.

I dig Huck's yellow, but I wouldn't duplicate it... Just wouldn't be cool.

Agreed with above - offer up a palette to choose from!

[icingdeath88]

Have a look at this thread as well. Worldwide color options:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30141

Neat thread.

I think that graphite would be a great color for it, and any silver that's left wouldn't as far off as for a blue. A dark blue is a much more boring color for the SVX than a more sports car like blue.

Where are you going to get the jdm spoiler from?

[Geoff]

1st - Steel Blue Mica
2nd - Sparkling Graphite Metallic
3rd - Interlagos Blue Metallic

[Geoff]

I have the JDM spoiler as well as the Alcyone rear trim and a front badge. Also have the clear corners (in the photo) and German headlights en route. Japanese parts came from one of many part pullers in Japan.

I'm leaning more towards metallic/silverish variants, as most of the car is silver right now. These were neat colors that I'm considering, but I wanted to have a thread to see what everyone else thought as well - just for fun, and keeping open-minded.

Neat thread.

I think that graphite would be a great color for it, and any silver that's left wouldn't as far off as for a blue. A dark blue is a much more boring color for the SVX than a more sports car like blue.

Where are you going to get the jdm spoiler from?

[RojoRocket]

OK, I would have to go with choice #2. :cool:

Glenn

[Geoff]

If I went with graphite, I'd probably pick up the metal S4 grille as well...I think the graphite would be calling out for a little breaking up in the front. :)
OK, I would have to go with choice #2. :cool:

Glenn

[icingdeath88]

1st - Steel Blue Mica
2nd - Sparkling Graphite Metallic
3rd - Interlagos Blue Metallic

#2 definitely.

#1 doesn't look blue at all to me, is it just me or the picture or what?

[Geoff]

Steel Blue Mica kinda looks different depending on the light. Here's another Steel Blue Mica car in different lighting - http://www.iwoc.co.uk/images/iwocmembers/bava4.jpg

[SVX_MY_BABY]

Blue is a difficult colour. I did mine in Jaguar Indigo metallic. Looks good in the sun but kind of lifeless on dark days.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/SVX_MY_BABY/44250.JPG

[92 SVX]

I really like #3 at least in that pic of that bmw.

[Blacky]

Judging from the second picture I'll go with #1 Steel Blue Mica.

[XT6Wagon]

http://www.scoobyphotos.eclipse.co.uk/photographs/classic/special/rb5/full/rb5_975.jpg

Subaru impreza RB5, one of the best gray/blues I've seen. Might be the same blue steel talked about.

[Geoff]

http://www.scoobyphotos.eclipse.co.uk/photographs/classic/special/rb5/full/rb5_975.jpg

Subaru impreza RB5, one of the best gray/blues I've seen. Might be the same blue steel talked about.

Yep, the RB5 is Steel Blue Mica.

[StatGSR]

Suzuka Blue

http://images.automotive.com/reviews/2002/honda/02hondas2000.jpg

[icingdeath88]

Yep, the RB5 is Steel Blue Mica.

Seems like this is a color you have to really see in person. Those are usually the best ones :)

[SilverSpear]

Geoff, whatever color you chose, you know you will have to strip everything to the bare metal and paint it inside out? Especially the engine bay right?

[icingdeath88]

Haha, just stumbled onto this by clicking the link in silverspear's sig: http://img283.imageshack.us/i/pcp1010374sz2.jpg/

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14873&stc=1&d=1295506305

Metallic gray looks like a good color to me.

[Geoff]

Geoff, whatever color you chose, you know you will have to strip everything to the bare metal and paint it inside out? Especially the engine bay right?

The engine bay isn't painted to match the color of the car right now, so this is false. In addition, I don't care what color it is under the carpets. ;) The fenders/bumper/tail lights and door cards will all be removed prior to painting. :)

[SVXMAN2001]

From my experience, admittedly limited, a paintshop won't sand down to bare metal unless absolutely necessary. If they have a good base, meaning no dents/rust or other abrasions they will lightly sand, prime and paint (it may be a cost cutting technique, but still makes sense in turns of why mess up an otherwise good foundation).

I went with porsche arctic silver, originally claret, I kept the black roof and made the rest of the body the silver. The one thing I caution is that just because one color looks amazing on a certain car, in my opinion the porsche, doesn't necessarily mean it will look just as amazing on yours/the svx. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the color it's just not as dramatic as it appears on the porsche, a much curvier body. In all honesty, the arctic silver on the svx looks very similar to the stock silver, maybe a little lighter.

That being said, I know they didn't sand my car down to bar metal and it still came out fine. There are imperfections such as swirls, but the average person wouldn't notice. I am just super anal with it. I paid enough as it was to have it done. The one shop that explained their process, that would sand down to bare metal, would charge over $10,000. It was a very reputable shop, numerous spots in auto mags so I am sure their reputation had something to do with the price, but still.

Eitherway, good luck with your color choice! I liked option 2.

[BoxerFanatic]

Kind of ironic... the car you have there has a black roof, and laguna blue parts. I've long wished Laguna Blue SVXs had black roofs.

I have never been a fan of grayscale, (grays, silvers, black or white) mostly because the sky and ground are gray half the year around here... and in the winter, I want to see some color, so my car might as well be a color.

I love the BMW 5 series Interlagos Blue color you showed an example of. Blue is one of my favorite colors anyway.

I do like red, also. My two favorite choices for an SVX would probably be something like that Interlagos blue... something between really dark navy blue, or really bright primary color blue like World Rally Blue Pearl. Interlagos would be a great color. Somewhat like a blue alternative to Claret Red.

The other of my choices would be Garnet or Ruby red pearl, from modern Subarus, or maybe Velocity Red Mica, from Mazda. Something a bit deeper and slightly darker than Brilliant red.

I think the SVX has kind of a cool design, rather than a flashy hot design. I'd be tempted to use a warm color on it, such as a red. But blue would look fantastic, too.

One of my other favorite cars, the Z32 300ZX is a hotter, flashier design, which I would probably go with a cooler blue color, such as the interlagos blue you showed there.

Out of your list, I would definitely choose the Interlagos Blue. That is just me.

[Geoff]

If I still had the '94, I'd likely do an Interlagos blue...but since the car's base is already a silver, I'll likely take the advice of guys here and go with the Sparkling Graphite.

We've got no shortage of sun/sunny days here. ;)

[icingdeath88]

If I still had the '94, I'd likely do an Interlagos blue...but since the car's base is already a silver, I'll likely take the advice of guys here and go with the Sparkling Graphite.

We've got no shortage of sun/sunny days here. ;)

;) in a few months maybe you'll see a similar thread to help me select a blue color for my car. But the roof will be painted black too.

[The1One1AndOnly]

I still think The OEM Pearly white's with the black tops are the hottest. :cool:

[mysvxrocks]

To me, I think that blue looks REALLY good with the silver. I like blue, so thats what I would do. Paint it the stock Laguna blue (any maybe keep the trunk/roof tops black) and keep the rims that are on there. Just my taste though.

[BoxerFanatic]

I don't like white cars in general, but I would love a pearlie SVX... I don't know why I like white SVXs when I don't like other cars in white.

But a laguna blue, or almost any medium to darkish blue, with a black roof and trunk would be awesome, especially with the tinted glass. I so wish the Lagunas had been two-tone. I wholeheartedly second the laguna blue with black roof idea, if that is an option for you. I wish it were an option for me. The silver BBS look nice. So would a couple of other aftermarket options, something in black or gunmetal gray, with bright polished aluminum face treatment.

[Crazy_pilot]

I'm a sucker for black myself... I really love the stock Ebony Mica colour with the red metallic in it. When I do paint mine I'll be sticking with one of Subaru's OEM blacks, either the SVX's Ebony Mica, or possibly the Java Black Pearl or Onyx Black Metallic used on STi's. To me nothing looks better than a black car under the lights at night, especially with some gold wheels on it ;).

That being said, black is an absurdly high maintenance colour. As soon as you look at the car it's dirty and you always have to take the utmost care while washing it to avoid swirls. Correction, to minimize swirls, because they're going to happen.

Any other colour (except perhaps dark blues) looks best with the two tone black roof/trunk, and tint.

Java Black:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4884143588_f3d9f71828_z.jpg

[icingdeath88]

Any other colour (except perhaps dark blues) looks best with the two tone black roof/trunk, and tint.

+1 the blues actually look kinda odd with a black trunklid/spoiler. Black roof is great though. Saw a photoshopped one (can't find it now) and I decided that when it comes time to paint the blue one the roof will be painted black but not the trunk lid. A brighter more candy blue might be able to pull it off though.

[DaveSVX]

Either the blue or the silver would look good. With those smoked windows I would do the top black but not the trunk lid with the blue. Here is my Laguna Blue with blue trunk and someone else's two tone blue:

http://mdhmedia.dyndns-at-home.com/svx/IMG_4521.jpg

http://mdhmedia.dyndns-at-home.com/svx/001-6.jpg

http://mdhmedia.dyndns-at-home.com/svx/002-4.jpg

[oregondave]

Imola Yellow. My dream is to paint mine that color some day.

[MarquisDePosa56]

Ebony Mica, no questions asked

I'm having the Dark Teal touched up right now, but someday (when I can afford to drop about $3k or more) it will be Ebony Mica