I have a Mk1 Capri (you can pretend it's an Escort if you prefer :)) that was resprayed at  home around 20 years ago, in Acrylic, pastel blue color.
Its stayed pretty much all of its life in the garage, but of course it would have faded to an extent in that time. I now have a GT bonnet I'd like to fit because of the bonnet locks, and commenced stripping it down a few years ago. I'm debating whether to find someone to paint it, but was wondering if the new paint systems they use would end up producing a noticeable difference in finish and gloss to the point it stand out like dogs genitalia?
 
The rest of the car still looks passible, and I could not justify a full respray just because of the change in bonnet.
The other option would be to purchase some Acrylic paint if you can still get it, or its modern replacement, which does not require baking, and try to do it at home.
 
I'm in Geelong, appreciate your advice or recommendations for a spraypainter down this way.
 

go to a decent paint supplier, they should have an electronic system thet will read the colour of your other panels and spit out a recipe for the matching paint. Get it in acrylic and you should be pretty bloody close

cheers Troppo, I was going to take the fuel flap cover in to read off that if acrylic was still available to purchase.
I have the code somewhere (Ford ice blue/blue ice?), and a lid off the previous paint tins.
Also, after a wetrubbing down session, what can you use to stop oxidizing until you get back to it again for the next go, and do you have to prepsol it off before etch priming?
thanks
Deano

You dont need to prepsol between coats if your careful not to contaminate the surface
 

Black bonnet!
 

 
Pretend its a Capri if it helps!
 
Acrylic is well and truly still available, as mentioned have a panel colour matched and you should be good to go...if you don't want a black bonnet of course!
If your some time between paint stripping, I assume your are taking it back to bare metal, if so don't wet sand, 80 grit in a orbital or paint stripper will save you months, don't get the stripper on plastic or rubber or anything you value. If you have to leave bare metal for a while, etch it with an aerosol can between sessions and remove again when its etch time. Etch and undercoats are hygroscopic and will wick moisture to the steel but are better vthan raw steel over weeks.
JP
 
 
 

jpayne
 If you have to leave bare metal for a while, etch it with an aerosol can between sessions and remove again when its etch time. Etch and undercoats are hygroscopic and will wick moisture to the steel but are better vthan raw steel over weeks.
JP
 
 
 

Use an epoxy coating, you can get single pack epoxies. A coat of epoxy will not absorb water and will stop bare metal rusting for months