Full Vehicle Respray

After discovering severe sun damage and rust on the original paint, I embarked on a full respray in a candy-red finish over a black base emulating Mazda’s premium finish with a cost-effective “candy paint” technique. Preparations included complete panel stripping to bare metal, hole welding (for mirror and antenna delete), self-etching and high-build primers, multiple sanding cycles, and expert father-son painting collaboration. The result: a deep, glossy finish achieved through over four weeks of prep and paint, delivering both restoration quality and emotional growth through perseverance.

Throughout this project, I gained invaluable insights, but the most profound lessons were about patience and the importance of thorough preparation. The extensive and meticulous sanding sessions, often stretching into the early hours, not only shaped the car but also offered me a unique opportunity for introspection.

During those countless nights, as I labored over every inch of the vehicle's surface, I came to appreciate the profound connection between meticulous attention to detail and achieving excellence. This process wasn't just about transforming a car; it was a transformative journey for me as well. I developed a deeper mental resilience and a more spiritual outlook on both my craft and life itself.

I emerged from this experience with a reinforced belief in the value of perseverance and the importance of a well-considered approach. These lessons have reshaped my approach to challenges, encouraging a more thoughtful and patient demeanor. This project was not only a labor of love but a pivotal chapter in my personal growth.

Paint Removal

  • Sealing the Solvent

    To keep the solvent active, we retained moisture by wrapping the entire vehicle in plastic masking after applying thick layers of gel paint dissolver to every square inch of the vehicle

  • Slow Progress

    Modern paint strippers are engineered to be more environmentally and user friendly at the expense of being less expensive. Over the course of the stripping process, we applied stripper across the entire vehicle four times

  • Paint Bubbles

    We had experimented with several different paint strippers until we found a product capable of fully lifting the paint from the metal, whereas other products would only soften the paint enough to be mechanically removed by a scraper

  • Hidden Damage

    Much to my surprise, I found a rather large section of the car with deep dents covered in Bondo. It looked as though someone had thrown a billiards ball at this corner a dozen times. I’m still not sure what could have happened here?

  • My new DeLorean

    After two weeks of applying solvent and sanding, we had the vehicle down to bare metal and were ready to move on to the next step!

The Details

  • Blowing it Apart

    The next step was to completely disassemble everything, remove all of the remaining paint that was hidden away in the last step, and begin meticulously sanding and degreasing the metal to get it ready for paint

  • Self-Etching Primer

    To ensure a positive bond between the paint and the metal, a self-etching primer was applied to chemically affix itself to the metal and provide a strong foundation for later layers. These primer layers also served for great practice with unfamiliar equipment and identifying odd angles.

  • High Build Primer

    The entire car was coated with four layers of high build primer. These thick layers allowed me to use long and wide block sanders to identify low and high spots in the paint, creating perfectly smooth panels.

  • Two Steps Back

    The sanding process was remarkable tedious, as every stroke of the sanding block was paramount to the project’s success and could not be rushed. This process was also remarkable in the mess that it had made. My fabricated paint booth had to be completely replaced, and the entire car needed to be degreased again before painting.

  • First Color

    In a single day, all of the jambs, wheel arches, and undersides of panels were finally painted. It was the first time we had gotten to see the color, and the excitement that filled my body gave me the motivation I needed to see this project through.

The Culmination

  • Return to Form?

    The first step of the final push was to recoat the entire exterior in a thinned-out primer: a glaze coat.

  • Paint It, Black

    I think I could have been happy at this stage. The car was well restored, and back to its original color. Sleek and elegant, it was almost hard not calling it a day here.

  • How did we get here?

    As I was mixing the first cup of candy paint, anxiety washed over me. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it. The last several weeks of effort all hinged on the very next moments. There are so many variables at play when spraying candy that it is hard to predict the outcome.

  • Resolve

    Four coats of candy paint fell onto the car in perfection, two layers of clear coat marked the end of the project. The vibrance of the paint was genuinely captivating. It felt unreal that the car in front of me was mine. The joy of completing such a big project was euphoric, and the fact that I got to do it all with my dad cements these weeks as a core memory that I will cherish forever.

  • Together Again

    To this day there are still many things that I would like to improve in the paint work, but I am forever grateful for the journey that brought me here.

When I first purchased my vehicle, I harbored a dream of owning a deep cherry red sports car. However, it quickly became apparent that the existing paint was severely sun-damaged, with rust spots beginning to emerge. Recognizing the need to act swiftly, I decided to undertake a respray to preserve the car's condition for the future.

Inspiration struck when I encountered the stunning Mazda Soul Red Crystal paint. Despite its appeal, the cost of the authentic paint was prohibitive. Instead, I opted for a candy paint solution, which involves applying a base color topped with a semi-transparent, tinted paint to achieve rich depth and luster. I chose a black base beneath a bright red candy coat to emulate the iconic Mazda color.

The preparation process was extensive. We began by removing all trim components and glass, except for the windshield and rear glass. The car was stripped to bare metal using a combination of abrasives and chemical solvents. I found that the solvents were unable to penetrate through the factory clear coat, so abrasives were used to remove as much of the top layer as possible. I also welded shut the holes for the door mirrors and antenna as I chose not to run an FM radio and preferred the aesthetics of fender mirrors. I uncovered and later addressed body damage with body filler.

A self-etching primer was applied first, followed by several layers of high-build primer. These layers were meticulously sanded down to ensure the panels were perfectly smooth. After three weeks of diligent preparation, which included several days devoted to masking off the engine bay and interior, the car was ready for painting. The painting process started with the door jambs, undersides of the fenders, doors, hood, and hatch. Once these parts were painted and had cured, we reassembled the car.

The exterior painting then commenced with two layers of black, followed by four layers of candy paint, and concluded with two layers of clear coat. Throughout this process, I was fortunate to have the guidance of my father, who owns a painting company and has extensive experience with spray painting machinery. His expertise was invaluable, ensuring a finish that far exceeded my expectations.