Paint or wrap??

[ChrisL]

Hi. I have an Atom 4 which has yellow panels and i recently bought a spare bonnet & air intake so i could have them painted. I love the gulf oil colours (blue & orange) and wondered if anyone had ever done a Gulf colour scheme on an atom. One comes up on google but its a 2 or 3 and the whole car is Gulf colours ie chassis, mudguards and everything whereas i just want the two panels coloured. One possibility is to get them wrapped but i think i would prefer paint. The question is has anyone done this before or can anyone recommend an artistic body shop who could suggest a design & do it?? Lastly I am in Eastbourne, East Sussex - any other Atom owners anywhere near me???

[travelbug63]

I'd be interested to hear the answer to this as well.

BTW can I ask how much was the spare bonnet and air intake ?

[ChrisL]

I bought them from the factory. I can’t remember exactly but i think it was about 650 for the pair. I want to keep the original yellow pair so that the car can always be returned to “factory spec” if ever i sell it (unthinkable!) and that way I can have any colour scheme on the spare panels and change them whenever I fancy. When I get them done I’ll post a picture on here to show the result

[Karl V]

Snap - https://www.ariel.club/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=17251

Any good shop should be able to design a livery to suit your mood.

image.png (1.27 MiB) Viewed 1535 times

[Preseh]

I've personally gone for a wrap on mine - it should be cheaper than paint and you've got the added benefit of having a fully protected panel underneath if you decide to take the wrap off. Here's mine in purple chrome:

[John Scherrer]

Here's a couple of photos of Atoms in Gulf Colours

The first is a US Brammo car, the second was Stu's immaculate Atom 2 160 (it won best kept car at Atom X) that he sold to Rocket Man who had it repainted in Gulf Colours.

He subsequently sold it and was going to order a new 3.5 and have it painted in the Gulf scheme from scratch - not sure if that one ever got built?

Brammo Version
Rocket Man's Version
Stupot's immaculate Atom 2 -160

[ChrisL]

Thank you everyone. I need to investigate wrapping a bit more as that seems to be the way to go if you’re indecisive. Which I am. I think. Or maybe I’m not? Not sure.......

[travelbug63]

Thanks for that info on the pricing ChrisL I might buy a spare set myself.

Not that anyone's asking and I'm probably alone but I'm not to keen on that Gulf colour scheme on an Atom, looks great on a 917 but I think it just makes the Atom look like a kit car.... I'll get my coat

[ChrisL]

I’ll post photos when its done & that can trigger a heated debate!

[Alistairbuchanan]

The mud guards should be kept black/carbon….if done in the body colour it looks like a kit car


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[Monza]

[mention]travelbug63[/mention]
Same opinion as your

[Peter255]

The mud guards should be kept black/carbon….if done in the body colour it looks like a kit car

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Agree 100%!

[mypresenttome]

Has anyone had body panels, parts or wheels hydro dipped? Does it last with the stone chipping etc, when you have the tyres changed can the rims get marked by the machine?

Michael

[Sledgehammer]

I thougt about hydrodipping too, it always needs a clearcoat to protect the dip, so i think it will be reliable.

[Atlarge]

Has anyone had body panels, parts or wheels hydro dipped? Does it last with the stone chipping etc, when you have the tyres changed can the rims get marked by the machine?

Michael

I have a number of parts hydrodipped - then double clear coated, I found it mostly holds up very well but has picked up a few chips in the usual wear areas (around the nose) and where I took a gash out of the side panel when swapping out the suspension.....

I’d do it again in future for other areas but be aware it’s can be slightly more expensive than paint depending on how complex the part is and doesn’t suit all areas (due to image stretch etc).... I haven’t done the rims though so don’t know how well they will hold up.....