skido

iTrader: (1)

My '89 Firebird base is now the IMPONTE RUINER 450GT("Ruining imports since '79" as it says on the rear plate of the in-game car) from the PC/video game Grand Theft Auto IV.
Three months of prep, metal replacing on fenders and 1/4 panels, bondo, sanding, sanding, sanding and more sanding, primer, sanding, primer, sanding, bondo touch up, sanding, primer, sanding. Base coat #1 (black)x3 (3 coats), sanding, base coat #2 (orange)x3, sanding, base coat #1 over taped up base #2 x2, wet sanding 400, rainbow specular layer added, Rustoleum "Painters Touch" UV resistant CLEAR x4, Rustoleum gloss clear x3 wet sanding 400, Rustoleum Engine clear (super tough!)wet sanding 400, wet sanding 800, wet sanding 1000, wet sanding 1500, compounding 3 days, polishing 2 days. Still some polishing to do to bring it up to a mirror finish then wax.
Did I mention all the taping?
All Rustoleum rattlecan, no runs, no tiger striping!
My trigger finger was disabled for 2 days.
I made wood grain side molding for it!!
3 models are in the game, T-top, no T-top, Formula. I'm going to make the Formula hood scoop myself.
Still have the wheels to do.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE "STOCK" WHEELS?
I don't know where I'm going to find affordable chrome center caps (I looked online, I'm not paying those prices). I'll have to make 'em out of Leggs containers like I did years ago for another car - if I can find any of those!
It's come a long way from the rusted out scrap yard bound piece of junk I saw sitting in the weeds at a house down the road.



The GTA IV car has specular paint of a (any) color over a (any) base color. It only shows where directional light activates it. I went one better - rainbow specular which is invisible unless directional light activates it!
I also put 1/4" wide reflective rainbow light diffraction tape around the entire car in an unbroken (except for the doors of course) line where the black ends and orange begins.





Temporarily outfitted with Cragar S/S til I get the stock wheels painted up to match the body paint. I only have two. If I had two more I would keep 'em on there. Prepping the stock wheels for painting has got to be a nightmare.





That's the tumbler cable hanging out. Just pull on it to open the hatch. I have the electric opener on the dash too. I got the decals made by DIY Lettering, (Do It Yourself)great product, great people! (get the 3 layer lettering, NOT 2 layer!)

hairysox33

iTrader: (4)

The wheels are 1982-1989? z28 wheels.

Hate to ask, but is this a real post?... lol

skido

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the wheel info.
The other..uh...maybe "unreal" err, I didn't get it? Did I commit a Forum rule error or something?

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Uhhhhh...

skido

iTrader: (1)

Don't like it huh? Too bad, it's a blast running down the road with those little chrome wheels and dual exhaust booming! When I come out of a store there's usually people standing around gawking at it, I must've done something right!

This is the amount of paint it took, 62 cans. 85 man hours. Total cost of the bodywork & paint: $350.

CadeFirebird

I think it is a cool idea, i don't think anyone has ever replicated "The Ruiner" before. Did you like thirdgens before GTA IV, or did you just like the car in the game and decide to make a replica? Paint looks good and so do the decals!

skido

iTrader: (1)

I've always been a Pontiac fan, one of my favorites was this '74 Ventura factory GTO edition with shaker hood, smooth as glass BLACK lacquer, white interior, 350 4bbl (not original engine), 350 turbohydromatic tranny. I ran lake pipes and customized the wheels (black spokes,chrome outer ring and chrome center buttons).
No matter how hard I tried I could never walk away from it without looking back.
Since I painted the Bird it's been the same, LOL!




I like all the firebirds especially 3rd gen, kinda looks like an early Ferrari.
When I found out this one I have now was going to be scrapped I had to step in and grab it!
It took 2 years' work just to get it to pass inspection!

Podium

iTrader: (2)

Wow............
.....................................

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Can you please explain to us why you just posted a photo of a Ventura with a GTO-style shaker photoshopped into the hood? Are you that desperate for attention?

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Not to mention, there's only one kind of GTA that I know of on these forums, the "Grand Turismo Americano". I'm pretty certain that's not it.

Your wheels look like 14 or 15". I don't think anyone here would classify that as "big", not even by factory size.

The people are probably gawking because they think by some horrible mistake that they've managed to time travel back to the 1980s. Now, I don't know firsthand, but from what I've heard, that's a time that most people don't really want to go back to.

EDIT: I just looked at the photo. They are 14". Need I say more?

91 Droptop

They are silver not chrome, as said above they are a dime a dozen Camaro wheels on a Pontiac. No offensee but it looks like a $50 Wallmart paint job, Rustolem metal flake. Why don't you just weld a lawn chair to the hood with all those flake colors and you can have a bass boat, God when will people stop ruining these cars.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Nah, apparently he's running two 14" Cragar SS wheels, and two 15" Camaro wheels. Even better.

I take offense to the boat comment though. I have a viper red metallic/silver '72 Sidewinder Jet boat that looks pretty sweet. I'm pretty certain that someone has tried to buy it every time I put it in the water. Then again, that could be because I restored it correctly, not with spray cans.

DeltaElite121

I'm speechless. I bet you see people gawking alright... More like gaping with a side order of WTF.

91 Droptop

Yes but it is supposed to be metal flake

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Haha, good to go. Just for kicks, this is an example of something that's supposed to look gaudy:

RubberDucky

iTrader: (4)

If you are planning on the GTA4 Runier, you need a Camaro tail.

Azrael91966669

i love it

skido

iTrader: (1)

1. You're right, I did touch it up, because the scoop itself looked like it had been dragged through gravel, but I didn't lie.





2. I didn't mention the Ventura as any GTA anything.
3. You're exactly right about the wheels, they are 14", not "big" at all, but I wasn't speaking in a literal sense, it was my impression that they made a "big" change in the appearance of the car! I should have worded it differently being folks are going to get so nitpicky about syntax.
4. The gawking people were very pleased. Everyone who has seen the car has had favorable comments except one who didn't like orange. Those familiar with the video game GTA IV (Grand Theft Auto 4) were extremely pleased to see a game car "in the flesh". One fellow took pictures of it to show his friends because they "probably wouldn't believe it really exists".
80's? "that's a time that most people don't really want to go back to"...The Firebird is an '89! 3rd Gen. Who doesn't like 3rd Gen Firebirds?

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

We don't photoshop in features to cars and claim that they are there. You have what you have, if that's not good enough, make it better.

I wasn't referring to your Ventura as a GTA. I was referring to the original posted what-cha-ma-call-it as not being a GTA.

People like 3rd Gen Firebirds. However, people generally don't recall so fondly big ******s, and their association with 3rd gens sitting on shackles with 14" cragars and psychedelic paint jobs.

Sorry, I was originally going to keep my mouth shut, as I really didn't have anything nice to say. Then I saw the photo-shopped GTO, and I couldn't restrain myself any longer. Something about this thread just seems surreal.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

What? ****** is a censored word on these forums? I thought it was just a misguided hairstyle that most folks gave up a long time ago. Well, if that word is determined to be off-limits, there may be hope for the third gen community after all.

skido

iTrader: (1)

This is a lively thread, eh?
1. The Z28 wheels came with the car. As it was headed for the scrapyard I didn't make the PO change them for something else. Maybe that's why he put them on the car - to get scrapped. I don't know, I didn't ask. I don't like them myself. BTW they are aluminum with a grey coating on the spoke centers.
The Cragar S/S are original genuine 14" CHROME wheels I have had for 23 years. $225.00 apiece.
Oh, and Cal30_sniper, yes I have two Cragars on one side and two Z28's on the other. The reason is that I only have two Cragars and I needed to put something on the car so I could take two Z28 wheels to the shop to get them dismounted so I can refinish them. When they are done I'll do the same for the other side then I'll have four refinished wheels ALL THE SAME , ALL AROUND THE CAR (unless I can find two more Cragar S/S I can afford)! I guess if I used a donut wheel you'd think I intended it to be permanent also.
2. There was no Rustoleum metalflake used. Metalflake is not strictly specular. You see it all the time, in any light and from a distance a metalflake paint will produce a metallic look.
The specular layer on my Firebird is INVISIBLE except at certain directional light angles. There is no metallic appearance to the finish at any time. Unless you have the light source and the angle you don't see anything even up close.
This paint job is mirror finish perfection, high quality paint applied with experience and skill. Many air gun paints are of lower quality and require less skill. Total cost of the paint job: $350.00 and showroom quality. You can't beat that. You have no complaints about the finish, maybe my cheapo camera, LOL! You saw my photo of the Cragar S/S wheels? Not a good camera, lacks clarity and definition, it's an old Digitrex DSC 3000 what - $20.00? Ditto for the rest of the shots. You should be more considerate and knowledgeable before you make judgements.

skido

iTrader: (1)

As far as gaudy, it sure is!! It's a concept car, not something I thought of myself, a computer game thing brought into the real world and on that account alone it's pretty cool.
I suppose you consider it your authority to censor anything that doesn't fit in your limited viewpoint and limit the artistic rights of others. I guess I don't expect you to appreciate that but I don't care for your opinion anyway.
I love the boat!

skido

iTrader: (1)

Another pic showing the flawless finish and 'temporary' Gragar S/S wheeels! Ain't she gorgeous!





What a lousy camera.
Here's a pic that shows just how lousy it is, nothings clear!

skido

iTrader: (1)

Some more Ventura GTO before I refinished the wheels:



Some of my other cars:

'74 Datsun 260Z 2+2, Nissan OHC straight six, dual Hitachi updraft carbs. Yep, different wheels on the front and back (while I was refinishing the fronts, I didn't know people weren't allowed to do things like that, guess I shoulda put it up on blocks or something and just left the wheels off and not drive the car)!





Two '69 Lincoln Continental 460 c.i. 4bbl maybe 9 mi per gallon!
Ooops, actually the black one's a '691/2 (they upgraded the front spindles)before some nitpick calls me a liar! Hey look, there's those dang Cragar S/S again (when I had 4 of 'em). Same lousy camera.






FL70 straight sleeper Cummins 5.9 diesel

skido

iTrader: (1)

You have an excellent eye for detail!
I did what I could on $8,000 a year retirement money. And I didn't paint the mirror bezels like in the game. I also took the artistic license to run the bottom color over the wheel wells instead of straight past them.

skido

iTrader: (1)

I agree with you. It's just that I touched that up about 10 years ago for my own viewing enjoyment and just didn't think about it when I posted it here.
It would be deceptive to put on what's not but that's not the case. This Ventura is a genuine factory edition GTO.
I don't have the original photo now.
Regardless I still agree with you and thank you for pointing it out
so I can remove it from the thread.

"I was referring to the original posted what-cha-ma-call-it as not being a GTA." Did I make a typo somewhere? I don't know what you're referring to. There's "GTA IV" as in the Grand Theft Auto 4 video game in reference to the Firebird if that's what you mean.

And what's wrong with "14? Is this some kind of purist fatal nono? And what's wrong with Cragar S/S's. Sure, I'd like 20" low profiles but it'll never happen on my budget. Maybe your opinion is different but in mine they absolutely rock on this car, they really set it off, and they're not so out-of-date on an '89 anything.

It's "psychedelic" by what value, the 2 tone? Because there's no metalflake or metallic sheen from metalflake, I used no "metalflake" paint, you see pure gloss black in all these pics of this Firebird with no metalflake. The specular layer is completely INVISIBLE under normal lighting conditions. Metalflake is visible all the time and brightens on the half angls to the light source. To see specular at all it there has to be directional light and viewed from the half angle to the light source.
You know, I wouldn't fuss so much about a 180,000 mile piece of junk with no floor pans, no fender or 1/4 panel bottoms, exhaust rotted completely off, gas lines rotted completely off, brake lines rotted completely off, jack points rotted completely off ground FX hanging off, rear brake shoes on backwards, front brakes locking up due to swelled rubber hoses, lighting wiring chopped up and wired hot to the battery with a switch laying on the floor, shorts caused by ungrommeted holes in the firewall they ran the hot wiring through, fuel rail blocked, fuel pump clogged with no sock, ignition switch screwed up so it had a push button start, hatch mechanism busted to pieces, no hood opener, man I have to quit I just don't have room or time to list it all.
I saved this car from death and busted my *** for 3 years slaving on it and I like it now even if it is a bit loud, I admit Oh, yea, it has WOOD GRAIN side molding too (so now you're shaking your purist head in utter dismay).
I'll never be able to fix everything on this car but it looks and runs better than it used to.
You don't have to like it, I respect that.
My apologies to the whole Forum about the touched up photo, I didn't even remember that it was touched.
Oh, the green dots in the grill, I touched them in too 10 years ago because the car did have green lights there and I wanted to see that when I looked at the picture! Not to "fake" anything, just to highlight what's there. I never envisioned posting these Ventura pics on the net back then and completely forgot about it.
I REMEMBER NOW, THANKS! Now the pic is removed (except for the one in your quoted post).

evilemokid94

iTrader: (6)

okay i think everyone needs to stop being so harsh about his car, if he saved if from the junyard than thats 1 more car on the road that has been saved. you know the old saying "different stokes for different folks"? this going along nicely for this situation, the reason im saying anything and most time i do keep my mouth shut on stuff like this but you can tell that this guy is really proud of his car, rattle can paint job or not, different rims or not, he is proud of his car and from the sounds of it, hes not afraid to show off his car and his pride for it to anyone. and that, to me says alot, his rattle can paint job looks better than most paint jobs guys on here put on there cars to begin with, hell it looks better than the $600 maaco paint job i had on my car. i guess thats the end of my rant but just lay off alittle bit, hes doing what he wants to his car, any trying to make his car what he wants and we should all respect that.

91 Droptop

Please do not tell me you believe your expert rattle can paint job is better than a base coat clear coat automotive finish.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Alright, well I'm out. The only reason I opened my mouth in the first place was due to the photoshopped photos, and they're gone now. That was as shady as it gets, but I can understand why now that he's explained it. Those '73-74 goats were cool cars, I've always kind of wanted one, along with the Can Ams that they produced right after that.

As far as the paint and wheels, I still state that they are dated to an era that was not real good for the car community. Cragar SS rims look great on the right car, in the right size. If you'll look around on the boards, there's photos floating around of a '76 New Yorker I had with 15" Cragars on it. Still, a part of me dies inside every time I see someone with 14" wheels on anything bigger than a 60's Dart or Valiant. If they are a temporary deal, I understand that too, but you really made it sound like they were permanent and you were doing your best to round out the set. I'd say that 95% of the free world concurs, if a car came with 15 or 16" wheels, 14" rims don't belong. Heck, even the lowriding community has gotten away from that kind of stuff now.

As for the paint, to each his own I guess. It just frustrates me, because this is the kind of stuff I see posted all over the rest of the internet from other car guys making fun of third gen owners. I'm just waiting for this one to show up on The Chive. Maybe they're right, because stuff is always popping up on these boards that would make any other community recoil in disgust, and it tends to be fairly well accepted here. Still, as others have said in other threads, this mentality is the reason that no-one wants to feature our cars, our cars in general aren't worth a hill of beans on the open market, and we can't get any quality reproduction pieces made. The perception is that third gens, and their owners, are cheap and trashy. Sadly, we still live up to that image.

You've had some cool cars dude, and you obviously take pride in what you claim is quality work, I think many of us just wish it was better guided. I'm sure you'll find a few here who appreciate it, and its still a free country, so luckily no worries on censorship for now! Here's to hoping it stays that way.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

It may look good now, but it won't soon. Hopefully we won't have to see so much of it after the paint has faded out in a year or so.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Also, for everyone else following this, here's what he's going for. I'll admit, I had to look it up to even find out what it was. I never played much of the Grand Theft Auto games: http://gta.wikia.com/Ruiner

Now, I'm going to step way out on a limb and say you might be on to something here. You need an earlier camaro front clip, some mix/matching and blending of the ground effects, and a TONED-DOWN version of your current paint job, done right with quality materials, that more closely follows the in-game car. Fix the hack jobs like the hatch latch, and get the wheels up to speed. The wiki article claims the game car had a 7.3L. Sounds like a perfect excuse to drop in a 454. Now THAT would get some people interested.

If it's done right, with quality stuff, you'll likely garner the attention and respect of a lot of the younger members on the board. It's got to be done right though. There's just not really a place for rattle can paint and hack jobs to be widely accepted on these boards. IMO, the original concept is sound, but the implementation needs a lot of work.

EDIT: Upon closer inspection, it looks like Firebird hide-away headlights and a Formula powerbuldge hood tucked away behind something that resembles a Camaro front end. The design is unmistakably third gen, but they had to make enough changes to avoid licensing issues. They also used the early/export Trans Am GTA paddle mirrors. Also, a 455 Poncho might be an even more viable alternative to the 454. Then again, you could go completely wild and drop in a 455 Olds or Buick. The Olds/Buick might be nice, because they aren't much heavier than a SBC.

skido

iTrader: (1)

It can't possibly be better but it's what I could afford and do myself and I took extra measures to make sure it has good adherence with undercoats and plenty of UV protection so it lasts as long as possible, probably more longevity than the car itself!
It LOOKS as good as any paint job anywhere. Chalk that up to experience and well tested technique. At my age and financial situation I have very few choices. If I had the financial wherewithal and obtainable resources I would have chosen differently but stuck up here in the mountains with the nearest small town 30 miles away and city 50 miles there's not much I can do about that either.
The 14" wheels are what I have. I'm looking for 15's but I'd really like to get 18's which will probably never happen.
This car will be forever a WIP, never 100%.
I can't afford much in the way of new parts, I have to fix it myself. Luckily I have my own machine shop and can do most of it.

skido

iTrader: (1)

That's good research. The game car shows the popup panels yet has low profile non popup headlights. I intend to accomplish the same. Just like computer game cars are mixed models, it probably couldn't really be done, the needed parts may not exactly match up who's tried it? I probably should have selected a less glaring 2nd color!
I'll have to be satisfied with a "near" simulation of the simulation.
The finish on my "RUINER" is not yet completed, there's polishing and waxing yet to do. It'll look even better than these pics when it's finished. There's proper wheels to get and much more.
I do quality work, not hack jobs. I always strive to fix something better than original or OEM was.
I estimate this car will take 2 more years' work to be really "finished".
Every time I show some progress with the project people think it's the final product, so I'm leaving the 3rd Gen boards, it's all just too stiff and purist for me.

Six_Shooter

iTrader: (2)

If someone was serious enough it could be done exactly like in the game, most of the body would be custom though. The front end could likely be replicated by creating a custom nose and modified hood, and fitting it to stock fenders. It looks like a better starting point would be a Camaro front end, grafting the formula buldge onto a Camaro hood.

My only gripe I'm going to say is that you didn't own a "260ZX", you owned a "260Z", the "X" designation did not come around until the 1979 model year and is actually applied to the 280ZX, which is a different chassis, referred to as S130, while the 260Z chassis is an S30.

91 Droptop

I appologize, but in no way does that car have a "as good as any paint job out there look" been in the car business for 35 years (automotive finish) and if I could use rattle cans and get the same results I would be a multi millionaire. The reason I am out spoken about this stuff is that rattle cans are not made for cars, people can do what they want but please your paint is not as good as any work out there, this is just 3 photos of correct application of automive paint. If I could have used $350 in supplies dont you think I would have? would love to charge 5K for a paint job and only use 300 in product, it just is not the same level of finish. Again enjoy your car, you built it, you like it and that is all that really matters.

skido

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for clearing that up! Yes, it's a 260Z 2+2.
I also had to correct the tranny info on the Goat, it's not a turbo 400 as I thought, after some research it appears to be a "350 turbo hydramatic".
The in-game Ruiner is probably not accurately designed to exact specifications any of real car parts. One would have to have the developer's CAD design files to match the game car exactly. It most likely can only be said they are "similar".
I likewise only claim that my Firebird is similar to the GTA IV RUINER.
I do intend to make the Formula hood scoop for my RUINER.
I could just come up with a $1,000.00 to purchase and ship a Formula hood here but my finances won't allow it. I already have a base hood so I'll manufacture the scoop myself. I figure it will cost me about $20.00.
My 15" Z28 wheels resemble the game's RUINER wheels so I'll refinish them to match the game and be done with it.

skido

iTrader: (1)

It's in no way as good as real auto paint. If I could afford the compressor, guns and $400.00 a gallon auto paint I would have.
That Camaro is absolutely awesome!

91 Droptop

You can use single stage paint and a $100 gun, still beats the hell out of Rustoleum

skido

iTrader: (1)

A little more about my beginnings with this Firebird.
I saw this car sitting in the weeds for 5 years and finally dropped in to inquire about it. The guy said it was unsaveable and was going to be hauled out for scrap that week.
I gave him scrap price for it and hauled it away along with the title.
This car had been run and hacked to death. I don't think it ever had an oil or air filter change. Wiring was cut and hotted to the battery.
First time I tried to jack it up the jack went up but the car didn't. The jack just punched a hole through the jack point. OK, try under the A frame. The corner of the car lifts up but bends threatening to break off the doors and I noticed the clip was ripping out.
I dug a hole and moved the car over it, welded 3/16 plate steel and 1/4" angle all under to keep it from falling apart. About 80 lbs worth. There were no floor pans left, exhaust, fuel lines, brake lines, everything rotted completely off.
Nobody in his right mind would have attempted to try to save it.
After two years' work on frame, mechanical, electrical, body and engine it passed inspection and I could actually drive it.
The fenders and 1/4 panels were half rotted off.
This car was dead, hopeless, a lost cause, a rusted out piece of junk.
I'm not sinking any big amount of money in it, it'll never be 100%.
It looks a lot different now than when I first got it. It's roadable and safe.
After thinking about it awhile I have to agree with others here that the Cragars don't belong on this car. Not only because they're 14" and bad for gas mileage but they also look out of era. It's just that after looking at those ugly grey wheels for 4 years the chrome Cragars were such a shocking difference I guess I kinda lost my head,LOL!
The finish is not yet done. The pics so far are raw paint brought up to 2000 wet sand. For all that it looks so good I'm going to bypass compounding (I tried a little and it came out duller than the 2000) and go right to polishing, then wax.
There's still a ton of work to do, hatch and hood latches, wiring, headlight motors, engine breathing, get the radiator fan back on automatic, etc.
It'll get there eventually, maybe not. It's one of those deals where as soon as you have it all fixed something else breaks!
It doesn't look 100%, it never will, but I'm not ashamed to be seen driving it around.

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Sir, please don't take this the wrong way, but if you value your life, you need to park that car and find another one. If the frame was that bad, that car is a deathtrap. The first collision that you are involved in, with a vehicle or stationary object at any moderate speed is going to result in your car either breaking apart or crumpling up like an accordion. There's no car out there worth sacrificing your life for. With that amount of rust, no amount of patchwork or shoring up is going to make it safe to drive again. You would literally have to cut out the entire frame and weld in a new one.

2007xl50

I agree this car sounds like it should have went to the scape yard, I mean 80lbs of patches is alot! I think it's cool that the OP did the work himself, but I hate the paint job-don't care if it was done with a gun and the best paint-still hate it. Now I am very good with a rattle can, but would never paint a car with them for one and two I would never say my rattle can jobs are as good as a gun. I only paint stuff like old wheels, odds and ends and small parts with a can.

On a side not I like the old GTO alot.

skido

iTrader: (1)

It should have been sent to the scrapyard. However the car now has a stronger framework than the original ever had. I've tested it. It's safe. It will also absorb impact energy as designed.
I've been doing this type of work for 40 years, since my first car, a '51 Ford Victoria flathead V8 at age 19.
In 1968 I graduated from the Anne Arundel Vocational Technical Institute majoring in Automotive.
I've worked in various auto fields including collision repair, and body/paint.
I have painting skills. I've painted most of my cars, including the Ventura (lacquer)(those pics of me under the hood are pulling out the bent pushrods from the PO's botched valve adjustment job and why I got the car from him for $500 in 1985), the yellow/green Lincoln and Datsun 260 seen on these pages, using gravity and pressure feed guns.
I wish you guys would stop busting my *** about spray canning this junk Firebird. It requires a combination of very special techniques which I've developed.
I just can't seem to convince you how good it is (for what it is) even with pics, albeit with a substandard camera. It's a perfect, mirror finish. The paint is not auto quality but it doesn't need to be.
I recently was talking with a professional body/paint man, standing near the car, who didn't know it was rattlecan until I told him, and you wouldn't either.
If this was a viable, rebuildable car I never would have done it.
The paint design is a real eyesore. I wish I had chosen a more mild 2nd color but it's done and I'm leaving it as is.
I respect your feelings about painting a decent car with rattlecan, It's just not done, and I feel the same way!
I know how to care for paint too, this paint job will probably outlast the car.

badredbrd89

My God...

2007xl50

I'm not giving you a hard time, I'm just saying I don't like the paint job no matter how it was done or how much it cost. If you like it then good-it's your car. Your just not going to get love on here with a car like that. I mean it's cool you took a concept and made it happen and it could have tunred out worse, but I might have liked it if you would have done it to a Camaro and made it look like the car from the game since the game car really looks like a Camaro. Well good luck with the rest of the project.

DancesWithDeath

iTrader: (1)

I think it's cool as hell. Props man. Jealousy is a bitch.

Rob's 92 gta

Hey, I know how you feel. I have four kids and sometimes the money is to tight to do what you want so you do what you can. I payed 3000$ to get mine painted with no body work needed . The car you have was only worth a rattle can paint job . I think you did a good job on a bad car. If you find better one down the road then have it done at shop. Who knows, if some of the people were in the same boat as you are they may have done the same thing.

2007xl50

Yeah we are all jealous-you got us man LOL!

jay7199

I would like too see some before pics of the car, And some better pics of it as it sits.

I think its cool though, it was nearly a free car that was about too get scrapped and is now back on the road, sporting a GTA theme.. Just needs better wheels!

cal30_sniper

iTrader: (16)

Didn't I read somewhere that he paid $1000 just to begin with on this thing?

skido

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I paid $1,000.00 for it. I feel bad about it! Too much by far, but I didn't know how bad it was sitting in a field on 4 flat tires.
I saved a lot of money doing absolutely everything myself.
BTW, the car has a frame now, a light frame, but very effective.
I didn't just patch steel on the bottom. I made a bridge network between the clips.
I can jack the car up from anywhere and it doesn't twist.
The crumble zones are still valid.