{"id":3013,"date":"2012-12-07T14:58:49","date_gmt":"2012-12-07T14:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/?p=3013"},"modified":"2024-04-03T14:13:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:13:13","slug":"a-history-of-automotive-paintwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/exterior\/a-history-of-automotive-paintwork\/","title":{"rendered":"A History of Automotive Paintwork"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Paint, and in particular, automotive paint, has a long and detailed history. As car manufacturers constantly strive to produce better, shinier, more durable paint coatings, car care product manufacturers invest time and effort in products that help enthusiasts keep the paintwork looking pristine. \u00a0The following is a potted history of the evolution of automotive paintwork courtesy of <a title=\"Autoglym\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/autoglym.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Autoglym<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>38000 Years BC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first samples of paint were produced by cavemen using hematite, manganese oxide and charcoal. Red or yellow ochre was used to give the paint colour and it was then used to produce cave drawings, some of which still exist today.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Cave Painting - The earliest paintings used hematite, manganese oxide, charcoal &amp; ochre\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Cave Painting - The earliest paintings used hematite, manganese oxide, charcoal &amp; ochre\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Cave-Paint.jpg\" alt=\"Cave Painting - The earliest paintings used hematite, manganese oxide, charcoal &amp; ochre\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Late 1800&#8217;s<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first motor-vehicles were produced. The paint technology on these vehicles was based on the same air-dry varnish systems that were used for wooden furniture and horse-drawn carriages. The paint required tedious brush application of multiple coats and the only colour available was black.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"The earliest cars resembled horse carriages.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The earliest cars resembled horse carriages - Henry Ford's first automobile.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1800-Cars.jpg\" alt=\"The earliest cars looked more like horse carriages.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1920&#8217;s<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>DuPont developed nitrocellulose lacquer systems which offered many colour choices and could be applied to the vehicle with a spray gun. However, 3-4 coats of paint were required to give a suitable finish and the lacquers had poor chemical resistance.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"DuPont developed nitrocellulose lacquer systems giving more colour choice.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"DuPont developed nitrocellulose lacquer systems giving more colour choice.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1920-Cars.jpg\" alt=\"DuPont developed nitrocellulose lacquer systems giving more colour choice.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1930&#8217;s<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Alkyd enamels were introduced on many car and truck models. These enamels formed a resistant film on the paintwork through a chemical reaction and they were much easier and quicker to apply. The drawback of this system was the paint oxidised rapidly in sunlight leaving a faded or dull finish.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Alkyd enamels were introduced to trucks &amp; cars.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Alkyd enamels were introduced to trucks &amp; cars. Ford Model A 5 Window Coupe.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1930-Cars.jpg\" alt=\"Alkyd enamels were introduced to trucks &amp; cars.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1950&#8217;s<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Acrylic lacquers were introduced which offered increased durability and a wide range of bright colours, including metallic.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"1950s saw a break through with acrylic lacquers in bright colours\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"1950s saw a break through with acrylic lacquers in bright colours - 1950 Cadillac Series 61\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1950-Cars.jpg\" alt=\"1950s saw a break through with acrylic lacquers in bright colours\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1970&#8217;s<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The base coat \/ clear coat system was introduced. This topcoat paint system was split into a pigmented enamel base coat followed by a clear enamel topcoat. Although very expensive the two layer system had many benefits. It allowed paint formulators to included UV inhibitors to protect the clear coat and pigments in the base coat from oxidation.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Two layer system included UV inhibitors to protect colours from fading.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Two layer system included UV inhibitors to protect colours from fading. Porsche 911 ST\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1970-Cars.jpg\" alt=\"Two layer system included UV inhibitors to protect colours from fading.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>1980s &#8211; 1990<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>New laws were enacted that governed the content and application of paints. The amounts of &#8216;volatile organic compounds&#8217; were reduced and &#8216;urethane&#8217; and &#8216;polyurethane&#8217; blends were introduced. Initially, these new paint systems began flaking away and were being damaged by ordinary waxes and polishes; however the paint industry worked furiously and was able to solve most of the problems early in the decade.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"New laws meant paint chemistry had to change. Manufacturers quickly solved teething issues.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"New paint systems reduced the amount of volatile organic compounds. Audi Quattro\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/1980-Car.jpg\" alt=\"New laws meant paint chemistry had to change. Manufacturers quickly solved teething issues.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>21st Century<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today&#8217;s paint systems, mostly base coat\/clear coats and base coat\/tint coats are better than ever. Most modern paint types present extraordinary colours, vivid depth and clarity, dramatically high gloss and remarkable durability if properly maintained.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Modern paints offer incredible depth of shine and many different colours\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Modern paints offer incredible depth of shine and many different colours Audi R8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/21C-Car.jpg\" alt=\"Modern paints offer incredible depth of shine and many different colours.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Autoglym products are used by more than twenty motor manufacturers, including Aston Martin, Jaguar and Morgan, either during their production or as part of their presentation process. Their continuous investment in research and development ensures Autoglym products keep pace with the latest advances in vehicle manufacture. Autoglym products combine ease of use and value for money with performance to the highest standards.<\/p>\n<p>The full range of Autoglym car care products can be found <a title=\"here\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/autoglym.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Ultimate Finish - Legendary Automotive Care\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ultimate Finish<\/a> has been at the forefront of paintwork protection for over 10 years and supplies\u00a0car care and car detailing products to discerning enthusiasts in over 80 countries worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>With thanks to Autoglym for their article &#8220;A History of Paint&#8221;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paint, and in particular, automotive paint, has a long and detailed history. As car manufacturers constantly strive to produce better,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","colormag_page_layout":"default_layout","_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1789],"tags":[144],"class_list":["post-3013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exterior","tag-autoglym"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"colormag-highlighted-post":false,"colormag-featured-post-medium":false,"colormag-featured-post-small":false,"colormag-featured-image":false,"colormag-default-news":false,"colormag-featured-image-large":false,"colormag-elementor-block-extra-large-thumbnail":false,"colormag-elementor-grid-large-thumbnail":false,"colormag-elementor-grid-small-thumbnail":false,"colormag-elementor-grid-medium-large-thumbnail":false},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"Sean Longworth-Smith","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bbad2899c07611826b7c9b0f0b54e5fc59aafc1ce7a309b1f6893c917ea67eb9?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":false,"magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Paint, and in particular, automotive paint, has a long and detailed history. As car manufacturers constantly strive to produce better,","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Exterior"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2531,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":false,"medium":false,"thumbnail":false},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"Sean Longworth-Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/author\/seanls\/"},"magazine_blocks_comment":1,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bbad2899c07611826b7c9b0f0b54e5fc59aafc1ce7a309b1f6893c917ea67eb9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theultimatefinish.co.uk\/car-care-blog\/exterior\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Exterior<\/a>","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>A History of Automotive Paintwork - 1800&#039;s to present day.<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A History of Automotive Paintwork - 1800&#039;s to present day. 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