The 1987 Corvette Convertible paint job and colour change.
Having and working on one custom car is often not enough. With each car you own there will additional distractions. In December 2008, I purchased a 1987 Corvette convertible from Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn Michigan from George Armos. One of the previous owners did a considerable amount of work on the car. It had a rebuilt engine, custom exhaust, new shocks, upgraded rims and tires, new convertible top, and new carpets inside. I felt this was a decent deal for what I paid for the car.
Now I need to divide my time between the everyday car, the 1929 Ford Roadster, or the 1987 Corvette convertible. To add into the mix, there are always renovations on my 142 year old Victorian house. Not only that, I still have a day job as a Coordinator and Professor at a local community college. There is not much time left at the end of any day!
In the fall of 2009, a team of 2nd level apprentices lead by Reg Chavis the Coordinator of the Auto Body Programs for Fanshawe College in London, Ontario took on the task of the paint job. In short, the apprentices preformed an amazing event on the Corvette. It was dismantled, with many coats of paint removed. The hood alone had 6 coats of paint on it, with many of the coats sprayed on without even wet sanding the previous coat of paint. It peeled like a banana! Minor repairs were completed and the door handles shaved off with a shiny new coat of paint. Changing the colour from a chocolate brown to the new light beige gold that has a mild silver flip was no easy task. To look at the car today, you would never know that there was a colour change made on the Corvette.
1987 Corvette Convertible - after a paint job - The Corvette was Overhauled by students at Fanshawe College in London Ontario. The car was dismantled, many layers of paint removed, with minor body repairs, and the door handles shaved off.
My 1987 Corvette at the Strathroy Turkey Fest Summer 2009 - A great show with lots of very nice cars.
These students did an amazing amount of work in 8 weeks. At times I wondered if the Corvette would be finished before the apprentices finished their school term and headed back to their own shops. Reg mentioned to me, that this was the first time a class of apprentices took on such and big job. Congratulations fellows, you did well.
Check out the above video to view the entire process form the beginning to the finished product and finally at a local cruise.