Adriatic Blue gone after 24 years

[Jim Ratto]

End of an era for me, personally. As of March 2013 my '67 has gone in for cosmetic rework. All this kind of started going through my head about 8-9 years ago when I saw the clear on my old paint beginning to cloud over on the roof in a few spots. Earlier this year after taking the car on a hard, grimy run up CA highway 33 up out of Ojai CA, I brought it home and my son Lucas and I gave it a good bath. While towel drying the car, I found the clear had begun to peel from base coat. I knew it was time. Ordered up the PPG Porsche Zenitblau Metallic yesterday...
So a new era begins. After all the miles, trips, passes @ Sacramento, Sears Point and Carlsbad, all the VW events up and down California, all the crazy nights street racing, the car's getting a new lease on life and a new color. I hope the next 24 years are as much fun as the last. Keep you guys posted.

Jim

[javabug]

End of an era for you, and all of us who've lived through your stories. I can't wait to see it, Jim.

[johnl]

Jim, looking forward to see the new improved version............  Nothing like fresh paint and experiencing that first FLAW.....

[wolfswest]

sad to see it go like it was but I'm glad you keep a metallic colour!  I love a proper metallic colour cal looker!

Keep the stories flowing!

[Jim Ratto]

Thanks for the kind comments, I'm excited about the new color too. As with any re-do, things are snowballing. We'll see how far I can tolerate adding new this and new that. Last thing I want is some prima donna that's afraid to see rain, dust, and miles. Pics to follow once we see some color laid down.

[danny gabbard]

When do ya think the color's going on jim ? Figure out wheel finish ?

[Rick Meredith]

Whew... scared me there. When I read the subject I thought you had SOLD it!

Can't wait to see the new paint Jim.

[Jim Ratto]

hey Rick.... naw, it's not going anywhere, my kids would hang me, not to mention I couldn't live with myself.
Danny, maybe next week. Not sure on the wheel details yet, but leaning towards the gunmetal we talked about.
Thanks

[Brandon Sinclair]

Looking forward to see the car done with it's new color Jim!  Who is shooting the paint and doing the wet sanding and buff?  Make sure they do it properly with no swirls.  You could always get a 3M clear bra (or whatever they call it nowadays) if you want to prevent rock marks in the front and on the rear fenders, but road rash is just part of having a driver.  After the first 50 you will get over it...hopefully!

[Dave Galassi]

Jim, we should all aspire to use our cars so much that we burn through the clear coat and have the front end peppered with chips.  Not to mention more engines than a year's worth of Bernie Bergmann ads.  You and that '67 have been through a lot together.

Legendary.

Wait, a legend can't necessarily be verified, and I know what this car has done.........................

If you change out the glove box, make sure you keep all the time slips, pizza delivery addresses and the bottle opener.

[Jim Ratto]

Hey Brandon, local guy here in SF Valley (van Nuys). He's a dream to deal with. Everytime I stop in he shows me something else he wants to address ("I found this crack, you ever see this? You see this wavy spot?") and I say "aww not a big deal, I drive the crap out of this car, no need to- " And he stops me everytime and says "someday you're going to pass this car down to your boys... let's make it right". His heart's in it.
Thanks Dave. Funny when I was ripping the car to pieces last month, I was findng all kinds of junk under the mats, stuffed under back seat, etc. Keeping the orig glovebox, along with the time slips, the map of CA Frank and I used in '89 when we drove to Los Ang from Pleasanton via Highway 1, couple of traffic tickets, dash plaques from Pleasanton Bug Bash, toll receipts for SF Bay bridge, Sonic Youth cassette tape, half a pair of old Ray Bans....

[Russell]

Jim

Is the new blue the same as the other 67 that we dont see nowadays.... but may appear latter ?

Cheers

Russell

[Jim Ratto]

Hi Russell
Not even close.  

[retrorick]

russell , if i'm thinking of the same '67 ,that is/was a Minerva blue

[Jim Ratto]

the "other" blue

[Cornpanzer]

Looking forward to seeing the re-do. Remember, twice the $$$ budget and three times the time allotted.   

[Jim Ratto]

Thanks Dave

Here's a test pass my guy did on the license plate light housing, in overcast So Cal lighting

[Fastbrit]

Looking forward to seeing the re-do. Remember, twice the $$$ budget and three times the time allotted.  

And while you're about it, cut out the parcel tray, throw on a turbo and then decide to put IDAs back on it a few years later...  

PS - cool colo(u)r Jimbo!  

[Jim Ratto]

PS - cool colo(u)r Jimbo!  

Thanks KS

[Mike Maize]

Great color choice Jim! You have got to be excited...

[speedwell]

berglar clones    there's one in japan

[Jim Ratto]

No Speedwell, not same blue.

[Jim Ratto]

993 Carrera Zenith Blue. Just need time to put it all back together.

[hotrodsurplus]

993 Carrera Zenith Blue. Just need time to put it all back together.

Damn. That looks even better than I would've imagined. Good choice. The right metallic can make a curvy, pre-war-design look fantastic.

[Jim Ratto]

thanks dude, appreciate the kind words. 

[Jason Foster]

[TexasTom]

You gotta love how many VW and Porsche colors change with lighting ... excellent choice.

[The Action Is Go]

VERY Nice!

[RhoadsVW]

Look forward to seeing it Jim.. Don't think you really see the true color it is in pictures. But it does look good in pictures.   Dave Rhoads

[Jim Ratto]

thanks guys, I'm pretty excited to see the car get a new lease on life after 20+ years of use. It has a whole new look to it. Not quite as subtle. My favorite part about the new color is my 5 yr old boy, Lucas helped me choose it. I'm very happy with the results.
Hopefully it'll be terrorizing the streets in a few months.