Painting Rovers:All you have to do is look at our Old Rovers and our opinions about painting Rovers become obvious. We don't. This is not to say they we won't--we have just been delaying it for awhile due to a combination of cost, labor, and predicted results. After all, the aluminum doesn't rust.
In my humble perspective, most freshly painted Rovers look terrible. Advanced polymer science has created paints that are too "glossy." The sexy curves of a Ferrari should have that buffed glossy finish, but does it belong on a Rover? I am not old enough to actually know but Da and gang claim that the cars oxidized out almost immediately. They never actually were glossy. A glossy Rover gets that tacky 70's super model look. Just like their lipstick the paint is often applied too thick, making the Rover look like a candy covered syrupy mess. Panel beaters know that it is far more difficult to get a flat panel looking good than a curved one. Glossy paints show all the warp, dings, and bumps in the average Rover body panel and this doesn't make me simle.
If you are going to paint your Rover be considerate. I hear you can put de-glossing agents in the paint and I would suggest a whole lot of that. If you have painted your Rover and done what in your opinion is a great job, let us know and I will post you viewpoint. I am looking for some help on this one. Send comments or pictures to paintingrover@oldrover.com.
And please, please, please, DO NOT PAINT THE @#$&%* TRIM of a Series Rover. It is not original and the car will not magically become a 90/100 even if you paint the trim. If you want a newer Rover with painted trim, buy one and keep that galvanized trim the way it came: naked and beautiful.