Hidden Quality Part 2 - Painting a Masterpiece

In part 2 of our Hidden Quality series we continue our deep dive into the unseen craftsmanship we pour into every restoration, this time exploring the secrets behind the legendary Hemmels paint finish.

At virtually every event where Hemmels classics are featured we receive compliments on the paint finish, and how our cars seem to stand out from the others. Invariably we are asked about our secret – do we add additional layers of paint, or use a special mixture?

The key to an amazing finish is a much less exciting aspect. We simply make the commitment at the very beginning of the restoration process to have a superb finish, and we strive for perfection from the point that the shell is taken back to bare metal.

After 60 years on the road any car will have shown signs of not only wear and tear, but general alignment variances. Gaps, panels and swage lines natural have drifted askew.

Hence, every aspect of the metal work is made true to its original design and hand-sculpted to perfection.

Only when it absolutely perfect while our painters break out their spray guns and paint a client’s masterpiece in their specific choice of colour.

While we're preparing the bare metal shell, clients carefully create the unique colour from personalised samples..

Incredibly, It takes about 9 months of toil and commitment until the car’s shell and closing panels (doors, bonnet, boot lid, soft top cover panel) are prepared for the final finish.

After the shell and closing panels are painted, we spend days just fettling and polishing the car for the perfect finish.

We make a commitment to perfection at the very beginning of every restoration project we undertake. To "paint a masterpiece" it takes months and months of preparation that clients will never see - all part of the Hidden Quality in every Hemmels classic.