Seen any good retro paint schemes?

[Watch Carefully]

I'm a fan of Austin Healeys and early Corvettes (and even Wiesmann roadsters) and I realize I really dig authentic-looking vintage 2-tone paint schemes.
I've seen loads of photos on-line of Z cars with paint schemes which attempt to capture the sort of vibe I like but many fall flat (see below).

I'd be grateful if folks here would share images of custom paint jobs that actually improve the retro look of the Z3 (or at least get the job done well).
Cheers,
Brad

http://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/4371675036_374ce9b627_o.jpg

[khammack]

I have also seen many people try for the retro look, but I have never seen any that come close to working.

[JoshS]

Different people will have different opinions about what works, but here's one. My personal take is that a Z3 is not a Corvette or a Healey, so don't try to make it look like one.

[Mr Bingley]

Different people will have different opinions about what works, but here's one. My personal take is that a Z3 is not a Corvette or a Healey, so don't try to make it look like one.

Without chrome bumpers, mirrors, and wire knock-off's it really doesn't work. Could use a luggage rack too.

[BladeRunner919]

Short answer is 'no'. Seen attempts, none good.

[Terry F.]

This gent Peter has a retro-ish car in HK but his mods don't extent to paint. It's real nice, FWIW...



Tapatalk w/ S7 Edge. As such, as much as I would like to, I can't vote in your poll.

[Watch Carefully]

Thanks Terry, et al.
I've been giving thought to how some of the retro-themed paint jobs I've seen could be modified to actually enhance the look of my Z3.
I've seen the scalloped sides, the Cobra-like twin stripe jobs, some hood-and-trunk attempts, but nothing inspires me.
My car has very tired paint, many chips in the nose, and various scuffs--it was apparently a 15-year FL car and I know the second owner, here in PA, stored it outdoors for 5 years.
So I'm just considering options for now--other things need attention--and I don't intend a 'restoration'. I'll probably go for general tidying-up while I make some subtle modifications.
Cheers,
Brad

[khammack]

A good detail shop can do wonders with chips and old paint. It may be worth your time to get estimates from some of the "good" shops in your area.

[potxoli]

I'm a new Z3 owner too and my car also has tired paint. Not terrible, but I would love for it to be better. I will probably just go the detail route and call it a day, but a wrap could be interesting. I day dream of turning my black roadster Laguna Seca blue or possibly Grigio Telesto.

[Watch Carefully]

A good detail shop can do wonders with chips and old paint. It may be worth your time to get estimates from some of the "good" shops in your area.

Thanks! I was wondering whether some professional attention could restore the finish without breaking the bank.
I'll check with a couple places.

[Terry F.]

Saw this on FB today...

Tapatalk w/ S7 Edge. As such, as much as I would like to, I can't vote in your poll.

[BimmerBreaker]

I could see running around like that for a bit if it was vinyl... might be a fun look for awhile

[m18]

I love most stock Z3 colors. But when I saw this custom it blew my mind:
gulfz3.jpg
(source: facebook group)

And on that inspiration, one could try a Martini racing paintjob (wrap) as well.

[Vinci]

I wondered what a Z would look like with the two-tone blue/silver paint scheme my old Datsun 280ZX had. I never wondered enough to paint anything, but I liked that look.

(not mine, just found on Google)
001.jpg

[BladeRunner919]

I love most stock Z3 colors. But when I saw this custom it blew my mind:
gulfz3.jpg
(source: facebook group)

And on that inspiration, one could try a Martini racing paintjob (wrap) as well.

The problem with that one is that I associate that colour scheme with Porsche.

[Watch Carefully]

The problem with that one is that I associate that colour scheme with Porsche.

I agree--the Gulf livery looks great and is even inspiring on the right cars, but I don't think the Z3 is among them.

I've admired many options from Wiesmann, but some are over-the-top (i.e., the side scoop and color carry-over on the steering wheel and upholstery) and I'm unsure whether they could be tastefully adapted to the Z3 nose and lines.



This version really needs to be toned down, IMO:

[Watch Carefully]

Using the Wiesmann as inspiration, I tried a rough sketch using my car (silver hardtop over schwartz body) and German flag colors...deliberately attempting to make it less flamboyant than the cars above.
Body would remain black, but what is shows as light grey here would be the same silver as the top:



The color change would not be obvious from this view, I imagine.

[deni2s]

Looks like racing stripes (had seen a lot of them on z3), which is more for american cars, on german cars it looks silly. Imho you should stick to one time period, don't try to mix them. Remeber that Z3 is already a homage to 328, please, don't ruin it to mimic other models.

[Watch Carefully]

Looks like racing stripes (had seen a lot of them on z3), which is more for american cars, on german cars it looks silly. Imho you should stick to one time period, don't try to mix them. Remeber that Z3 is already a homage to 328, please, don't ruin it to mimic other models.

Oh, I probably won't get around to doing it anyway...maybe I'll just put in Corvette-style taillights.

[potxoli]

oh, i probably won't get around to doing it anyway...maybe i'll just put in corvette-style taillights.
:d

lol

[deni2s]

Oh, I probably won't get around to doing it anyway...maybe I'll just put in Corvette-style taillights.

Probably you had seen ferrari and german porsche with quad round taillights produced before chevy started to use them... From modern cars more well known in Europe are nissan g-tr and lotuses. I am not sure where hamann got the idea to use round taillights in body kit for z3, but probably from bmw 2002 or ferrari (as they did bodykits for ferrari's with some very design similar details as on z3 at the same time period). I did my homework before applying mods on my car. Did you?

[vanne]

I think the nicest retro mod you can do is get M mirrors for your z3, its not paint, but it completes the car imho.

[Mr Bingley]

Our cars are old enough now to look retro without doing anything to them but driving them around. None of the two-tone paint schemes seem to work--there just aren't natural character lines to define the breaks, and so they look wrong. I have the factory luggage rack, and I think that gives it a bit of a classic tilt.

[CMM3]

Not really all that relevant but it shows another variation of what multiple colors look like on a Z3.