1952 AD roadster

[duane]

Best to all! I have an on-going question regarding the color; Silver Gunmetal. Does anyone know whether the color is solid or metallic? A single stage application? lacquer? Etc. Also do you know the sources for the (beige) fabric top and interior? I found some parts in UK via ASCO, awaiting arrival. Trudging forward! Thanks in advance. Duane

[Phillip]

Hey Duane,

Metallic paints were available as early as the 1930's and Singer employed them in the 1950's on the 4AD, probably in an attempt to spruce up the look of their aging design and to perhaps appeal more to the American market.

I had a Coronation Blue '54 4ADT with original paint and it was metallic and had a grey interior. Lori Seller has a '54 4AD that was gunmetal silver originally with red interior and the silver was metallic. Same for a British Green '54 4ADT owned by Kenlis Pearce, which has a tan interior.

The problem with these early finishes seems to be that they lose their shine and go quite flat. I am going to guess they used a lacquer-based paint, which was most common at the time, but I cannot say for sure.

The interesting thing is that my 4ADTs paint had a very fine flake used in the metallic and John Lewis, who bought the car, had it repainted in the original colour. The painter had to specially mix a very fine metallic to get the right 'sheen' and I have to say that the car looked spectacular. The metallic finish on a 4AD really brings out all the curves in the way the light catches it.

Sorry, can help you with the top material - the original tweedy weave type isn't available - but maybe Dave Green, our 4AD Registrar, can help you with a source in the USA.

Hope that helps!

[Phillip]

Duane,

Here's a photo of Otto Valastro's 4AD in sliver with the beige interior. The interior is piped in red.

4AD_Silver and beige.jpg (178.57 KiB) Viewed 1146 times