Just because you had your...
Just because you had your car painted doesn't mean it can't look even better. Items such as new wheels, emblems, trim, and stripes can really accent a new paint job to make your car look its best.
There's nothing like a new paint job to improve the looks of your ride, but there are a few things you can do to get the most benefit from having your car painted. First, when the decision is made to paint your car, be sure you paint areas like doorjambs, the inside of the trunk, and the engine bay so they match the exterior of the car. Also, have the painter paint the upper and lower inner door frames with the properly coded interior paint. Then, once the fresh paint is applied, attention needs to be paid to the fine points that really accent a new paint job. Remember that shiny paint attracts attention, and when people pay more attention to your car they notice details like the condition of the interior, trim, chrome, emblems, and all the other items that set a good-looking car apart from the rest.
Instead of simply bolting your old emblems back onto the car, we suggest you replace them, or at least clean and polish them, before installation. The same goes for stainless trim, chrome, and the bumpers. While the chrome on your car may have looked ok before the car was painted, new paint will make old chrome look dull and show the age of the car.
The interior is another area that should be looked at after a paint job, especially the areas adjacent to the new paint. Tattered seats and old sill plates really become noticeable when the paint is new, so consider replacing or refurbishing these items while the car is being painted.
Another way to really set off a good paint job is by adding factory style stripes or a new set of wheels. Stripes kits for most Mopars are readily available from Year One, are inexpensive, easy to install, and really add to the muscular look of most Mopar body styles.
Mopar owners are lucky to have some cool factory wheels to choose from, but the factory wheels may need to be repainted or the trim rings and centers may need to be replaced to look their best. New aftermarket wheels are another good way to accent your car's new paint, and with so many new wheel styles available these days, the sky's the limit.
So when you paint your Mopar, don't forget to spend a little time on the rest of the car. You'll be even happier with it when the rest of the car looks as great as the paint.
While your car is being painted,...
While your car is being painted, don't forget to have the paint shop repaint the inside of the doors and other areas of the interior that were painted from the factory. The trim code for the interior color can be found on the fender tag, just below the paint code for the exterior.
Old wheels just don't look...
Old wheels just don't look good next to new paint, so we recommend either replacing or restoring your car's wheels once the new paint is applied. Companies such as Wheel Vintiques offer factory looking wheels, like these Magnum 500s that are made from billet aluminum.
Adding stripes to your car...
Adding stripes to your car will really accent your new paint job. Stripe kits are inexpensive, readily available for most Mopar body styles, and installing them is fairly straightforward.
Though just painting the car's...
Though just painting the car's exterior may be cheaper, you'll regret it later when you pop the hood. We recommend having the engine bay, doorjambs, and inner trunk prepped and painted at the same time as the exterior. It may cost you a few more dollars, but the end result will be worth the money.
The interior-especially the...
The interior-especially the areas adjacent to the paint-should be given some attention as well. Notice how nice the new sill plate looks in contrast to the old, discolored one that was replaced. Paying attention to details like this will ensure you get the most out of your new paint.
Notice how aftermarket wheels...
Notice how aftermarket wheels give the same car a different look. There are literally hundreds of aftermarket wheels on the market today, and shiny new wheels are second only to new paint when it comes to improving the look of your car.
New emblems are a fairly inexpensive...
New emblems are a fairly inexpensive way to accent your new paint job. If you can't afford them or if they aren't available for your car, at least clean, repaint, and polish the old emblems before putting them back on the car.