Do the lower sills look better painted black or body color?

[garyeanderson]

elan-f14/what-does-your-elan-plus2-look-like-today-t23626-360.html#p166653

Seems like John is advocating the factory decision to black out the bottom of the sills. I have done it both ways and I kind of believe that it is co;or dependent. My Brooklands green S2 does not need the blackening as it is dark enough to do the job. Some sprint style 2 tones become 3 tones and some times it looks odd to my eye. Seem like it needs a topic to me, John, what do you think?

Gary

[nebogipfel]

Seem like it needs a topic to me, John, what do you think?
Gary

Hello Gary,

It looks like you have started a topic

As you say I have already expressed my view but I do agree that it is much less of a problem (if indeed it is a problem) on dark coloured cars.

In my view, and I assume Lotus back in the day, the side profile looks cleaner if the lower part of the sill is less obvious and this is best achieved by painting it black so that it fades into the shadows.

It will be interesting to see what other folk think ........

[bcmc33]

BLACK

Just my opinion, of course.

[ken ob]

Black with all colours for me.

[holywood3645]

I opt for 'Baby Blue' or 'Baby Pink' on all Baby elans..... Oach!

[Tahoe]

To be correct all Elans should have the black paint, but I think it depends on 2 things.

First, are you concerned about originalty? If you are, then you will paint it black and also paint the car the colo(u)r it left the factory as.

Second, if you aren't concerned about originality, then it comes down to your personal taste, and a decision on does it look better with the colo(u)r you have chosen or not.

Personally, I think it looks right on most colo(u)rs, but not on all. It all depends on the end users personal taste or lack there of.

[collins_dan]

I'm yellow right now, but will be going to black on the lower sills. I will take before and after pictures. Over the winter, I painted the inside of the wheel wells black and have been surprised at how much better that looks. Makes the wheels look bigger and they fill the space better, IMHO. Dan

[Old English White]

Black sills on light colors, without on dark, Sprint's and race cars.

Christian.

[elansprint71]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InRDF_0lfHk&feature=related

Concurrent histories.

[Crusty]

Black sills on light colors, without on dark, Sprint's and race cars.

Christian.

Thats clever I cant even down load a picture..
Allways better in black and dont forget black around the spare wheel bit and st accross to the wheel

[nebogipfel]

The animated image illustrates very elegantly why they should always be painted black

EDIT: Re' the "Matt Black" I would always recommend satin or low gloss black for this type of application. Matt is fine on old fashioned school blackboards because it tends to retain every mark......not really what you want on your car

[ericbushby]

I agree it looks better black, but Crusty, what do you mean by the spare wheel bit and across to the wheel? I think I am missing something here.
Eric in Burnley
Blue S3SE DHC

[bcmc33]

The animated image illustrates very elegantly why they should always be painted black

Agreed - without reservation.

[trw99]

Bbbbbbbblack please!

Tim

[garyeanderson]

Like I said it depends on the car and the color. the black out treatment looks better on on light colored Coupes than dark Roadsters. You also have to have the inner area of the arches blacked out or it looks odd.

Great topic John

you should click on "new topic" more often

Gary