Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Footer on Friday,March 14, 2025, 09:30:14 AM
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Has anyone ever tried to paint the flexible trim that goes around the windscreen? The corners are metal but the trim is a laminated plastic/chrome foil sandwich.
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Has anyone ever tried to paint the flexible trim that goes around the windscreen? The corners are metal but the trim is a laminated plastic/chrome foil sandwich.
How about (and this is thinking outside the box...) going to a shop that does vinyl wrapping and talk the folks into trying to wrap them in chrome vinyl?
What do you have to loose?
Just a thought...
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I thought of wrapping, too. But wouldn’t you need access to the back? Or is that not how wrapping works?
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That hadn’t come to mind but thanks for the suggestion. I will research some of the shops to see if wrapping is a possibility. The possibility of painting remains in running.
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The paint will not be reflective so not good in my opinion. Why not try wrapping it yourself, what have you got to lose.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303235897201?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=omC66dT1Qa6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=oObBdSE1R3-&var=602222055141&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
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Has anyone ever tried to paint the flexible trim that goes around the windscreen? The corners are metal but the trim is a laminated plastic/chrome foil sandwich.
How about (and this is thinking outside the box...) going to a shop that does vinyl wrapping and talk the folks into trying to wrap them in chrome vinyl?
What do you have to loose?
Just a thought...
You can buy silver tape, used for sealing joints between expanded foam insulation sheets.
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Sparkrite your suggestion looks promising and I will look into it more. This appears to be a good option
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Sparkrite your suggestion looks promising and I will look into it more. This appears to be a good option
Someone in town here (Fall River MA) did their car like this. Blinding at the light when the sun hits it.
(No, not an option in my mind for a Europa.)
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:confused:
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It reminds me when I was much younger, putting Vinyl stripes down along the quarter panels and door of my 67 Firebird.
It lasted for about 3 years getting rock chips, but the problem was trying to get it off,. heat worked but kept cracking in 1/4' pieces that stuck to the scraper. Sanding,: FUNNY: don't go there, melted.
Then I received a package of stainless-steel window trim that the supplier wrapped in cling free saran wrap took nearly a day to peel off . :confused:
Wraps do look nice, and it fooled allot of people thinking it was paint, just do a few test pieces first to work it.
Dakazman
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Thanks Dman. I’m looking at two possibilities for vinyl wrap, one is DIY and the other is professionally done. My corner pieces are good and the problem is matching, or coming close to the same finish/appearance. Supposedly, removal is not a problem. We’ll see.
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Thanks Dman. I’m looking at two possibilities for vinyl wrap, one is DIY and the other is professionally done. My corner pieces are good and the problem is matching, or coming close to the same finish/appearance. Supposedly, removal is not a problem. We’ll see.
The corner pieces never perfectly matched the chrome trim; two different substances. Back in the 80s, you could get the original trim (I replaced it on 444R when I repainted the car in the spring of '83) and it was close, but a bit off color.
Maybe have the corners wrapped, too? Would be a bit fiddly, to be honest, but worth a try.
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RD sold me this trim but I removed the coating by sanding. Others have said to use oven off but I just didn’t get out to shop . Then I polished up . Another member made his trim out of wood and then wrapped
My wife’s car has/ had some wrap to it’s roofs molding SS strips but are flaking off . If you get a warranty on the wrap it might be a game changer.
D’man
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There was a Europa for sale on Hagerty that had all the bright work painted with a matt pebble finish. Everything, the bumpers, headlight rings, mirrors, door handles and the entire window trim. Not my cup of tea but made for a unique look.
(https://photos.classiccars.com/cc-temp/listing/193/2878/51448579-1974-lotus-europa-std.jpg)
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Good point Brian on wrapping the corners and if the wrap doesn’t match I may do that.
Dman, when you first did the windshield trim I thought it looked very good and your pictures here reinforce my opinion.
Two issues for me with the trim available from RD, size and price. I checked a couple of months ago and the trim and matching corners were a lot although I don’t recall the exact number, something like $500.
Dreamers painted example looks good and there are chrome paints available.
The pro shop I went to showed me a black example on some side window trim and it looked very good.
After I get the windshield out I could paint one piece of trim for comparison. If I don’t like it I can clean it off and do the wrap. I’m still waiting for warm weather here in Michigan but I’ll keep everyone posted with lots of pictures. All of the input is very helpful and I thank everyone.
Course if I win the lottery I could pay someone to do it for me while I’m breaking in the Ferrari!
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I’m hoping you hit the lottery then . Life will be interesting.
You got a plan stick to it, it’s all about what makes you happy.
Dman.
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I can’t improve on that. :I-agree: