Flame Paint Jobs

Handpainted Hotrods Still Melt Hearts

Okay, we're all familiar with the incredible photographic decals and transfers that set our hotrods alight. Roaring flames shoot across the body of the car, and the effects are amazing, right? Sure. But what did they do in the old days, pre the manufacturing of adhesive colour images? Well, it was all done by the magic of paint! Anyone who has seen a real flame paint job on a hotrod will have to agree the results are awesome and really add an individual identity to a car. Hot rods are meant to be hot, and flaming decorative techniques really make them swelter. But how do they do it, and if you want to buy a hot rod, how feasible is it have such a work of art on your car?

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It's almost a given that those who buy hot rods will want to adapt them to some degree to reflect their personalities, not to mention the essences of the cars themselves. Hot Rods aren't by any means your Average Joe vehicles. They're head-turners, they're on fire'! There's a whole image thing with hot rods that is synonymous with a little bit of danger, a bit of hard man iconry. And how better to reflect the slightly risqu and rebellious aspect of your hot rod car and your persona than by having flames caressing your favourite beast's bodywork.

The range of ready-to-go decals and transfers these days is hugely extensive, with many of them using photo-representation which can produce very realistic results. And while these effects can really make a car pop' there's nothing quite so awe-inspiring as a genuine flame paint job.

The process of flaming, depending on how detailed a flame effect is required can be quite a laborious one. It requires many separate stages of masking out the flame shapes and, even in the case of the most simple looking artwork, repeated layers of paint need to sprayed onto the body. People who buy hot rods, for the most part are buying dreams, they're buying an extension of the powerful inner aspects of themselves, something that flies in the face of all that is humdrum and run-of-the mill in the world. So it stands to reason that they want their hotrod to be as hot as it can be.

No true masterpiece comes cheap, and a good quality flame paintwork job by a renowned hot rod paint artist is something you might have to save up for. It is after all his skill you are paying for and there's no question that a truly professional paintjob makes a big difference. But don't sell your home and your cats yet, you can have such pieces done in stages without them looking out of place or unfinished. Think of your hotrod as a work of art in progress. Rome and all that? The best things take time.

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James F. SullivanIf you have any questions please contact us at, jim@hotrodshowplace.com">jim@hotrodshowplace.com or call (865) 719-1456. http://www.HotRodShowPlace.com

How much would it cost to make a hot rod?
This is purely hypothetical, but suppose that I got a hold of a decent-quality '54 Chevy that runs, has no rust, etc. If I took it to a custom shop, how much would it cost to give it a chop, some body work, a flame paint job, new engine, AC, etc.? I'm not talking super-high-tech fancy stuff, just a good custom job. Can anyone give me a ballpark figure? I really have no idea what it would be.

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I have an 02 Harley with Custom flames paint job, but is starting to bubble around gas tank...Any solutions?
2002 Harley Custom 1200 Sportster. House of Kolors paint job about 2 years old. I think I overfilled the gas tank last time and the bike was sitting for about 7 weeks while my kids were here for the summer. Just looking someway to fix the bubbling, around 4 small bubbles just circling the gas tank opening.

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what is the car in Carlito's way?
In the movie al pacino briefly rides in a car with flame paint job etc. what make is it. being an Aussie i'm not up on the U.s cars.

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The Arsonist Flame painter on Spike TV?
Does anyone have a link that I might use to watch the episode where they did the flame paint job step by step on that dragster? I believe it was on Spike TV Powerblock. I'm building a go kart for my kids, and I bought an old go kart with a cool fiberglas Jeep Wrangler body on it. Im doing the fiberglas work and Im ready to paint it, so I'd love to practice with my new Airbrush kit and try some flames on the hood of it. Thank you!!

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