News

Chris Ryan Upgrades Mid-Century Masterpieces for the 21st Century

A little more than 3,000 Continental Mark IIs were built. As rare as they were on the road back in the day, they are even harder to find on the custom scene. Still, when Chris Ryan found a rusty ’56 for sale on Craigslist, the elegant lines shined with possibility.

PPG Sets Q3 Custom Painting Classes

PPG has announced the schedule for its custom refinish painting classes for July, August and September. Held at PPG Business Development Centers (BDCs) throughout the United States, PPG’s custom painting classes are part of the company’s overall commitment to training.

The Diesel Brothers Build Intimidating Trucks

One of the craziest success stories in the automotive business today is that of Dave “Heavy D” Sparks and his best friend, “Diesel Dave” Kiley. What began as a small used car lot has grown into a massive online truck marketplace (DieselSellerz.com), a custom shop (Sparks Motors) and a popular Discovery Channel TV show, Diesel Brothers. The company’s business plan is pure genius, and its custom paint shop is pure PPG.

PPG Offers Special Airbrushing Class with Shannon MacDonald

PG has teamed up with celebrated airbrush artist Shannon MacDonald for what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for aspiring airbrush artists. On July 17–18, at the PPG Business Development Center in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, Shannon MacDonald will lead a high-energy, two-day advanced airbrushing class in which she will share her airbrushing techniques and demonstrate the many advantages of using Envirobase^® High Performance waterborne basecoat for airbrush work.

PPG-Painted Vehicles Reap Honors at SEMA

Cars and trucks painted with PPG products captured an array of prestigious awards at the recent SEMA Show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The annual show attracts automotive industry professionals from around the world, and this year more than 100,000 visitors were treated to displays of custom-built vehicles exhibiting the latest trends in hot colors and advanced finishes. The wins affirmed PPG’s leadership position as the custom car world’s top choice in automotive refinish products.

PPG-Painted Car Takes 2018 Ridler Award

A heavily customized 1957 Chevrolet dubbed “Imagine” and sporting a gleaming silver PPG finish claimed the prestigious Don Ridler Memorial Award at the recent 66th Detroit Autorama. The annual event, a gathering of eye-popping, exceptional custom-built cars and trucks, drew an extremely competitive field of entrants vying for the coveted honor. It was the sixth time in eleven years that an entry painted with automotive products from PPG took the prize.

PPG Announces 2018 Show Truck Tour Schedule

PPG today announced the 2018 appearance schedule of its popular show truck. The bold red, white and blue PPG tractor-trailer rig — a rolling exhibit of premium PPG products — will kick off its coast-to-coast excursion on March 9 at the 8th annual Goodguys Spring Lone Star Nationals at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The truck will make a total of 18 appearances, concluding its tour season Nov. 16 at WestWorld of Scottsdale in Arizona.

A Look Inside the PPG Boneyard at SEMA 2017

At this year's SEMA show, The PPG Boneyard booth gave visitors plenty to scream about, featuring world-class custom cars, a Halloween-themed Harley Davidson, and a haunting display of artwork from the industry's most talented artists. Take a look inside The PPG Boneyard for some special edition videos, photos, and news from SEMA 2017.

PPG-Painted Cars Capture Top Awards

PPG-painted cars took home major awards at the recent Shades of the Past 35th annual Hot Rod Roundup and the Goodguys 31st West Coast Nationals. Both events attract some of the nation’s best custom car builds, making for highly spirited awards contests.

PPG Scores Big at Goodguys Nationals

Vehicles sporting PPG finishes drew enthusiastic crowds at the 20th annual Goodguys PPG Nationals held July 7–9 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. Tens of thousands of visitors braved a day and a half of wind, rain, thunder and lightning before the weather cleared and the sun shone on the more than 6,000 gleaming custom cars and trucks on display. While every vehicle on the Expo grounds was a genuine eye-catcher, several PPG-painted cars and a unique truck stood out and captured key honors in several highly competitive categories.

PPG-Painted Car Takes Ridler at Detroit Autorama

A PPG-painted 1933 Ford Roadster, “Renaissance Roadster,” took home the coveted Don Ridler Memorial Award at the 65th Detroit Autorama recently held at Cobo Center in the heart of the Motor City. Owned by Buddy Jordan of San Antonio, Texas, and built by Steve Frisbie and his team at Steve’s Auto Restoration in Portland, Ore., the Renaissance Roadster garnered the first Ridler award for the Frisbie team.

Artist Spotlight: Shannon MacDonald

Acclaimed artist Shannon MacDonald has wowed fans all over the world with her unmistakable talent and creativity. Known for her vivid, daring, hyper-realistic expressions, Shannon’s art has graced everything from guitars, drums, motorcycles, boats and cars to her immensely popular canvases and illustrations.

Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year Award Won by PPG-painted Studebaker

A gleaming black 1953 Studebaker was named the 2016 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year. The car was customized and painted by Alan Johnson and his team at Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop in Gadsden, Ala., using PPG refinish products.

Cam Miller Wins SEMA Battle of the Builders

Cam Miller, working out of his shop HS Customs in Logan, Utah, took the big prize at the recent SEMA show in Las Vegas, claiming the prestigious 2016 Battle of the Builders award with a PPG-painted brilliant white 1969 Camaro.

PPG Offers a Colorful Mix at SEMA

PPG is rolling out a rainbow of cars, trucks and motorcycles at booth 24601 at this year’s SEMA show set for Nov. 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Show visitors are invited to the PPG display to see what happens when the industry’s premium refinish products are placed in the hands of the custom car world’s most talented builders and painters.

PPG-Painted Custom Builds Take Major Goodguys Awards

A 1967 Chevelle and a 1961 Ford F-100 pickup—both painted with PPG products—earned top honors from the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association last week.

PPG in Full Color at SEMA

PPG is tipping its hat to color through a display of dazzling paint jobs and world-class custom cars, trucks and motorcycles at this year’s SEMA show set for Nov. 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

PPG Painted Cars and Trucks Shine at Shades of the Past

Cars and trucks bearing PPG finishes carried off several key awards at the annual Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup held September 9–10 at Dollywood Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. This year the event introduced the Street Rodder Triple Crown of Rodding consisting of three prestigious honors.

PPG-Painted Oldsmobile Wins Hot August Nights Cup

A dazzling 1939 Oldsmobile Series 60 convertible dubbed “Olds Cool,” painted by Charley Hutton using PPG products, captured the inaugural Hot August Nights Cup on August 6 at the recent namesake classic car competition in Reno, Nev.

PPG Shines at the Goodguys Nationals

PPG Industries took a starring role at the 19th annual Goodguys PPG Nationals held July 8–10 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. The annual PPG Dream Car award winners were named, and a PPG-painted car took Street Rod of the Year honors.

PPG's Charley Hutton Delivers Another Ridler Award-Winning Finish

An immaculate 1939 Oldsmobile convertible sporting a custom-mixed metallic PPG ENVIROBASE^® High Performance finish by renowned painter Charley Hutton won the 53rd annual Ridler Award at the recent 2016 Detroit Autorama held at Cobo Hall on the city’s waterfront.

Darryl Hollenbeck Claims 2016 AMBR Award with His PPG-Painted Roadster

Acclaimed custom car builder and painter Darryl Hollenbeck won the 2016 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., Jan. 29–31.

DITZLER^® Satin Clear Poster Now Available

This awesome 1969 Camaro built and painted by Detroit Speed, Inc sports the low gloss finish that can be achieved using the newly released DITZLER^®Satin Clear Kit. A great addition for any shop or car enthusiast’s collection!

PPG Launches Ditzler^® Satin Clear Kit

PPG’s lineup of VIBRANCE COLLECTION® custom paint finishes has been expanded with the launch of DSC5250 Ditzler Satin Clear Kit. The new kit includes a quart of VC5250 Ditzler Satin Clear and a half pint of VH7250 Ditzler Satin Clear Hardener.

2015 Limited Edition Metal Sign

Looking to expand your sign collection? Or maybe just wanting to add some vintage art to your shop? The 2015 Limited Edition Vibrance Collection custom finishes Metal Sign is now available.

Available Now—VWM500 Custom Midcoat

PPG Automotive Refinish has introduced VWM500 Custom Midcoat, a solvent-borne, VOC-compliant VIBRANCE COLLECTION^® product formulated exclusively for application with waterborne basecoats. VWM500 allows painters to use Vibrance Collection special-effect pigments and dyes to seamlessly create multiple color layers—including custom candies, micas or pearl midcoat layers—over waterborne basecoats.

New VC5700 DITZLER^® Custom Clear

PPG Automotive Refinish has expanded its line of Vibrance Collection custom paint finishes with the addition of VC5700 Ditzler Custom Clear. Designed to work with all Vibrance Collection custom colors, the new clear delivers show-quality gloss for restoration, refinish and custom work.

Updates to the PPG Show Truck

So by now you've probably seen the new patriotic paint job on the PPG Show Truck. Now check out all the cool new updates that have been added.

PPG Show Truck Gets a Bold New Look

PPG Automotive Refinish has repainted its popular show truck. The truck, a 75-foot 2016 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer rig now features a fresh red, white and blue paint scheme reminiscent of the stars and stripes of the American flag. The spectacular paint job shows off the vibrant colors, extreme graphics and unrivaled special effects that PPG’s commercial products inspire and encourage.

2015 PPG Show Truck Tour Dates Released

PPG Automotive Refinish has announced the 2015 appearance schedule of its colorful show truck. The truck, a popular crowd-pleaser at all its tour stops, is a 75-foot 2007 Coronado Freightliner tractor-trailer rig. This year it sports a new paint scheme that highlights the vibrant colors, ingenious graphics and matchless special effects that PPG’s advanced PPG refinish products allow and encourage.

Bobby Alloway's PPG-Painted Roadster Wins 2015 AMBR Award

A Bobby Alloway-built car won the 2015 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the recent Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) held Jan. 23-25 at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. The striking 1933 roadster, owned by Larry Olson of Sioux Falls, S.D., was finished by Alloway and drew approval from the show judges and the crowd alike. The AMBR, an eight-foot tall trophy, is awarded annually and is regarded as the ultimate recognition of a roadster-style hot rod. It was Alloway’s second time winning the prestigious award; his first was in 2003. Alloway also won Best Rod of the GNRS this year with the '37 Chevrolet coupe that was in the top ten in the Builder's Challenge at SEMA this past November.

Custom Restoration Guide - Now Available

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Custom Builders and Restorations was developed by PPG Refinish with you in mind. No matter what vehicle or vehicle substrate you are working on, this guide outlines PPG's recommended process for successfully surface prepping and painting your project.

Along with these SOPs, you should also refer to the helpful information contained in PPG's product data sheets that are available for each of the products you will be using. We hope you find this guide an easy-to-follow, valuable asset for achieving your vision — a beautiful paint finish that will last for years.