Dave, what do the garage peeps themselves suggest? Do they have a preference, and why?

I restored a Triumph GT6 about 25 years ago and had it professionally sprayed with 2-pack ('Guards Red' - I have some photos somewhere - I'll scan a couple if I can find them). I can appreciate what tm2cvs says - the finish did look almost 'unreal' - I guess plasticky is one way of describing it, although a bit unfair. It sure did gleam and is still looking superb today with its new owner (although garaged and rarely taken out.) But I also remember that the cellulose paints you bought in aerosol cans in those days were also superb - I sprayed all the chrome trim on that car with metallic Graphite colour and lacquer - all from cans. Everybody who looked at it thought they'd been stove-enamelled - the finish was so 'deep' and lustrous. When I try to replicate that finish with modern day Acrylics in aerosols, it just ain't quite the same - you can get a mirror finish, but it doesn't have the same 'depth'....

One of my current 2CVs is a Blue Celeste that's only seen one year of use. Most of the panels are in almost perfect original condition and the paint has a very slight 'orangepeel' and a finish I'd describe more as 'creamy' than mirror or plasticky. It certainly looks right, and I think 2-pack on there would look strange in comparison.

Dave, what colour(s) are you thinking of - 'bold' ones (black/red/yellow/etc) or pastels? For bold, I'd personally go 2-pack without hesitation, for pastels (like Old Nail's) I'd sway a bit and might plum for cellulose.

There, tm2cvs, you've made me doubt myself - happy now...?

<grin> Looking at your posting name, I'm tempted to ask why I'm having to do your job for you...

I'm particularly thinking of Ellie's Lagoon Blue 2cv when I compare the effect - so sort of half-way between a "pastel" and a "bold" colour. It's particularly noticable because the bootlid that tends to be on the car is the original paint, due to the stickers.

Oh I agree with you there, the term 'well kept original' I took to mean a looked after and polished - but original paint car, but as you say Citroen pushed out a cheap product for the masses so they won't exactly be perfect to begin with.

When people refer to two-pack paint as looking 'plasticky' I often wonder if they understand what two pack paint actually is? It's plastic. A car painted in two pack, is a car that has been plastic coated, and thus appears..er .. 'plasticky'. Cellulose paint dries by evaporation of the carrier, two pack paint doesn't 'dry', it hardens by chemical reaction to become hard plastic.

At one time people would take pride in how shiny their pride and joy was after many hours of polishing, but now that is given to them straight from the factory many don't like it. There is a way of dulling down the shine of 2 pack , which takes a similar amount of labour as would polishing up a cellulose one, but at least with the 2 pack having done that you will retain the better metal protection and durability of the plastic coating.

On the subject of shiny cars, Peter Cross at Tibberton, Worcester, supplied a 2cv for ITV's Midsomer Murders and spent a fair bit of a day getting it all polished and shiny. When the production company saw it, they told him it was too shiny for the cameras, so the car was "dirtied".

Ive just had my vent flap done in 2 pack, it looks amazing, a bit plasicy bit im very pleased.

They use an matt aerosol spray on glossy car surfaces when filming, it both prevents lens flare from the lights, and stops the viewer being able to see the camera crew in the reflections.

Thank you all for your replies and comments,it has certainly given me food for thought.I take onboard all your comments and will think hard about the final choice.I am restoring my car during the winter and have already stripped it down to the chassis(body left on,new galv. chassis fitted in May)The finish i am looking for is a shiney one that will not take a lot of looking after(ie polishing every weekend)The panels are all in excellent condition with little or no rust,small amount on body,thats being sorted now.The paint on the car is rouge vellalunga(i think thats spelt correctly)and is the original paint.It is a bit faded and patchy,thats why i am painting it.

Translation 'I need 2 pack paint'.

Yes old nail,it looks that way.If i was restoring my car back to be totally original then i would take your advice about cellulose,but i am adding things and removing things to make the car "my own" if you know what i mean so it really wont be original.
This is my first 2cv and the first car i have restored,the next one will be a full on body off job,so i will more than likley use cellulose,but in Black.

Jonathan,
only just noticed this...
I bet Pete was miffed that they had to undo all that elbow grease.
Mind you, dosh for hiring the car out would have wiped out any heartache.

ken.