Retro paint schemes

[Shackleton]

Hi Guys

First time poster from Scotland! I have been reading this forum avidly since following a link posted on an aviation forum some months ago. Fantastic site, and has completely changed my attitude towards my workshop layout.

My workshop totals 5750 square feet including mezzanine, and holds a 4 post ramp, inspection pit, spraybooth, woodwork area (the mezzanine), storage rooms and a 50x25 restoration area for my classic cars and occasionaly aircraft. I'm a director of my local air museum so lumps of aircraft come by for some work from time to time when I' not working on my 3 Volvo Amazons, 59 Morris Oxford (the biggest fins we made over here!), P4 Rover, Series 1 Land Rover, and whatever other ill-advised project I've taken on that week.

After years of working in an unpainted and disorganised (though tidy) space, I have ripped everything out of the restoration area, and am partitioning it off from the rest with a mix of concrete block walls and wood partitions. I have also ditched my traditional toolboxes (which were overflowing) in favour of four under counter drawer units, and will top them off with either galvanised or stainless worktop with cupboards above.

My big problem is the colour scheme. It would be very easy, and not neccessarily unpleasant, to go down the red toolchest and cupboard with white walls and grey floorpaint route, but I love all things old and retro. I have a couple of illuminated signs and a mate who runs a vinyl graphics company, so the final details will be fun to do. What ideas do you guys have for a vintage paint scheme - and possibly with a euro flavour at that!?

And don't worry, pics will follow tonight....

 

[Scout Driver]

Welcome to the Garage Journal, Shackleton. This is the first garage that comes to mind as far as a retro paint color scheme.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55006

Scott

 

[sstruckguy]

Welcome shackleton!

Its hard not to point at Jack Olsens' space for ideas. but one of my favorites is by BB767 here:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567

For instance:

It doesn't get much more retro than that

 

[Lippyp]

You need to base it on a British scheme not an American one, maybe worth googling around for images of old petrol stations. I think Shell are supposed to be building some new retro petrol stations, in a 1920's art deco style. In fact the first shop opened in Newport Pagnell.

http://www.setowns.org.uk/?page=LatestNews&article=127

http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=148151597

 

[Shackleton]

Well that took longer than I expected - sorry for the delay in replying!!

Those are two great examples of retro paint schemes, but not for me. Jack Olsen's is fantastic, but I don't think it would work in a space three or four times the size (although other ideas will be stolen!!), and the other example given relies on red tool storage which I would like to avoid and the style is heavily reliant on the floor - which I can't afford.

I have attached some pics. The first is of the space as it stood around a month ago - utter chaos having ripped out the old storage and benches which were all custom built for other buildings and uses and if I'm being honest they never worked for me.

The second pic shows the far end of the workshop totally emptied. The tin doors will have a (cinder?) block wall built to cover them and seal out draughts etc - the other end of the workshop has huge sliding doors for vehicle access and the tin ones have never been opened since my grandfather finished building the shed in 1962! I have laid out on the floor, after much planning and re-planning, where the toolchests (pic 3) will go - this will result in two 45 square feet L-shaped benches on on either side, one for me and one for my Dad. The space in the centre will house three 10 drawer cabinets, and one 3x6 steel locker will be on each of the outer walls. Wall cabinets will follow above the benches. The ceiling area is huge, but will be constructed from 2x2" frames covered with white tarpaulin - very cheap, and will reflect loads of light.

I intend to have absolutely no tools, storage, materials or any other **** against the walls in any other part of the workshop area - everything will be in the 16x24 foot area with the benches. So the paint scheme will need to work in both areas, both clear and furnished.

As for the British look, I had thought about very dark green for the toolchests and cabinets but had no idea how to tie it in with the walls and floor. Black would also work well, but I'm not sure how to get that to look 'retro' whilst avoiding the eighties Merc dealership look!