Awesomeness In Matte Black. More Than A Fad. A Trend…

Remember the matte black Ford Roadsters, Mercuries of the 50’s and 60’s? Hot Rodders on a tight budget didn’t have the money and or the time to do a full paint job. So, to avoid rust, they left their rides in black primer. Sine then, matte black “paint jobs” have always been a marginal trend popping in and out of the car and motorcycle industries, always initiated by custom builders, no more for budget reason, but to give their creations a retro or stealth look.

Since a few years matte black is the new black for the custom motorcycle industry, and of course all big manufacturers, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph etc have followed. And if you want to know if the trend is going to continue, just look at the car industry. Luxurious brands like Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Mercedes, BMW, etc. already sell models in matte black. People with money turning into chic bad boys! I hear that even Prius is now offering this option. Matte black is no more primer, but a special effect paint job for which you will have to pay extra. And to all those who would like the flat black treatment on their actual vehicles, 3M proposes a film to turn your glossy paint job in a satin or dull one. It’s called “Venture Shield Paint Protection Matte Finish Film”. When a trend reaches such proportion, it’s time for all custom builders to abandon it. But not before experimenting – just a suggestion – with the beige primer then the matte blue, the matte red, the matte yellow, the matte green etc.

31 Responses to “Awesomeness In Matte Black. More Than A Fad. A Trend…”


  1. 1 Brian Dec 30th, 2010 at 9:04 am

    It’s now expensive to look so cheap.

  2. 2 Cobb Dec 30th, 2010 at 9:19 am

    I love the matte look but people are starting to go overboard with it

  3. 3 zyon Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Flat black sucks! It shows every little bit of grease. If anyone touches the paint with their hand you are screwed. When you try to wipe it off you just start to polish the paint. As your legs rub against the tank or any other part of the painted surface you start to buff the paint and eventually you get dull but shiny spots. It looks great for a week and then turns to crap!

  4. 4 Nathan Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:26 am

    lets just go back to bare metal instead…. wonder how many of these “chic bad boys” will want their precious Lambo’s, Porches, Rollers or Harlies with that wonderful “rat” rust look!!! au naturel..

  5. 5 Jeez Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Advice. Don’t try to use BBQ paint on your Rolls! Matte black paint applied by car & motorcycle manufacturers is not cheap.

  6. 6 Robert Semper Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:31 am

    I must admit that the bad boy Rolls looks very cool.

  7. 7 Jeremy Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:37 am

    Zyon. What you say is untrue. Today’s correctly done matte black paint jobs are finished with several coats of non shiny clear coat. So what you describe doesn’t and can’t happen. Paint is as resistant than any other paint jobs.

  8. 8 LENA FAIRLESS Dec 30th, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I have to say that I LOVE the matte black! Its very trendy right now… im a fan!

    LF

  9. 9 Gas Man Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:09 am

    I hate HD denim paint on the wife’s nightster. It’s great to deal with.

  10. 10 Jeff Nicklus Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Lena,

    You can’t make your Dad any money playing on the internet so get to work! XOXOXO

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  11. 11 LENA FAIRLESS Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:15 am

    Mr. JN,

    RF told me that i needed to keep up in the industry and check out a few blogs everyday!

  12. 12 Sparky Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Heard before that Cyril’s SUV is matte black. Is it true Cyril?

  13. 13 Jeff Nicklus Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Lena,

    Who are you going to listen to …. me or RF? Are you wearing your Desperado Shop Shirt today?

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  14. 14 zyon Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:29 am

    Jeremy, you ever sprayed or owned anything matte black? I’ve done both. I know matte black paint is clear coated. In fact, it is clear coated with a matte clear coat..that gets shiny the more you rub against it. I built and paint guitars for a living for many years. Unless the products have drastically changed within the last two years, matte black will look like crap eventually. This is my opinion based off my experiences.

  15. 15 LENA FAIRLESS Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Mr. JN,

    I am wearing a Strokers Dallas shirt today! I thought i would save the Desperado work shirt for a busier day, like sunday! 🙂

    LF

  16. 16 Jeff Nicklus Dec 30th, 2010 at 11:34 am

    LEna,

    Great idea .. I am surprised I didn’t think of that.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  17. 17 Conrad Nicklus Dec 30th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    We have a Satin Black Phantom that rolls around our area, looks insane with gloss black wheels and a red lip!

    LF & JN, You should both be working instead of being on the internet, get to it!

    Conrad Nicklus

  18. 18 1550tc Dec 30th, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    on this bently this paint does nada for me …..this black with some 50 paint striping looks great on a sporty you just have to de badge the bike of the HD logos

    zyon i agree on the look in two years

  19. 19 Jeff Nicklus Dec 30th, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I suppose Flat Black is great ….. if your ass is Batman!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  20. 20 Cyril Huze Dec 30th, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    Sparky. Untrue! Still deep glossy black.

  21. 21 J Dec 30th, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Hmm- paying extra just to make my Rolls looks like I got stuck in a desert storm? Too “Gumball Rally” for me- lol.

  22. 22 Dotty Dec 31st, 2010 at 6:01 am

    Back in high school my olds cutlass supreme was black primer . I guess being poor i was a head of the curve……………It was a bad idea then and it still looks like crap

  23. 23 Alan Mayes Dec 31st, 2010 at 10:52 am

    Kustom Shop (www.kustomshop.com) produces a family of flat paints in many colors, including pearls, with the flattener in the paint. It sprays very well and is easy to care for.

  24. 24 martin Twofeather Dec 31st, 2010 at 10:58 am

    The first time I saw flat black it was ugly,55 years later it’s still ugly!

  25. 25 Dave Blevins Dec 31st, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Flat black just looks like someone lacks the skill to finish properly. As if they are “hiding” poor craftmanship under a finish that masks imperfections… Matte = cheap.
    My opinion anyway.

  26. 26 Sparky Dec 31st, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    Dave, right! As cheap as a ripped off brand new jean sold by “True Religion” for $295.00. It’s very expensive to look so cheap. Trendy rich people always want to show both that they are rich and mix it with a bad boy attitude.

  27. 27 baddad Jan 1st, 2011 at 7:06 am

    I made my first matte black bike and helmet more than 12 years ago. Now matte black is mainstream colour. I would like to see Ducati Diavel in metal flakes. 🙂

  28. 28 Black Bike Week Jan 3rd, 2011 at 12:29 am

    that Bently looks ugly in matte black LOL. matte black on a prius LOL.

    let this style die! LOL

  29. 29 colemanfu Jan 3rd, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Get with it. Mix of flat and gloss is the deal now.

  30. 30 Geno Jan 6th, 2011 at 10:18 am

    zzzzzzzzzzzzz snore snore snore

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