Western Auto color?

[EvilKnievel88]

Just bought the decals from Shawn. Wow, great job. Only change is we couldnt get a good enough shot of the top of the tank lettering so we are using the mens bike decal on the side of the tank instead. No turqoise border line but i think i may personally pinstripe that in.

 

[EvilKnievel88]

Not sure if its even noticable really but I attempted to polish the previously sanded and spray painted handlebars. It definitely helped but its a lot of clay bar burnt up and a lot of time as well. There is a nice sears spaceliner handlebar (20" I think?) for $12 on eBay. Does anyone know if they are the same hight snd pullback as these? I may just dig out my Spaceliner tonight like a madman and take some measurements.

 

[EvilKnievel88]

Teaser pics

 

[EvilKnievel88]

So I cant express enough these pictures do a terrible job showing the color. Its more turquoise than the blue its coming across as. Not a perfect paint job, some parts seem a little light, especially the forks but maybe its just the light.

 

[GTs58]

That’s weird. Your teaser pictures do show the bike as being the aqua color.

I had a beautiful 1973 Gran Torino sport that was in that bronze color. I forget the name. The wife made a left-hand turn in front of a 68 Camaro and got clipped in the left front end of the Torino. The body shop did a beautiful job matching the paint. That was until I put on my polarized sunglasses and the new paint looked totally different.

 

[noverguy]

So I am restoring a 1963(?) Western Auto Cosmic Flyer for a 72 year old woman. Her father got it for her when she was 10 and 2 years later he died. The bike is complete and very straight. Unfortunately, her husband, for reason I cant understand, painted over the perfectly preserved original paint AND chrome. I'm going to strip it down but I need to know roughly what color Western Auto or Murray used? It was the teal/turquoise color.

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Love the story of the bike. This is a great project that should be very satisfying for you to bring that bike back to new specks and make that woman smile. Love this thread. Thanks for posting!

 

[noverguy]

If you're painting the whole bike, I bet you could match the color on the fork steer tube to something over the counter at an auto store.

Or, if you want, I can work with you to find something that matches one of these blue colors on the NOS Murray paint sticks I have. I got these from Gordon Cycle a while ago, thought they would come in handy some day

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That collection of old Murray paint chip panels is to die for. Thanks for posting.

 

[noverguy]

After looking at the wonderful color and job her husband did, I'm sure she'll be tickled to death with a new brighter metallic. The original does look like a candy over the silver base on that steerer tube. Most of the Western Flyers that show up are Murray built and I finally came across the Huffy version. Other than the fork darts, chain guard and carrier, I see no other markings.

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Fork darts.......... https://www.ebay.com/itm/2247762688...d=link&campid=5335809022&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

That bike could stand on the name alone. "Cosmic Flyer" - too cool. You hear those words and right away "cold war era" comes to mind...Love that era of bikes - pre Stingray.

 

[EvilKnievel88]

Well we hit a major snag. I got to lookin at the frame up close and SURPRISE the entire underside of the frame was hardly sprayed with color. He layed a silver base coat down first per my instructions but apparently forgot to spin the frame. Idk what happened. Plus the there are what look like fingerprint marks on the tank. Im bringing it back to give him a chance to fix it but I'd bet my house Im going to end up doing this myself.

 

[GTs58]

Well we hit a major snag. I got to lookin at the frame up close and SURPRISE the entire underside of the frame was hardly sprayed with color. He layed a silver base coat down first per my instructions but apparently forgot to spin the frame. Idk what happened. Plus the there are what look like fingerprint marks on the tank. Im bringing it back to give him a chance to fix it but I'd bet my house Im going to end up doing this myself.
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Good Gawd! I always mention to newbies wanting to paint their frames that it takes some practice. And the ones that want to use a candy paint I tell them to practice and more practice painting some old frames or some beaters for the neighborhood kids. Everyone can paint happy little trees, but painting a bike frame does take a lot practice to do it right and not have the paint 1/4" thick. I was 14 when I shot my first frame with candy paint. It's easier said than done, but that paint job is totally ridiculous!