Topic: OEM finish for 68 styled steel argent wheels ?

[DTruitt]

Ford dealers used to service the paint in spray cans.  I haven't bought any recently, but argent was used a lot on all different makes and models.

Danny

[cjmustangman]

thanks for the replys, I'll get some VHT wheel paint in silver argent
Arild

[Kascus]

How were the 68 GT rims painted originally? Was it Argent front that transitioned to a satin black backside like the one pictured? Did the argent overspray through the holes as pictured?

[preaction]

A look at your Marti report to see what should be on your car would be a good start.

[J_Speegle]

In your search of the site did you happen to find the thread below?  Think it might answer your questions. We might be able to add additional pictures. Used the words "68 Argent wheel"

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3475.0

Will merge this thread and that one in a day or so

Appears from the sample that the silver was painted argent first then the black after. Since they would not have wanted any black on the front side they must have had some process to protect or mask the front from overspray

[Kascus]

Thanks, I used the wrong search term. That was the info I needed.

[dkknab]

I'm assuming this applies to the styled wheels on my Sprint B too. Argent on the outside and semi gloss black on the inside,  correct? Or should the inside be a satin black?

[J_Speegle]

I'm assuming this applies to the styled wheels on my Sprint B too. Argent on the outside and semi gloss black on the inside,  correct? Or should the inside be a satin black?

Yes. An argent painted wheel in 68 is the same as another based on what I've seen and what we have collected. They didn't have "satin" in the day so you/they only had gloss and semi-gloss to choose from. Not all the designer terms and different products of today so yes - semi-gloss  or what ever you can find that reproduces that look.

You might want to create a sample board for long term use as mentioned in a couple of other threads. Take a piece of strap metal, gusset or similar piece of metal, buy a hand full potential spray cans and paint stripes (maybe an inch or two wide) along the length of each color then use it as a guide to which black you want to use on any particular part in the future or to compare to original paint samples to chose the closest match.  Black painted parts, for example, in the engine compartment, would not have originally all been the same since they were painted at different locations, with different paint supplier, mixes and conditions so this can help with that also.

Here is a similar test or sample board I used for floor/undercarriage colors

[Anghelrestorations]

This is an old old thread but wanted to revive this as I need to paint a set of argent wheels for a 68.  Wanted to make sure there is still an agreement here that the black paint is on the inside of the slots.  I see the original posts from "68 S Code" but he has not been active for years.  Seems the inside of the slots would be argent and would be alot easier to spray that way.  Just seeing if anyone has new information since 2012.
 
Also if anyone has an exact spray gun formula for the argent on the wheels as I will not be using a rattle can. 

wheel 1 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

wheel 2 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

[J_Speegle]

This is an old old thread but wanted to revive this as I need to paint a set of argent wheels for a 68.  Wanted to make sure there is still an agreement here that the black paint is on the inside of the slots.  I see the original posts from "68 S Code" but he has not been active for years.  Seems the inside of the slots would be argent and would be alot easier to spray that way.  Just seeing if anyone has new information since 2012.

Feel comfortable that original painted wheels shown years ago still represent original finishes. Coating did not appear to be heavy. Have not seen black on the inner lip of the "holes" as the argent IMHO was likely applied after the black base paint as done in other wheels unlike what you posted above. Think it makes sense since in that way they would not need to mask of the back side or wheel in any way. Just paint the black painted rim argent without spending time and effort on masking and if done in reverse (black last) you run the risk of black over the argent - not what they would have wanted.

[Anghelrestorations]

Agreed...thats what I thinlk as well Jeff.  Overspray on the back of the wheel is not as critical or an issue like it is on the front of the wheel.  I will see if I can find some original wheels with this paint pattern and update post with photos.  At Carlisle this week...never know what you can find here. 

[Anghelrestorations]

Verified today with an original paint wheel the paint pattern of the argent being sprayed after the black.....

20230602_102917 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20230602_102851 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

[bullitt68]

Verified today with an original paint wheel the paint pattern of the argent being sprayed after the black.....

20230602_102917 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20230602_102851 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

Great reference photos Marcus. My 68 GT wheels are chrome. Should I assume that they were chromed after the fact and that GT wheels weren't  chrome

[krelboyne]

Ford made chrome versions of this wheel.
Have saw them on 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, and on 1968 and / or 1969 Mercury Cyclone.

[bullitt68]

Ford made chrome versions of this wheel.
Have saw them on 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, and on 1968 and / or 1969 Mercury Cyclone.

 Thanks Scott. So would the chrome wheel option be on the Marty (Marti) report, or where they available on Mustangs in '68?