I've seen two black Shelbys in showrooms, and the paint looks awesome. Only other black I've seen have been out on the lots... and the paint certainly doesn't look as 'striking' as the Shelby. Is there a difference in paint quality by design, or do the dealers take more care with the Shelby (because it's inside staying clean)?

 

A car that is outside and dusty will never look as good as a car that it inside, clean, and under the showroom lights.

 

I don't know about these days, but when I was a kid I worked at a dealer washing cars and the ones that went to the show room got the "treatment" from a guy named ***** who was about 150 years old and spent most of the day on one car. It was **** beautiful when he finished I must admit. The others that sat outside got a quick wash and a wipe down by us kids.

 

I guess the question is does $58,000 buy a better paint job than a $22,000 V6 gets?

 

I know the 2003-2004 SVT Cobra's got special treatment at the factory for the paint (polishing etc)

 

Nope, same paint shop... same process. The unassembled sheet metal body is the same for all types... It is only after it leaves the paint shop when the build order dictates if it's a V6, GT, Shelby, etc.

Like everyone else is saying, its probably just in the detail job it's got.

 

Considering the severe orange peel on a black GT-500 in a nearby dealer's showroom, I'd say NO.

 

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of OEM paint jobs aren't very good. EPA regulations requiring water based paints is a big culprit when it comes to coverages, adherence and orange peel.

With that said, the black paint on my current '11 and my previous 08 GT is among the best I've had of all the cars I've owned. This includes a couple c6 Corvettes and a 335xi BMW.

In fact, out of the 08, 11 Mustang 07 and 08 vette's and 335, the BMW had decidedly the worst paint with the most orange peel.

As said previously though, every color on any car will always look better inside under lights. Even a filthy car looks clean in these situations. Put it outside without being perfectly clean and shined and it'll look like crap paint.

 

I have to disagree with that. If you want to see every little scratch, ripple, wave in the in the sheet metal, etc. pull it in a shop or garage full of fluorescent lights and you will see things you never spot outside.

Now in these dimly lit showrooms with the lights way up in high ceilings that are common now, then yes I can see your point.

 

ford had some video on thier site a while back using a taurus to compare their paint quality on new vehicles to a lexus LS460 probably worth checking out if you are concerned

 

Speaking of paint quality...

Anyone notice clear coat drips? haha. Pic is not my car, but a Kona Blue on a dealer lot.