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Painting a Riviera Top
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porkchop-rob
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:18 pm    Post subject: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

Has anyone attempted to paint a top for a Riviera? I just purchased a project bus that has the penthouse pop up and it will need a little work. The wife and I were considering painting the top something other than white. I cannot find any photos of a bay window with a painted pop up top.
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Angus II
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:01 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

Hello,
Resin gel coat comes in many colors...and can be mixed and toned just like any paint.
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richparker
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 6:38 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

Angus II wrote:
Hello,
Resin gel coat comes in many colors...and can be mixed and toned just like any paint.


This is the way...
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Globespotter
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:15 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

The main reason it is painted white is to reflect as much sunlight as possible. Going darker would increase the temperature of the top.
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porkchop-rob
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 8:34 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

Yes. Looking at google, it seems that black could raise the temperature 10-15 degrees F. I don't think we would go that dark, but it's good to take some additional heat into consideration.
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LouFilia
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Mine was already painted body color, I went with a Silver to match the paint on the bumpers (I painted the bumpers to match the rear exhaust). You can paint over good gel coat no problem, or the gel coat can be colored if you need to redo the surface finish.

The silver seems to cut down on the heat compared to the dark greenish color and isn't the same old white that the factory used.
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Mberglo
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:27 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

If the factory gelcoat is in good shape, you can just prime and paint it like any other panel. I used epoxy primer and enamel paint on mine, and it turned out great.
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Globespotter
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:31 am    Post subject: Re: Painting a Riviera Top Reply with quote

porkchop-rob wrote:
Yes. Looking at google, it seems that black could raise the temperature 10-15 degrees F. I don't think we would go that dark, but it's good to take some additional heat into consideration.


Yes, silver or light grey wouldn't be bad. I've seen some Vanagons with colored pop-tops.
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1977 Westfalia - October 2015 - Current
1971 Super Beetle - May 2012 - Current
1979 Westfalia - 1986-1991
1971 Super Beetle - 1977-1980

1971 SB Survivor Story: https://globespotter.com/
Road Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511800&highlight=
My 77 Westy Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647114&highlight=

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=30990
https://vw-type2-id.xyz/mplate/72067382
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