Painting fresh Fiberglass. Light vs. Dark Colors

I understand that light paint colors are more favorable to fiberglass than the darker colors. I assume it's due to shrinkage and darker colors attracting more sun. I noticed some of you guys (and gals) have dark colors. How is the paint holding up?

Since Feb-2002 my black car is still near perfect. It is all in the body prep.

Bob doubt your '91 CMC is shrinking any more (or are you talking about major repairs?)! Dark colors just require a whole lot more prep (filling and block sanding) to look good. A little imperfection will reflect light and stand out if vehicle painted dark color. A wavy surface really stands out (doors are biggest culpit). Next time you're in parking lot look at a door ding in a black or dark blue car vice one in a silver or white one.

On the flip side, horrible panel gaps are less
visible on a dark car.

That's only because it is an IM. Fiberglass cars that aren't properly prepped.....SAW and Vintage cars for example, are going to have a lot of problems, especially as time goes on.

Lighter is better if you know your manufacturer isn't going to do a heat cure and proper prep.

If the body that you bought was already primed, check to be sure the primer isn't laquer based. Todays paints don't do well over laquer based primers. They will look OK initially, but will turn dull and cloudy over a retelatively short time.

June 2004 - so far so good. I hope this doesn't change but am aware that it could. SAS bodies are sun cured, probably not as effective as Henry's booth, but it is for a much longer period of time. I'll keep knocking on wood.

John's right, the bodies do sit out in the sun for a long time, before they go inside to be put on a frame.

I have to say that the new body that SAW is producing is way better then the old one....no comparison really.