I just got an appointment at the local body shop to do a two tone paint job on my HHR. It's the same shop that did the paint on the silver and black Ridgecrest Police HHR. I take it in on the 19th, and to save money I'll be doing all the removal of anything in the way such as grille, antennas, rubber trim, etc. It will be black on top with burgundy on the bottom (original color). After I get paint I'll get some pictures, right now it's just a plain HHR.

 

Sounds good. Are you getting a pinstripe in between?

 

I'll have a friend that does pinstripes do something where the two colors meet. I'm not sure yet what we will do with it, I'll probably just let him have at it and see what he comes up with.

 

With a good experienced professional working with you, thats often a good choice
Looking forward to seeing it.

 

I spent the day removing stuff, got all the weatherstrip and window rubber out. Grill, wipers, rear handle, antennas etc. all gone. I'm glad I took the time to remove all this stuff, it's amazing how much dirt hides behind all this stuff that would end up in the paint the second the spray gun came out. I also found the shop manual a little "off" when it comes to the details such as removing the stationary window in the rear side doors..... It says to remove the two screws, only I couldn't find two screws holding anything and found that the window just pulled out. I wasn't sure so it took a while to make sure I wasn't going to destroy anything by just pulling it out.
New wheels are on order so I should have them by the time I get the car back from paint.

 

Can't wait to see pics

 

How much is the paint job going to cost you? I'm interested in having my Premier Edition with a two tone paint job.

 

What color are you starting with? I tossed around the idea of doing a 2tone but keeping the lower portion the factory color.

 

Pix, Can We Please See Pix When Youre Done ??

 

I'll get good shots of it when I'm done. Right now it's the stock Burgundy (Sport Metallic Red) and we're doing the top from the belt line up in black. Since I'm doing all the removal of anything that can get in the way and delivering it to them that way (plus I've had them do other work for me when I don't feel like getting my spray gun out), the job is going to cost me just under $1300. That doesn't include one roof rail weatherstrip that came apart ($28 from Chevy) and the pinstriping that we will have done to it after the top is done. I'm figuring $200 - $300 for that part of the job.
I had to pick up a can of 3M adhesive remover today to clean up the junk left after removing the door weathersrtips ($14 but I'll get a couple years out of that can)

Also, the wheels I ordered are the Wheel Vintiques Rally style with the chrome rim/painted center only with the center black.