One of the things I really dig about getting out on the open highway and driving a long distance across the desert is being able to fully develop my thoughts. It's possible the lamb souvlaki breakfast I ate at 4 a.m. in Baker, California at the Mad Greek diner had tainted my sobriety because I was seeing green all the way home, returning from the SEMA show in Las Vegas. On the other hand it's more likely it was the overexposure to green at the SEMA show that had me pondering the green movement's symbolic color. Do you remember all of the years we weren't allowed to consume anything with Reactive Red in it because FD&C #40 red dye was thought to be a carcinogenic mutagen? Can you imagine what an incredible irony it would turn out to be if green pigments were discovered to be equally toxic? I imagine the entire green movement would come to an asbestos-free screeching halt. What color could be used in place of green? After giving it some thought I decided the new hue to signify an increased eco-consciousness to fellow human bipeds should be chrome. Chrome is the only color that defies all the known parameters of both light and pigment theory. OK, this fact might not be true because I just made it up, but chrome's mesmerizing chameleon qualities cannot be denied.
I know sometimes my ideas might sound a little crazy, but I truly believe chrome will become the new green. I'm not talking about the traditional electrolytic disposition of chromium onto metal, where a concentration of toxic fumes from chromic acid billows into the atmosphere, but a relatively new, safer process I discovered at the 2001 SEMA show. After seeing the latest offerings at the 2008 show it's my view there are several manufacturers that have developed an acceptable substitute for traditional chrome plating. Of course, like the visual qualities exhibited in leaded Murano pearls that so far can't be matched with today's substitutes, there's a particular essence to triple-nickel chrome plating that will be equally hard to duplicate.
I'm quite intrigued with the new chrome refinishing processes because in addition to offering a less-toxic solution to deal with environmental issues the stuff can be applied over any surface. Instead of one being forced to perform all metal perfect repairs in order to re-chrome a grille or bumper all that has to be done is to utilize any one of non-metallic fillers available on the market today. The possibilities are endless. One of the first things that comes to mind for me is to build a fully-chromed engine and install it in a show truck like I used to do as a kid building AMT 3-in-1 customizing kits.
One of the things I can always count on when it comes to the SEMA show is I will be able to collect new and interesting content to present in future issues. With this in mind I gathered contact information from the folks offering spray-on chrome systems and we'll be taking an in-depth look at what's available in an upcoming edition.
The world of automotive paint and supplies is yet another arena where environmental concerns have literally changed the face of the industry. The compliant yellows, reds, and oranges of today are not as vibrant or true as their predecessors were only a few years ago. The good news is after checking out what the waterborne paint manufacturers displayed at SEMA this year I'd have to say true colors are back if a person doesn't mind switching to water. That said I'm sure it will only be a brief matter of time before the solvent-based paints have developed formulas with truer colors to go with the recently unveiled thinners and reducers that are VOC compliant even in the state of California.
Wow, that was kind of a serious editorial coming from me. I think I'll close by mentioning if you ever get a chance to watch the 1963 James Bond movie From Russia with Love check out the '59 Dodge flatbed that suddenly turns into a '61 Chevy-it's real weird.John Gilbert