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Chrome appearance in a plastic paint

 

I have been searching for a restoration fix and have been unsuccessful so far. I am hoping you could help. The interior black plastic dash trim has what appears to be a Liquid Chrome Paint that is beginning to peel. If looks just like Chrome, but is obviously a paint or liquid plastic of some sort.

Are you aware of what the auto manufacturers use to create this attractive, but not durable chrome like trim?

Thank you....

William F. Knicely
- Manassas, Virginia

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You didn't mention the vintage of the car. Cars from the 60's and thereabouts often had vacuum metallized components on the interior, like the rings you won in Cracker Jax boxes. There was a clear lacquer, then a very thin coating of aluminum, then another coat of lacquer to keep the aluminum from oxidizing or wearing off; when it peels it can look like paint peeling.

There are paints today that look quite a lot like chrome. See the banner ad at the top of this page. These have only been available for a few years.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey