PPG Automotive Refinish awarded the 2008 PPG Hot Wheels Spectraflame Paint Your Ride Contest trophy to Jim and Melinda Cooper of Laguna Hills, Calif., co-owners of the winning entry, a 1956 Chevrolet Handyman 2-door station wagon. The award ceremony took place at the PPG exhibit booth at the SEMA show in Las Vegas Nov. 5, with Larry Wood, Mattel, Inc. Hot Wheels chief designer presenting the trophy.
Contest entrants created original paint schemes for their vehicles using the Hot Wheels Spectraflame colors available in PPG’s Vibrance Collection of automotive coatings. The Coopers’ car featured a finish of Hot Wheels Spectraflame Medium Sapphire with contrasting silver flames. It was selected from a field of 12 highly competitive finalists that included entries from custom painters, car builders and hot rod enthusiasts.
“All the entries were truly spectacular, so it is a real honor to be named the winner,” said Jim Cooper.
The Coopers received a trophy case with an exclusive Hot Wheels 1/18” scale model version of the winning paint scheme. The scheme will be reproduced on a future production Hot Wheels toy car Mattel, Inc. will introduce in 2009. The car, which was on display at SEMA and featured in a recent PPG Repaint Reporter magazine article, will also be highlighted in full color along with the other finalists in a 2009 PPG calendar.
Paint Your Ride Contest entries were reviewed by a panel of judges well-known in custom car circles, including Wood, Dave Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication; Paul Stoll, PPG’s custom painting trainer; Brian Brennan of Street Rodder; and Ed Capen of Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. The announcement of the winner was originally made by PPG at the 11th Annual Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, this past July.
For more information, visit www.ppgrefinish.com.
