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In February of 2011, I purchased my Festiva since I have a 64 mile round trip commute to work. I paid $500 for it and it was pulled out from behind the chicken coop when I showed up to buy it. It had damage from hitting a deer and I had to replace the right rear wheel bearing before I could even leave the sellers farm. I figured if I got a year out of it, I would be ahead quite a bit. Well here it is almost 2 years and 30,000 miles later and it is still running great and getting 40 mpg. I've been fighting to solve a vibration issues. I replace the 12" wheels and tires with 13" wheels and new tires and that helped a little. Installed another used set of front hubs and that helped a little more. I installed new tires a couple months ago and it rode like a different car. I was so happy, I decided to paint it. I just wanted a 50 footer. I bought a Harbor Freight HVLP gun over a year ago and finally got to use it. I wouldn't use it on a good paint job though. I bought some tractor enamel and hardener from Tractor Supply. Good ole Ford Tractor Blue. I HATE white cars ( and I own 3, now 2).
Anyways this is what it looked like when I got it.
I replaced the hood and right marker light and installed the proper headlight and that's how I drove it until recently. I had purchased a door and fender right after I bought it and just put it on before painting it.
The steel on the Festiva is very thin. There are some little dings. I didn't fix many of them, it would have taken way too much time. For right around $100 including the gun, it looks just fine from 50' or more. It actually looks a little better in the pic than real life, but I'm very happy with it. It's been raining forever here and when the weather gets better, I'll take some more pics. I have added black pinstripe in the molding and around the bumpers since taking the pic.
Anyways this is what it looked like when I got it.
I replaced the hood and right marker light and installed the proper headlight and that's how I drove it until recently. I had purchased a door and fender right after I bought it and just put it on before painting it.
The steel on the Festiva is very thin. There are some little dings. I didn't fix many of them, it would have taken way too much time. For right around $100 including the gun, it looks just fine from 50' or more. It actually looks a little better in the pic than real life, but I'm very happy with it. It's been raining forever here and when the weather gets better, I'll take some more pics. I have added black pinstripe in the molding and around the bumpers since taking the pic.
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