Can Poppy’s Patina Bring The Old Paint On This Classic Bronco Around?

A few years ago, I purchased a well-worn ’68 Bronco from a neighbor. The truck had seen better days, as it had sat outside for the better part of a decade here at the salty, sweaty Jersey shore. The surf air, along with the consistently rising tides had done a number on the chassis, and the solar beat-down turned its clear coat into a faded, bubbly mess.

I bought it with all intentions of leaving it as-is. I mean, it was going to be a beach runner and a local grab-n-go vehicle, destined not to leave the beachfront or go over 35 MPH, for that matter. In a town inundated with golf carts out on the local roads, this was my answer to these “electric toys” zipping through my neighborhood. However, my “cart” was going to be ridin’ on 33’s and throwing some V-8 power down in the process.

Though I vowed not to touch the exterior and just revamp the mechanicals for better road handling, it soon became apparent that all my work fell flat with the little utility looking like a total beater. So, I thought of a plan to bring a little luster back to the sunburnt skin and add some brilliance that matched the changes on the rest of the Bronco.

Though I really didn’t have any real “patina” on the truck, I felt that possibly there was something out there that could gloss up the needy Signal Flare Red paint on the Bronco. I had heard good things about a wipe-on clear called Poppy’s Patina and saw the videos where the product was used on beaten down, sunbaked and flakey trucks and even some hot rods, to bring out all the goodness of a well-worn paint job.

I was a little skeptical at first. Would the product would help my Bronco look any better? With a total teardown of the Ford a few years in the future, I figured why not take a chance and give Poppy’s a try. There were several spots that definitely could use some help, including all the top-side panels like the hood and top edges of the rear bed where there was a dulling of the clear coat, and some small, rusted areas that I hoped Poppy’s would help slow the progress of the dreaded tin-worm.

So, I went ahead and ordered the complete Gloss Wipe-On Clear kit with the hope that it would improve the overall look of the truck. Once I received the kit, I read through the instructions and even watched several videos on the application process. Once I was familiar with the steps involved, I readied the truck for its new look. Here’s how it all went down.

Once I got a good look at it, I was impressed. There were a few streaks but overall, the clear flowed well and laid out. I reached out to Poppy’s who gave me a run down on how to fix any imperfections. They stated, “No worries! Those can be easily fixed just by simply scuffing the area with 600 grit, wet, sand, and applying more product. You’re not looking to remove the clear coat, just to get it even. Also, if the imperfections are minor and you want to take it up to the next level, you can wet sand with 1500/2000 grit and buff, and it will be glass slick!”

Overall, the Poppy’s Patina was a great success. I really loved how it gave the paint on the Bronco new life. Is it a substitute for a new a paint job? No, but it certainly gave the Ford a new lease on life visually and should hold us over till we have the time to tear it all down. From start to finish it only took me an hour to prepare and clear the truck, something that will vary from vehicle to vehicle. I must admit, the Bronco is pretty spartan with no roofline or doors, so you will probably have a much bigger project than what I have here.

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