Color PPF: How We Restored a Nissan PAO with Gloss Black Film
— Project Spotlight
Color PPF isn't just for new cars — it's a restoration tool. We transformed a Nissan PAO with failing paint into a show-quality build using gloss black color PPF. Full surface sanding, wrapped jambs, and self-healing protection. 8 photos documenting the full transformation.
Color PPF isn't just for brand-new exotic cars. This Nissan PAO arrived at EMWRAPS with failing paint, surface oxidation, and decades of wear — and left looking like it just rolled off a concours lawn. Full surface sanding, gloss black color PPF, and wrapped door jambs transformed this JDM classic into something truly special.
The Starting Point: Years of Neglect
The Nissan PAO is a 1989 retro-styled Japanese city car — one of the iconic Pike Factory models from Nissan. This particular PAO was imported from Japan with paint that had seen better days. Oxidation, peeling clear coat, and surface imperfections covered every panel. A traditional respray would cost $5,000-$10,000 and take weeks. We had a better idea.
What is Color PPF?
Color Paint Protection Film is exactly what it sounds like — a protective PPF film that also changes the color of your vehicle. Unlike a vinyl wrap (which is primarily cosmetic) or traditional clear PPF (which is purely protective), color PPF delivers both in a single layer.
Think of it as a vinyl wrap with the physical protection of PPF. You get the color change you want PLUS rock chip protection, scratch resistance, self-healing technology, and UV damage prevention.
The Transformation: Surface Prep
Before any film can be applied, the surface has to be right. This PAO needed serious prep work — the kind of work that separates a quality installation from a shortcut job.
Full surface sanding to remove oxidation, flaking clear coat, and surface imperfections
Chemical decontamination and clay bar treatment to remove embedded contaminants
Every panel was sanded to create a smooth, uniform surface for film adhesion
Door jambs prepped and cleaned — because this wasn't going to be a "close the doors and hope" install
Film Application: Gloss Black Color PPF
With the surface perfectly prepped, we applied gloss black color PPF to every painted panel. The result is a deep, wet-look black finish that has the same visual depth as a $10,000 paint job —...
Read more on the EMWRAPS Blog.
EMWRAPS — 1900 Airport Way S #103, Seattle, WA 98134. Call (206) 383-5328.