Back in the Fifties when I was a kid, almost no one that had a rod, ever got it finished.
The Paint Job of the Day was what we callled Gray Prime.. or Flat Black. The money went into the engine and drive train..NOT paint.
You didn't want
Your car to be labeled
"All Show & No Go".
Then again..in those days we had Street Drags. Some of those gray prime street rods could do the Quarter in 11 seconds... right out of
Stewarts Drive In on four lane NJ State Route 17.
Then came the '65 427.. 425 HP Corvette..Quarter mile in the Mid Elevens with street tires, and a finished paint job right out of the factory.
Just Rememberin'. NB