Miata Mailing List: August 1996, Message #54
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   From: skirkham@mail.1stinternet.com (Scott Kirkham and Woody)
Subject: Re: Notes from Miata '96
   Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 12:17:09 -0400

>In a message dated 96-07-31 12:14:39 EDT, you write:

>
>Can I anticipate any of these problems with my Starlight Mica M edition?  It
>has those very same color-shifting properties. (It's REALLY cool!)
>

James,
No, probably not, as the paint you have is a mica paint. It uses particles in it
that reflect light differently. The Mystic paint is unique in that it uses light
*interrupters* instead. It is a new technology that at the moment is expensive,
but will go down in price eventually. I'm merely quoting an issue of Mustang
Monthly from memory, so I'm not sure *exactly* how it works.

Mica paints are much like pearl paints. They do have a color shift, called "flip
flop" to the old hot rod and custom guys. Take a drive down to your local SVT
dealer and see if they hve a Mystic Cobra. You will see the difference. It's
not like pearls and micas, which tend to change from one color to another (I'm
thinking the '94 M. Green to blue. The Starlight is about the same, from what I
saw at the dealership when I bought my Miata.) Mystic just *changes* color like
you wouldn't believe. Like I said, it has to be seen to be believed.

I had a '95 Dodge Ram 1500 that had Sandalwood pearl paint. It flip flopped from
tan to silver. Kinda unnerving if you didn't know what you were looking at. I
liked it. But my wife wanted the Suburban, so I don't have the Dodge anymore.
Instead, I got a fun car!

Scott and Woody, who is glad it finally stopped raining and she can take her top
off again