When was the last time you stopped in your tracks at a car show, looked at a killer custom paint job, and thought: “That’s an incredible finish; I wonder what kind of primer they used.”

In a hot rodding world filled with custom colors, eye-grabbing metalflakes, luscious candies and pearls, and mean flat finishes (not to mention all the detailing and pinstriping out there), primer understandably takes a back seat.

Yet it’s so important.

All paint jobs—from basic at-home projects to wild custom finishes—start with the primer. And that includes Dupli-Color’s 1979 El Camino project vehicle.

As we showed you in an earlier post, the El Camino, which we dubbed “Project Double Take,” was used as a canvas to display many of Dupli-Color’s paint and finishing products, including its self-etching and filler primers.

Self-Etching Primer
Dupli-Color self-etching primer is designed to etch and prime for paint—all in one easy step. Perfect for spot repairs, it’s a must for priming bare steel and offers superior adhesion to steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and fiberglass.

Filler Primer
Dupli-Color filler primer is designed to provide a smooth, rust-resistant basecoat that improves the adhesion and appearance of the topcoat. Ideal for most metal, wood, and fiberglass, the fast-drying sandable formula features an outstanding high-build and feather edging. It’s available in standard gray, red, white, or black to suit your specific painting needs.

Like so many of Dupli-Color’s other products, its primer can be applied easily in your home garage but offers professional results. The video below talks about the differences between Dupli-Color filler primer and self-etching primer and offers tips for proper application.

Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.