Ken Block’s custom Mercedes-Benz kicked off the modern era of monochrome, flat-finish automotive style.
Before he was in the WRC, before X Games rally cross, and before the Gymkhana videos, the late Ken Block was just an up-and-coming gentleman rally driver more known for profiting handsomely off the skate brand DC Shoes, which he co-founded. But around 2005, Block had an idea, reportedly inspired by an off-the-rack racing helmet. With an assist from the renowned automotive atelier Ai Design, his vision transformed what cars looked like for years to come.
It was actually very hard to make, taking several tries, with tons of samples. And you can’t polish it, wet sand it, or spot repair it like you can with standard paint. It had to be sprayed perfectly in one go. Rubbing it a little too much changes the sheen.” The car premiered at the 2006 SEMA Show. “No one had ever seen anything like it,” Scotto says. “We had to have a full-time staff person there not only to explain to people how the matte paint worked but also to keep people from touching it.
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