OK...it's decided.
Rather than paint the entire nose of the vehicle in a bright-red-to-black gradient fill, we're going for something a little more conservative, instead. Ghost flames in a bright-silver-and-black combination.
The Impala has a lovely colour, which - depending on the time of day - gives a silver tint, a pinkish tint, and a steel grey tint from different angles. In order to preserve this colour as far as possible, we're going to stick to simply applying bright silver and black to the flame tips, and leave the rest of the car unsprayed. Pinstriping is going to be in gold (which I think will contrast nicely with the black and grey-silver of the car's body). A couple of coats of clear overbase should complete the effects.
This venture is very much a double-edged weapon...it could end up dramatising the car's looks, significantly. On the flip side, it could ruin the finish completely. So understandably, I'm quite on edge, at undertaking this madcap adventure. But then...if you're NOT living on the edge...you're taking up FAR too much space. Yes?