High Impact

There are single stage and there are 2 stage paints.

Single stage is pretty much paint on and then dry. You can buff it for a glossier finish but it will still not be a crystal finish nor will it have any "depth". Trade off is that its cheap and easy to use.

2 stage is two part, more in common with metallic and pearl finish paint although solid colors can be used. First its the color coat and then you spray several coats of clear coat to give it gloss and depth, and then you can make it shine even more by wet sanding and buffing it.

In the 70's to early-mid 80's I believe they used Acrylic Lacquers. Okay stuff just not durable, but scores of colors.

Nowadays they use acrylic urethane enamel. More durable, great color choices, but not cheap! There are good quality ones and there are ones you avoid.

I've used HOK, Nason, PPG and Omni with great results. All I've painted was motorcycles so far. My next endeavor is going to attempt to paint my Duster, going to experiment with Kirker or Summit autobody paint.

CAUTION: Be careful with Urethanes if you are going that route! They have a chemical catalyst called Isocyanates, deadly if you breath enough of it in or if enough of it gets on your skin.
Just ask me, I know. I thought just painting without a mask for a couple of minutes to touch up an area wasn't going to hurt me. (hey, I was young[er] and stupid, thought I was invincible). I had to go to the ER to get that crap out, and put me on the nebulizer. I walked in shivering as I had a fever of about 103-104, tunnel vision, and a headache from hell.