Ronan The Barbarian
If you are restoring an older vehicle, the proper paint to use is Japan Oil paint. It was what was originally used on horse drawn vehicles, early automobiles and sign painting.
It’s a varnish based paint and because lead is no longer allowed, some pigments are somewhat transparent requiring two coats if solid coverage is desired. So it can look somewhat like a “stain” paint, sealing all the grain.
Automotive enamels are too heavy, causing chipping and they are not reversible. Not to mention, they encapsulate the wood, not allowing it to “breathe” and get moisture from the air, causing wood to dry out and break.
I usually apply 2 coats of pigment, then 2-5 coats of marine spar varnish depending on the project and area to be finished. Each dries overnight and actually “wear” off so you can just apply another coat when needed, most helpful for fancy striping.
Oil paints are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I only know one manufacturer of Japan Oils and they’re located in Brooklyn NY; Ronan Paints.
