How to Paint a Soap Box Car

Allow the child who is driving the soap box car to do as much of the painting as possible. The idea of the soap box derby is to let the child build the car, with the adults only supervising or assisting.

Find a suitable paint that will work on the shell of your soap box racer. Generally, the shells are made out of either hard plastic or fiberglass, so you will need to pick a paint that will work on those surfaces without running.

Remove the shell from the rest of the soap box racer for the most professional-looking results.

Clean the shell of the soap box car with water and a mild detergent until all dirt is removed. Sand away any nubs or seams in the plastic with a small file. Allow the shell to dry completely.

Lay down newspapers, a painting dropcloth or a tarp flat on the ground. Set the shell down on top of this surface.

Apply a light, even first coat of paint using a brush or, preferably, a spray can. Wipe off any drips or runs with a clean dry cloth. Allow the first coat to dry completely.

Use additional coats of paint as needed until the shell is smooth and even in color. Take care not to add too many coats, since this will eventually add weight to the car.

Choose to decorate the shell of your soap box racer with large numbers or even decals from sponsors. Make sure that all paint and decor conform to the standards set forth by the soap box derby organization that is hosting the race in which you plan to compete.

Mount the shell of the soap box racer back onto the floorboard and wheels once the paint has properly dried.