Abstract: A coating composition comprising metallic flake pigments having an average thickness of 0.5 to 1.5.mu. and an average diameter of 10 to 45.mu., selected from the group consisting of aluminium flakes, bronze flakes, tin flakes, gold flakes, silver flakes, titanium flakes, stainless steel flakes, nickel flakes, copper flakes, their alloyed metal flakes, plastic-coated metal flakes and flake phthalocyanine blue, and ultra-fine particles having an average particle diameter of 5 to 400 m.mu., the weight ratio of said flake pigments to ultra-fine particles being 1:0.05 to 1:12, uniformly dispersed in a thermosetting resin vehicle. The present coating composition is useful as a top coat and especially as a base coat composition for 2-coat-1-bake coating system for automobile body, appliance or the like, resulting an excellent metallic effect and decorative interference color effect.