EXHIBIT 10.18  AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                 THIRD AMENDMENT
                               TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                                     (1997)

                  This Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (this "Amendment") is
made on the 18th day of February, 1997, to be effective as of December 31, 1996,
between  FINISHMASTER,  INC., an Indiana corporation of 4259 40th Street,  S.E.,
Kentwood,  Michigan  49512 (the  "Borrower"),  and NBD BANK, a Michigan  banking
corporation,  of 200 Ottawa  Avenue,  N.W.,  Grand Rapids,  Michigan  49503 (the
"Lender").

                                    RECITALS

                  A. The Borrower is the obligor under a Credit  Agreement dated
August 24, 1995 (the "Original Credit Agreement"), as amended by an Amendment to
Credit  Agreement  (1996)  dated as of July 1, 1996,  and a Second  Amendment to
Credit  Agreement  dated  February 11, 1997 (as amended,  the  "Existing  Credit
Agreement"), pursuant and subject to which Lender agreed to extend the following
loans (the "Loans"):

                           (i) Acquisition Loans in an aggregate amount (subject
                           to the  adjustments  set forth in the Existing Credit
                           Agreement) of up to $15,000,000;

                           (ii) Working  Capital  Loans in an  aggregate  amount
                           (subject to the adjustments set forth in the Existing
                           Credit Agreement) of up to $5,000,000; and

                           (iii)  Subject  to the  terms and  conditions  of the
                           Existing Credit Agreement,  Term Loans converted from
                           Acquisition   Loans   (the   aggregate    outstanding
                           principal   balance  of  which   reduces   the  Total
                           Acquisition Loan Commitment).

                  B. The  Borrower  and the  Lender  wish to set  forth  certain
amendments to the Existing  Credit  Agreement and the documents  that  evidence,
secure or otherwise relate to the Loans (the "Loan Documents").

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the Lender and the Borrower agree as follows:

                  1.  Definitions.  Any capitalized term used but not defined in
this  Amendment  will have the  meaning  assigned  to such term in the  Existing
Credit Agreement.  From and after the date of this Amendment,  each reference in
the Existing Credit Agreement, the Loan Documents and this Amendment to the term
(i)  "Agreement"  means the  Existing  Credit  Agreement,  as  modified  by this
Amendment,  and  (ii)  "Loan  Documents"  includes,  without  limitation,   this
Amendment.

                  2. Funded  Debt/EBITDA.  Paragraph 6.6B of the Original Credit
Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety,  effective as of December 31,
1996, as follows:

                  The  Borrower  and  Refinishers  will not,  on a  consolidated
basis,  permit or suffer  their  ratio of (i)  Funded  Debt to (ii)  EBITDA,  as
measured  on the last day of each  calendar  quarter,  in each case for the four
calendar quarters preceding the date of measurement, to exceed:

                  (a)               3.75 to 1 with  respect to the four  quarter
                                    period ending on December 31, 1996; and

                  (b)               3.50 to 1 with  respect to each four quarter
                                    period ending on or after March 31, 1997.






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                  3. Debt Coverage Ratio.  Paragraph 6.6D of the Original Credit
Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety,  effective as of December 31,
1996, as follows:

                  At any time that there remains  outstanding  any  indebtedness
                  under Term Loan, the Borrower and  Refinishers  will not, on a
                  consolidated basis, permit or suffer their ratio of (i) EBITDA
                  (less  provision  for cash taxes based on income) to (ii) Debt
                  Service, as measured on the last day of each calendar quarter,
                  in each case for the four calendar quarters preceding the date
                  of measurement, to be:

                  (a)               less that 1.08 to 1 with respect to the four
                                    quarter period ending on December 31, 1996;

                  (b)               less than 1.15 to 1 with respect to the four
                                    quarter period ending on March 31, 1997;

                  (c)               less than 1.2 to 1 with  respect to the four
                                    quarter period ending on June 30, 1997:

                  (d)               less than 1.25 to 1 with respect to the four
                                    quarter period ending on September 30, 1997;
                                    and

                  (e)               less than 1.4 to 1 with respect to each four
                                    quarter  period ending on or after  December
                                    31, 1997.


                  4. Costs and  Expenses.  Borrower  agrees to pay all costs and
expenses  in  connection  with  the  negotiation,   preparation,   reproduction,
execution, delivery, enforcement, attempted enforcement and defense of the terms
of this  Amendment  and the other  Loan  Documents  and of  Lender's  actions in
connection  therewith,  and all amendments or modifications of or supplements to
any of the foregoing,  and any and all other documents furnished pursuant hereto
or thereto, or in connection herewith or therewith.

                  5. Execution and Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed
in any number of  counterparts,  each of which,  when so executed and delivered,
shall be deemed to be an original,  but when taken together shall constitute one
and the same Amendment.

                  6. Headings.  Section  headings used in this Amendment are for
convenience  of  reference  only and shall not  affect the  construction  of the
Agreement.

                  7.  Enforceability of Loan Documents.  Except as expressly and
specifically set forth herein,  the Loan Documents remain unmodified and in full
force  and  effect.  In the event of any  discrepancy  between  any  other  Loan
Document and this  Amendment,  the terms and  conditions of this  Amendment will
control and such other Loan Document is deemed amended to conform hereto.

                  Executed by the parties on the date first set forth above.

                                                  NBD Bank, a Michigan banking
                                                  corporation

                                                  By:\s\ RAY E. REITSMA
                                                        Ray E. Reitsma
                                                      Its:  \s\ Vice President

                                                  FinishMaster, Inc., an
                                                  Indiana corporation

                                                  By:\s\ ROGER SOROKIN
                                                       Roger Sorokin
                                                      Its:\s\ Vice President