I see Edelbrock is now offering coated manifolds called Permastar, they look nice, they also mention that it outlasts and is easier to mantain than polished or powdercoated. So what is this stuff?

Probably a ceramic coating.

Curious. standard heat block ceramic coating would be a poor choice for an intake since it would trap heat.

I believe Permastar is actually a type of powerdercoat. I have seen several pieces with this coating and it is sweet.

does anyone have any pics coated like this?

of parts sorry

Take a look at Edelbrocks new add in the begining of the lastest Hotrod magazine, that is where I seen it. Looks like chrome. I had my airgap powercoated but haven't used it yet, Edelbrock says this stuff is better.

I purchased an RPM with the permastar as well as a Victor Series Water pump with the permastar. The finish is spectacular! It looks like a chrome finish but a little 'darker'. It's almost mirror-like. Seems very tough. They wont see action until June (The trip from Cleveland, OH to CB '05) as I am currently in the middle of an 'underhood restoration'.

I've also heard that Edelbrock is looking to use the Permastar finish on other parts including valve covers and air cleaner lids.

The Permastar is a very sweet looking product.
There are other people ( Holley ) who are getting into the act also.Edelbrock has also now come up with a product called Endurashine... this looks a little less " Black " and more like a super clean polish.... looks better than a normal polished product but not quite as awsome as the Permastar..... One of the complaints I have heard about the Permastar is thats it's so clean it overwhelms anything else in your engine compartment that looks polished... they just dont match... So the Endurashine sort of splits the difference between a polished and a Permastar.