1969 Roadster Paint Code

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Hi, I'm looking at a 1969 Roadster. The car has been modified, but has the original engine and transmission. The trim tag on the car shows the current interior of ZQ4, but the paint code is shown as 985 (the car has been repainted). The resources I have looked at don't list a paint code 985 for 1969. Can anyone shed some light on what the original color might have been? If it was 985, why is that code not listed as an option in available resources? Thanks Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Roadster Paint Code

Steve-----

There was no 985 paint code used for the 1969 model year or, even, any other model year Corvette. I suspect that one of two factors is involved here:

1) you may be mis-reading the code from the tag. Could it be that the last character is a "6" rather than a "5"?

2) There could have been a error made when the tag was originally produced. It happened!

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1969 Roadster Paint Code

Joe, like you, I could find nothing on a "985" paint code for any Corvette, but the "900" three digit codes are only used for Corvettes.

I thought it may have been another GM color that was special ordered on a COPO, but I could find no way to translate this three digit Corvette paint code into a two digit code used for other GM lines. There is no relationship between the three digit and two digit codes such as dropping the "9" to derive the paint code for another GM product; e.g. CBOPC "Classic white" is two digit code "10", and Corvette "Classic White" for the same MY is three digit code "972"...identical paint formulas.

I know of one instance where a Corvette was ordered with non-standard paint. This car was ordered in black when black was not offered as a factory color(seventy something?). The trim plate was stamped "SPEC" in the paint code location. I have also heard of cases where cars were special ordered in primer, and there was some similar stamping of the trim plate. I wonder if "985" could be another code for any special-ordered paint?

Steve, it would really be interesting if the owner would let you remove the door sill plate, and lift the carpet near the sill...you will probably see the original final finish either on the sill itself, or as overspray just inside the sill. I think its possible this car may have been special-ordered with some paint other than the standard Corvette colors.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Roadster Paint Code

Chuck-----

I doubt that they would have used a code for a non-standard color. The use of some abreviated reference to "special" was what was customarily done in these cases. The "985" code would have been meaningless as far as decoding was concerned since it was nowhere listed or defined. If the code couldn't have been decoded, then there would have been no reason to use it.

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: 1969 Roadster Paint Code

Chuck,

I just got back from another look at the 69 Roadster. The paint code is definitely 985. The trim tag is not beat up and the paint code stamping is very clear and undamaged. I did look at the areas that you indicated and the original color looks like a light gray color - difinitely shiney and not primer. I also looked around the rear bumper and found more of the gray color. I believe that the car may have been Cortez Silver, which would tend to support Joe's thought that the car was a 986 car that was erroneously stamped.
Steve

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1969 Roadster Paint Code

Steve, depending on the film thickness of the unpolished lacquer in those areas, I would expect gloss somewhere between satin to semi-flat, or maybe even flat where its really thin. I would not expect it to be shiny, but I assume you are saying the overspray does have some gloss rather than the flat, porous appearance of automotive gray primer.

Actually, the primer was typically red oxide, followed by a gray sealer coat. I would expect the gray sealer coat to be smoother with more gloss than gray primer. If the color were Cortez Silver, I would think some metallic particles would still be visible in the overspray.

Maybe the trim plate does have a stamping error. I could sure live with Cortez silver. If the car is ever judged, it would be interesting to hear the judges conversation. Unless the judges can cite some evidence for a non-original trim plate, it seems that they would be compelled to accept the "985" as a stamping error and accept Cortez Silver as the original color. Concern about judging results alone wouldn't keep me from buying the car.