Color code 992 - who can produce this?

[Erik S.]

I am in the process of doing a body off on my 68 L71, but the problem is I have no idea who can produce the original color for my corvette which is Corvette Bronze (code 992); does anyone have a name in the US? As a little background info; I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and with a population of about 1000 Corvettes it is difficult to find a shop who has experience with this rare color code.

Looking forward to your response!

KR,
Erik

http://www.heartbeatcorvette.nl

[Jack H.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

Being in Europe is to your ADVANTAGE! You'll probably be able to source paint that's either a 'perfect' match to the factory original lacquer used on your car or is MUCH closer than what we can obtain Stateside. Our paint supplies are affected by Federal and State legislation regarding emissions/environment while your sources of supply are MUCH freer to blend and distribute lacquers. What you need is simply the mfgr designation and color blend code for your car.

With that any painter worth his 'salt' should be able to have it blended and shipped. The data you seek is available on MANY websites (I'm surprised your painter doesn't have access) as well as being documented in the Corvette Parts & Accessories Manual. For 1968, Corvette Bronze, Chevy code 992, translates to:

Lucite Stock No. 4910-LH
or
Rinshed-Mason Stock No. A-2010
or
Ditzler Stock No. 22969

Tell your pro painter to get on his computer someday and check out

www.autocolorlibrary.com

He'll find a WEALTH of info on American car paint as far back as the 1920-30 era.... Sometimes, they even list interior colors along with the specific gloss factor to cut the paint to (no guessing)....

[Dick W.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

The lack of availability of lacquer is not the major problem today. It is still available from both PPG and DuPont. However the formulation is quite different, quite a few of the mixing colors are not available anymore, and the size of the metalic particles is quite different today that in 1968. I think that you will have to contact a paint manufacturer and see if they can come up with an offset color. Then compare the offset to your original and see if it is close enough or not. Your painter may have to tint your paint to match the original

[Jim T.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

Dick do you think the Dupont Rally Red lacquer for a 68 Corvette, if I can find a distributor, would be close to the lacquer I painted my 68 with 20 years ago?

[Dick W.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

I cannot speak absolute about the color match. It would be my guess that the paint you used on your car and the paint you would get today would probably be a poor match. It is more than likely that what you would receive would be an offset color. A good painter might be able to tint it or shade it to match, but it probably would be asking a lot for him to be able to do so. Ten years ago a lot of the mixing colors were already gone. I painted a ralley red '67 and had to use an offset color, Subaru I believe. No DuPont or PPG mixing formula available. Is the same DuPont code 71491 as '68 Ralley Red

[Erik S.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

Thanks guys so far - very helpful; currently the car is red (not sure if it is a corvette red that was used) so I have to find a spot on the car with still the original bronze color to match. Keep u updated on the progress!

Erik

[Jean C.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

Dick,
Per your post...
"Then compare the offset to your original and see if it is close enough or not. Your painter may have to tint your paint to match the original."

Do you mean to compare a test application of the new paint to the original paint that is near 40 years old and may not have had the best of care over its life? Looks like you would end up with a paint job that may not be exaclty as it was when it left the factory.

Moving on to the judging of the paint which would be the next step, it appears to me that we are getting into the "tint" aspect of judging paint with this string of posts and seems to me that judging "tint" becomes a subjective issue on the part of the judge. After an owner and the painter use what is supposedly the correct formula for mixing the paint and agree that is the correct color, a judge looks at the finished job and says the "tint" is off a bit an you lose a bunch of points. Not to mention a good chunk of change!

I guess my question and concern in all of this is since the general consensus is that paint mixed today to a 40 year old formula will probably not be the same color or tint or metallic content, to what should you actually compare the new paint sample? A 40 year old paint chip? A spot on the car that even though it is the correct color, may not be the factory paint job?

Thanks for your input.

Best regards,
Charlie

[Dick W.]

Re: Color code 992 - who can produce this?

Charlie the paint mixing formulas that the shops have for the older Corvettes are almost useless. The mixing colors, binders, metalics, etc are non existant today and have been for quite a few years.

What I would do is look behind the door panels, kick panels, even the weatherstrip and try to find some original paint. This is a very good starting point as these areas have not been exposed to the elements. Try to match your offset colors to these areas. You may even be able to find a component that you can use to computer match your paint. Paint chips that you purchase today are not paint, but ink. Close but no cigar. It may be possible for you to find an unrestored car of the same color. Paint several test panels, varying your air pressure, reducer or thinner, etc and try to find one that will match the original.