C-1; Is Venetien Red actually Chevy Orange?

[Isaac Tyson]

I was in the paint booth the other day painting a 56-57 interior part Venetien Red, when I looked over at an engine block that was painted Chevy Orange. I couldn't believe how similar they looked. So for the fun of it I took a peice of primed metal and shot part of it Venetien red and the other part chevy orange (rattle can). I also took another primed piece of metal and painted it completely Venetien Red. When it dryed, I came back and painted half of it with the chevy orange rattle can. Upon drying I could not tell which half was painted with which color. To my eyes, it's a perfect match.

As a note, the venetien red was PPG Lacquer mixed by a professional paint shop. The rattle can of chevy orange was from autozone and was the 500 F paint by plasticoat.

So my question is: Has anyone else noted this before? Did GM use the exact same color but change the name from Venetien red to chevy orange? Is this actually a true cross over color?

It's not that big of a deal, but it sure is interesting to me.

[Ed H.]

Re: C-1; Is Venetien Red actually Chevy Orange?

Isaac,
My 57 is PPG base/clear. I spent a long time trying to find a perfect match with an original, lacquer, Venetian Red. I have had the car flight judged five times, and, in all of the judges opinions, the color is correct. I do take my hit for not having lacquer, oh well. The Chevy block orange appears to have a little more orange in it. But eyes can play a trick on you. Find a Chevy, hugger orange color, and you will find it is a lighter orange. If you like I can give you the formula that was used for my car.

[Roy B.]

Re: C-1; Is Venetien Red actually Chevy Orange?

I know what the JM says but 55 and 56 early "Corvette" engines were RED

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-1; Is Venetien Red actually Chevy Orange?

Chevy orange varies according to spray can manufacturer...buy another brand of "Chevy Orange", and your color match will go right out the window.

The spray can manufacturer may have decided Venetien Red was a good match, but
over the years, there were several different shades of "Chevy Orange" used by General Motors..."Chevy Orange" varied from a faded flat orange to an almost red orange, which some insist is correct for big blocks. (I have no opinion...I know very little about exact restoration of big blocks). This "big block" reddish Chevy Orange is still different from the early C1 red Roy mentions.

Joe Lucia did a study of the different "Chevy Orange" paints a few years back, and found they varied considerably...it's in the archives.

[Art B.]

Re: C-1; Is Venetien Red actually Chevy Orange?

Isaac: When I restored my '57 a few years ago I noticed the close similarity in Venetian Red used on the dash and trunk compartment with the Chevy Orange I was using on engine parts. I think it all depends on the manufacturer of the Chevy Orange. I have noticed that it can vary in shade quite a bit.

[Isaac Tyson]

Thanks for the imput and...

I did try a few other cans and brands and each is slightly different, though the first can did match the Venetien red PPG Laquer that I had. Not that I'll ever paint a car chevy orange with spray cans but it would be nice for small interior parts.

THANKS