1960 color match-Roman Red

[Bob Flannery]

We are at the point of ordering paint for my 1960 restoration. My painter is partial to Sikkens base coat/ Clear coat and we have been working on color charts to get the best match possible. Since we can't seem to locate a good color chip for Roman Red or Ermine White I would appreciate any advice you might have in matching these colors with Sikkens codes or any other suggestions you would offer on getting as close as possible to the 1960 colors. Thanks

[Dale Pearman]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

Forget the base/clear and go with PPG Roman Red lacquer.

Dale

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

Are you sure Roman Red was a color for 1960? I know it was for 1962. Don't know about other years. For the 1962 Roman Red, the Ditzler, PPG, and DuPont codes are available. I don't have them handy, but I've seen them. I don't know, though, how accurate those paints are to what 1962 Roman Red looked like in 1962.

If you go to a show with lots of Roman Red cars, you will see variations in the shade of the color. Most Roman Reds seem to have a lot of orange in them. I've seen Chevy paint chip cards for sale on Ebay, but I don't know how accurate those colors would be 40 years later.

If you're trying to choose between red and white, you should know that many early Corvettes are repainted red. There weren't as many red Corvettes originally produced as it would seem from a random sampling taken at a show. It seems that everybody repaints their early Corvette red. That's the good news and the bad news. People choose red because they and the public like it, so it now becomes common but still attractive. You decide.

[Jack layton #896]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

Here are some "Off-set" paint numbers for Roman Red.
Dupont Lucite 2931-LH
R&M 59C51R
Ditzler 70961

These are not the original numbers but some "closest match" numbers developed some years ago. If you can not find the paints maybe you can find some old paint chip books with the color chips still in them. Then develop your color by applying the eyeball for a close match in todays market place.

[Jack layton #896]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

"Off-set" for Ermine White.
Dupont Lucite 4024-L
R&M 60B91
Ditzler 8295

[Dave Christensen]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

For most of us west of the Mississippi laquer is not an option. You can't buy it, ship it, or spray it, especially in the Republic of Kalifornia.

But I can drive my car, with the top down, all year long!

Dave Christensen

[Mark Ring]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

I had good luck in finding original color chips from www.vintage-books.com They have original sheets from paint catalogs. I was able to get all 3 sheets of DuPont 1969 all General Motors passenger and commercial exterior colors for my collection. I think I paid $5.00 a sheet. I checked and they have some that you might be interested in. Look carefully as they seem to list them in several different places so to find them all, you might need to search several threads. If you call, they may be able to sell you just the one sheet you need. Good luck!
-Mark.

http://www.vintage-books.com/

[Dale Pearman]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

An exclusion exists for vintage and/or hobbyst usage. I can ship lacquer anywhere. The problem is finding a painter that wants to do all the extra labor involved with a lacquer paint job.

Dale.

[Jeff Matauch]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

If you can get a sample of Roman Red and Ermine White, I know Sikkens has an excellent matching system called the Color Map. The painter simply holds the sample up to the map and chooses from hundreds of color samples. There should be something very close. If you are having the car judged, you may want to use lacquer, but if you want to drive it and have it last more than a couple of years, use 2 part urethane.

[Bill W.]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

Dales right .

[Bill W.]

Re: 1960 color match-Roman Red

dupont 2931L in lacqure is a perfect match if you think you need to have bc/cc why screw around with that foreign stuff .dupont has the correct formula for almost all the old cars in bc/cc .Bill

[Dale Pearman]

STRANGE LACQUER

I just don't know how GM ever sold a Corvette with lacquer paint since it didn't last more than two years when driven! WAKE UP!

I occasionally drive a 1962 with its original lacquer paint still looking pretty good after 40 years of hard use!

There's NOTHING wrong with lacquer. Drive your Corvette 20,000 miles a year or drive it on and off a trailer. Either way it's OK.

Amazing how we all MUST change, alter, improve, protect, modify, and attempt to make better a legendary sports car that has EARNED its reputation with certain configurations. In so doing we only destroy the very aura that made the car legendary in the first place.

If awesome torque, power or BC/CC is sensed as required in one's life then buy a new C5 or a Viper.

Dale.

[M W.]

Re: STRANGE LACQUER

Here, Here! I second that note. Dale, I have always enjoyed your insite in regards to these wonderful straight axle's. I truly enjoy things as original as possible. Keep up the informative posts. Regards, Craig W.

[Mike G.]

"Nothing wrong with lacquer"????

Well let's see . . . It shrinks, the finish is not as glossy as urethane, it cracks and chips more easily because it's more brittle, it scratches more easily, and it's more environmentally harmful. But other than that . . .

[Ed Jennings]

Re: "Nothing wrong with lacquer"????

Yesteryear's lacquer paint was pretty darn good paint. Particularily good for the amatuer to spray. I keep reading that the current lacquer is just not the same paint, but have no personal knowledge.