1966 primer color

[Julio G.]

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1966 primer color

C2 and at least early C3 Corvettes had a very durable red oxide coating directly on the fiberglass that was covered with a gray primer then with the original lacquer paint. I have heard the red oxide coating described as a sealer.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1966 primer color

This is from the FREE Info Kits at the GM Heritage Center:

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Corvette Exterior Paint Process

PRIMARY SANDING - All body panels and bonded joints that received acrylic lacquer are dry sanded to prepare surfaces for painting. A filler material (called putty rub) is applied to the entire body to fill minor imperfections. PRIMER - Two coats of primer are applied (the first red and the second gray) and are oven baked for 60 minutes at 280 degrees F. WET SANDING - The body is wet sanded to provide a smooth surface for the sealers. Most of the gray primer coat is removed with the red primer acting as a depth signal for the sanding operation. The body is dried to remove all moisture. SEALER - One coat of sealer and one coat of color acrylic lacquer are applied and baked. DRY SANDING - The body is dry sanded to prepare surfaces for the final acrylic lacquer. LACQUERING - Three coats of acrylic lacquer are sprayed on the body to build up the required paint thickness. The paint is "rested" for eight minutes to permit it to partially set up and to remove excess volatile paint vehicle. INITIAL BAKING - The body is oven baked for 30 minutes at 140 degrees F to harden the paint which permits the subsequent operation. Small interior and exterior parts are painted to complete the body paint schedule. FINAL BAKING - To assure a durable, hard, high luster finish the lacquer is oven baked for 45 minutes at 250 degrees F. Reheating the lacquer permits the paint film to soften and allows surface blemishes and sanding scratches to disappear during the thermo-reflow process. FINAL SANDING AND POLISHING - The body is lightly oil sanded and polished to bring painted surfaces to a high luster finish

Chevrolet Engineering Center - September 1965

[Michael J.]

Re: 1966 primer color

Here's my '64 which has just had the red primer applied.....

[Pancho T.]

Re: 1966 primer color



Her is one of my old cars in red primer

[Tom D.]

Re: 1966 primer color

Poncho: Curious to know the owner's reason, if you know the background. Was a special color applied by the owner? For racing?

My bother ordered a '67 Impala SS and selected a Cadillac color; Something like "Shadow Gray" which appeared later on Chevelles. I think the car was painted in a GM factory, and it took forever to get it to the dealer in Milwaukee.

[Pancho T.]

Re: 1966 primer color

Tom,
Pretty much the same situation as the one that you mentioned. The owner the dealership ordered the car for his wife. So he checked most every option available. He also owned other dealerships and his wife had a Cadillac. She wanted the Corvette in the Cadillac turquoise color. So the car was shipped in primer and painted later. It was turquoise when I bought it 1983
The trim tag is pictured in the book Vette Vues Facts Book of 1963-1967 Sting Rays by M F Dobbins as the example of a trim tag

Pancho

[Julio G.]

Re: 1966 primer color

Thanks for all the info everyone. That clears up a lot. My final question is what color would the sealer be in step 4 shown in the list provided by Jack? Should the car be mostly the oxide color when I go to paint it?
Thank you in advance.
JJ