54 Paint

[Brian W.]

My 54 corvette has original lacquer paint. It doesn't show too bad but has a few chips and scratches that I would like to address. Where can I get some touch-up paint for polo white?

[Gary C.]

Re: 54 Paint

Brian,

If your '54's polo white paint is indeed original, you would have to get paint "matched" to your paint. Otherwise the touch up's wouldn't blend in and stand out like a sore thumb.

JMTCW,

Gary
....

[Brian W.]

Re: 54 Paint

Gary:
Thanks for your response. You're absolutely right about touch-ups they do stand out and this is what I would like to fix. I've been to 3 different body shops, one being a well-known restoration shop and was told the paint was too old and they can't get lacquer paint anymore. I believe it is even outlawed here in Canada. I spoke with three of the past owners which takes it back to April 1986 and they never painted it and I was told the car was very original. Question still remains where can I get paint to match?

[Chuck G.]

Re: 54 Paint

Most professional paint stores have optical scanners. I've had it done twice since I've been in Florida, Both times were for hot rods, not Corvettes, but it doesn't matter. You might have to get single stage urethane and use an "activator/hardener" to mix some touch up paint.

[Gary C.]

Re: 54 Paint

Brian,

Funny story about lacquer paint non availability in North America.

Was in Europe a couple of years ago and visiting with a NCRS friend. He told me they could be lacquer auto paint without any problems. He went on to say that the EU passed the ban on lacquer paint, but everyone ignored it. Unfortunately for us, North American fell for it and outlawed lacquer paint. Go figure.

Chuck's correct. Any good quality auto paint store can come up with a mix for you.

Several years ago read about an on-line auto paint service that would mix touch up paint for lacquer, but don't recall the website.

Gary
....

[Don H.]

Re: 54 Paint

Gary
you're probably thinking of TCP Global in San Diego (CAL of all places)

https://tcpglobal.com/pages/acrylic-lacquer-paint?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyY6N4ZXT_wIVCrnICh2_1QIcEAAYASAAEgIvA_D_BwE

[Ronald L.]

Re: 54 Paint

If you have a Painters Supply in your area, they can help, can't say for sure they all have scanners and what are they going to scan from your car?

Do you have the original paint formulation for PPG - DuPont?

Now - it also helps if you have a color eye - meaning--- you or they can accurately "see color" I can and I did it in the OEM space for years.

There are people and paint retailers that have lots of lacquer.

Don mentions one, I would suggest looking at PPG website, get the distributors list and start calling - that's what I did to get all the remaining Rally Red Original PPG Lacquer components back in 2018.

White is an easy color to mix, get a quart, as asking for a thumbnail or half pint is going to make their job hard if not impossible.

You start with the base code and then tint into where your original has aged, yellowed most likely.

I know in south MO there were two old paint stores that pre-lockout had tons of this stuff.
There was another in Ohio IIRC east of Toledo.
Most these shops sell this lacquer to guitar restorers...

[Harry S.]

Re: 54 Paint

I have always had luck with:

Aps Tower Paint Company

PAINT STORES IN APPLETON, WI


2120 W Nordale Dr
Appleton, WI 54914 - Outagamie County

(920) 731-2772

Give them a call to see if they still mix lacquer.

[Brian W.]

Re: 54 Paint

Thank, great information. The paint rep for one of the local shops will be here next week (small town) and he will use an optical scanner. I never got anywhere with TCP Global but I will try APS Tower paint in Appleton WI. The paint codes I have for polo white are from Valspar, PPG and Dupont nitrocellulose lacquer (spelling?).

[Jimmy G.]

Re: 54 Paint

I am going to insert my 2 cents worth. If it is original and not bad I would not mess with it. An original paint 54 is a rarity and should be appreciated for its long history of not being screwed with. Leave it be is my opinion

[Gary B.]

Re: 54 Paint

I have always had luck with:

Aps Tower Paint Company

PAINT STORES IN APPLETON, WI


2120 W Nordale Dr
Appleton, WI 54914 - Outagamie County

(920) 731-2772

Give them a call to see if they still mix lacquer.

[Tony R.]

Re: 54 Paint

I am not a paint expert, but keep in mind that any lacquer you buy today will be a very different formulation than back then. Not necessarily in terms of color, but chemically. Not saying that is a problem. Just saying that if I was going to patch it I would get some seriously experienced assistance.