C1 Corvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
With the demise of Lacquer, Single stage Urethenes seem to be the paint of choice. I'm restoring a 1962 Fawn Beige 360FI and am having difficulty finding reliable sources. Dupont no longer matches Fawn Beige, PPG codes are not a good match (so I hear). I've procured paint chip sheets from PPG (Ditzler), RM, and Martin Senour. I've see NCRS Master Judges using these to verify accuracy of a car's color. The problem all the chips are slightly different! Ditzler and RM seem the closest together, so I'm planning on trying to match those. I've also seen that 61 Corvette 501 Fawn Beige, 62 Corvette 920 Fawn Beige, 61 Cadillac 46 Tunis Beige, 61/62 Oldsmobile "T" Fawn Mist, 61/62 Buick "T" Desert Fawn and 61/62 Pontiac "T" Myan Gold are all the same GM code (WA2815) and PPG code (22005). I've found matches in Akzo Nobel Utech 200 through there "color Map" System for Fawn Mist (color map 318A1) and Desert Fawn (color map 316B2). I'm concerned that they are different Map Numbers. I'm planning on trying to match up the color chips I have with the color map book and pick the closest. Any other suggestions would be helpful.
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Contact: Ray Carney # 36314 I'm sure he can answer your question.
Bill -
Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
You may want to look at this site, they appear to have lacquer available. I was looking for some for my 1960 and found this site. A disclaimer: I have not ordered anything from them.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Modern lacquers are almost junk. The change in the binders, lack of lead, and NO R & D for probably 25 years have left it an orphan child. Modern single stage, properly applied, should be the final paint job a Corvette would ever need, baring any bad luck.
Tom Ames made a post here not too long ago on the method of applying modern materials and making them appear as factory applied finish. Do a search and study his method.
Don't expect to get a perfect color match out of a can (unless you are extremely lucky). Shoot test panels, tinting the paint as needed, until you get the desired color.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Many paint stores have a colorimeter which can move you in the correct direction for a color match. But metallics are a problem.
My favorite method is Sikkens Color Map books. They contain thousands of color chips with graduated variations in color and light to dark chips. This will get you in the ballpark but final tinting is usually necessary.
One of the books has metallic colors which is what you will need. Again tinting is usually necessary and unfortunately the size of the metallic flakes is typically a problem.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Lacquer is still available in AZ - some colors may be touchy because of a lack of current equivalent mixing materials, but if you have an accurate sample, the "good" paint stores can do a computerized read and advise on what is the closest current mix - then it's mix a pint/quart and see....this is NOT a new problem...find a classic car Restorer of cars from the 30s and ask what he has done for the last 30 years.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Agree. I've used single stage urethene before on a top flight Tasco Turquoise 60. Looks just like lacquer if you use flattner where there was unbuffed lacquer. Judges agree it looks "factory original", but, the finish is 1000% better than lacquer.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Thanks Bill, I've sent Ray a note.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Thanks Bruce; I'm going to look at the Sikkens color map system today. As I mentioned they have two different map codes for the Fawn Beige used on Olds and Buick. I'll try to match to the chips I have.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Really don't want to use lacquer, EdComment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
I think you will find that only DuPont has the correct size metallic for your color. In their Chroma system the correct metallic tint is 810j. If you can find some original paint somewhere on the car use that to match. Metallic colors vary a lot from one car to the next, they are very spray sensitive and a number of different factors can cause color variation. Don't expect one color to match them all. I would also not recommend using paint chips for color match. They were never intended for that and are actually not paint but ink. For a metallic finish you will need to either use a urethane base coat/ clear coat or a catalyzed acrylic enamel. Urethane single stage colors have difficulty stabilizing metallic particles so most often there are no formulas available in single stage. It is not difficult to use a c/c finish and get and accurate appearance and catalyzed acrylic enamel gives good result in a single stage finish. There is a Restorer article in spring 03 volume 29 number 4 titled "Restoration Paint" that gives information on using current technology to reproduce original appearance. I am writing an article now for submission to the Restorer on the same topic but with updated information. I should be able to submit it in the next week or two.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Thanks Tom; I used Chroma One on my 60 Tasco Turquoise in their "classic corvette" series, great match great paint. Unfortunately they are no longer doing the 4146 FAWN BEIGE METALLIC. I will try the 810J. EdComment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
I'll check to see if I still have a Fawn Beige formula. I did one about 5 yrs. ago and usually try to keep a copy of the formula in the customer file. I'll check on Monday. It will probably be c/c I don't believe Chroma single stages have metallic formulas.Comment
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Re: C1 Ccorvette Exterior Paint Codes and Matching
Tom; Thanks for your responses. Your article was great. As I think I mentioned, I'd love to stick with Dupont ChromaOne Acrylic Urethene Single Stage. I used it a few years back with Tasco Turquoise metallic and it was GREAT!! I tried to use it again with 4146 Fawn Beige Metallic, but, Dupont Tech Support said they no longer are mixing that color.
That led me to Sikkens (Axzo Noble Utech 200 acrylic urethene SS. I went to their color map books and found a 318A1 code (61 Olds Fawn Mist Metallic) that matched my Fawn Beige color chips fairly well. Their mixing me a sample to try. That's where I am right now.
Again, I'd prefer to use Dupont ChromaOne Acrylic Urethene Single Stage. If you can help with a mixing code that would be awesome. Sometime (April 2002) back Bill Williamson (3245) posted a 4146 mix. His formula was: 816j (192.4), 815j (279.8), 890j (356.0, 884j (391.8), 806j (410.0), 855j(416.6) and 150K (912.4). Does this correlate with your formula?
Thanks for your help. EdComment
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