58 paint help needed.

[Ty T.]

I am trying to find a paint code for Signet red for my 58. I've got it in for some paint touch up and we are having trouble finding a color match. I'm quite sure it it's signet red as it has that orangish look to it. The painter is just trying to get some ideas and thought if we had a paint code we had a paint code e could come up with a color match. He has tried a couple of test sprays, but it's too red. Any paint experts out there?
Thanks!
Ty

[Dick W.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Your painter can take a piece of the car (gas door comes to mind) to his local paint jobber, have it scanned, and let them mix the paint. It will get the paint somewhere close, but usually will have to be tinted to match.

[Ty T.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Thanks Dick. Yes I did get a scan of the gas of the gas cap door, and we have got something close. However of the the places we are repainting is the washboard rib area on the hood and the painter said that it is critical that the match be exact as it will be very noticeable there. I think he is after the code to maybe see what shades are there that he can use for tinting. I'm also curious for my own information if there are certain paint manufacturers that members are using that have matched this color as close to the original factory color as possible. We are using base coat/clear coat. I know nothing will probably be an exact match to the old lacquer color. Thanks!

[Terry D.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Ty
1958 Red is Lucite 2704-LH, colors and codes can be found at Auto Color Library, also known as TCP Global.
Terry

[John S.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

58 Signet Red : Dupont Lucite # 2704-LH / Ditzler Code # DDL 70826 / R-M Stock # 58V52

[Joe R.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Also, we are talking lacquer for a 58 Corvette. Later paint codes using something other than lacquer will not match. Not even close.

JR

[Ty T.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Oops sorry guys, my mistake. I should have clarified. It does have base/clear coat now.

[John S.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Ty - The codes I gave you are Lacquer codes. Most paint suppliers can cross these to Base/Clear coat paints. If you don't have any luck - I'll check with my paint supliers and see if they can. Good luck John

[Ty T.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Thanks John. I will refer the info to my painter. He may have a question I have not thought of. I really appreciate the help from all of you guys!

[Dick W.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Oops sorry guys, my mistake. I should have clarified. It does have base/clear coat now.

It is anyones guess as to what color is on it now. Scanning is the best way to go.

[John S.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Ty - Dick is probably correct. The chanches that your current paint (base/clear) is a match to the original is slim. If you get a cross over try a SMALL sample - but more than likely - matching the current paint is your best approach....... John

[Ty T.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

John, I agree with you and Dick. I would not expect a match even with a code for what is on there now, due to fading and age. I have already scanned the gas cap door. I don't think even a scan will guarantee a perfect match. The reason we are looking for paint codes is that it appears that whoever painted it last was intending to do Signet red. So, I figured if we had some codes to work with the painter can see what tints were used in the original paint codes to see if he can use some of those tints get a good match. As I mentioned this is on the hood and would be easy to spot if it's even one shade off. The painter has done a couple of test sprays and is not happy with the results. The bottom line is if I can't get a perfect match I will pass and wait to get the whole car painted in a year or two. The fix we are working on is in the washboard area on the hood. When I bought the car about 9 years ago there were a couple of paint blisters there and one cracked open last year. Not the end of the world, but ugly to look at non-the-less. Thanks again guys for your input. We will do the best we can to match it and if not successful, I'll wait to repaint the whole car.

[Dick W.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

John, I agree with you and Dick. I would not expect a match even with a code for what is on there now, due to fading and age. I have already scanned the gas cap door. I don't think even a scan will guarantee a perfect match. The reason we are looking for paint codes is that it appears that whoever painted it last was intending to do Signet red. So, I figured if we had some codes to work with the painter can see what tints were used in the original paint codes to see if he can use some of those tints get a good match. As I mentioned this is on the hood and would be easy to spot if it's even one shade off. The painter has done a couple of test sprays and is not happy with the results. The bottom line is if I can't get a perfect match I will pass and wait to get the whole car painted in a year or two. The fix we are working on is in the washboard area on the hood. When I bought the car about 9 years ago there were a couple of paint blisters there and one cracked open last year. Not the end of the world, but ugly to look at non-the-less. Thanks again guys for your input. We will do the best we can to match it and if not successful, I'll wait to repaint the whole car.

This is where the skill of the painter comes in. You scan the paint, the jobber mixes it, spray test panel, and then start tinting and spraying more test panels until you get it right. The younger painters are so used to panel painting that the art of spot painting is almost gone. Sort of like using lead for body filler on steel cars

[Bruce B.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Ty,
Unless you have a current paint code they are pretty useless due to discontinued raw materials.
I like to use "Sikkens Color Map books" and choose a color you like and think is correct.
Formulas in single stage paint are available for many of the colors although base/clear formulas are the most common these days .
On my 57 fuel car the color I used for Venetian Red turned out to be a Ford fleet color which has since been discontinued.
Good luck.
Bruce B

[Ty T.]

Re: 58 paint help needed.

Thanks Bruce. Yes I am learning more about paint than I thought I would. They did a test spray earlier today and it looks like we have a darn good match. It sounds like they were going to shoot the hood later today. They used a can of old touch up I had that had the formula on it and I believe tinted it a little to get it where they felt it was a match. When I got the touch up paint a few years back I took the gas cap cover down to the paint store and had it scanned. The owner does car restoration and is a very experienced painter and I feel comfortable with his judgment. He told me that if we could not get a perfect match that he would not paint the hood. One thing that has peaked my curiosity through all this is with all the new bc/cc paints that have come out are formulas becoming available that do closely match our older Corvette original colors? I will let you guys know how this turns out. Again, thanks for all your help.
Ty