Paint Codes

[David T]

Does anyone have a listing of all of the codes for the color of the front and rear facias? I have some but the codes are out-of-date. Ditzler and R/M are no longer in business. I have a local owner who's body shop is having a hard time getting a good color match. I also would like to know what to use for the black on the bumper and the rear sunshade and engine cover.
David Teitelbaum

[jmettee]

David,
I started with bulletin ST-04-2/82 that references the Ditzler formula. Ditzler became, or was purchased by PPG.

The original color is identified as DAU33584. After working with a local restoration & paint shop, they came back with PPG DBC33584 (the difference being that the original was a 1-step process & the later is the modern multi-part process for modern paint types).

I also requested they add a flex agent & that I wanted matte finish. The standard finish is gloss, & they add a flattening agent to dull it down. John Marconi used a different shop, but ended up with the same paint & very similar results to mine.

For the black: original fascias are supposedly the natural black plastic. SEM Trim Black (39143) or PPG OneChoice Trim Black (SXA9000) are identical. I've used them on my louvers & other black parts on the car. Great finish.

Pics attached of the leftovers.
60176018

[Ron]

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?349-Paint-Codes

[sdg3205]

David,

When we matched up the paint of the rear fascia with the computer it came up with a Saab color. We re-painted the front with the matched color and it looks really nice. Very good match.

I can call the shop and see if they still have it on file if you're interested.

[Michael]

The paint formula I gave in Ron's link is the correct factory color. However, any color that's close will be fine and I doubt will be noticed even to a Concours judge.

David, if the link Ron posted is not what you are looking for, let me know and I can look it up anytime for you using DBC2000 Base/clear, or single stage, whichever you prefer.

[Ron]

...let me know and I can look it up anytime for you using DBC2000 Base/clear, or single stage, whichever you prefer.Ahhh..thats where it came from! Thanks!

It would be great if you could fill in the blanks (missing #s and all of the single stage info) in the other thread...

[David T]

This stuff is all great. I will take it to the shop and it should be close enough that no one will notice if it is off a little. When I see how it comes out I will get back and this info should be saved somewhere since it is important to anyone trying to bring one back from the dead. Maybe in the Files section.
David Teitelbaum

[Ron]

Maybe in the Files section.
Where is that at?

[AdmiralSenn]

I think he means on DMCNews/the DML.

[David T]

The shop just finished up painting the front and rear facias. They came out looking great. The codes they used are:

Silver MA 451.47 BASF

Black Satin DDL 9423 PPG

Flat Clear add gloss to taste (just a touch more than flat)

The black satin also worked on the engine cover, rear louvers, and trim around the windscreen.

A lot depends on the skill of the person doing the work of course and the equipment being used. This stuff is expensive, it is sold by the pint!
David Teitelbaum

[Ron]

Exactly how did they/you decide to use that formula?

Any chance of a high rez pic next to an original?

[David T]

As you can well imagine the only picture that would be of any use would be two cars parked side-by-side under perfect lighting conditions. If it is at all possible I will try to get my car parked next to the newly painted one on a sunny day but I don't know if that will happen anytime soon. My car is original and the paint is in excellent condition so it would be a good comparison.
David Teitelbaum

[Rich]

The shop just finished up painting the front and rear facias. They came out looking great.

Thanks for the codes. Glad you found something that works well.

A question about applicability of the silver code. Did the early cars have a slightly different shade of silver paint on their fascias vs later cars or was it one color during the entire production run of our cars? From seeing many cars side by side over the years I've never noticed a variation so I'd guess that one code fits all at least in terms of OEM replication.

I'm not talking about the wheels, just the fascias.

[Mark D]

There is a service bulletin that states the fascia paint changed from a lighter gloss silver to a darker matte grey:

http://www.dmcnews.com/bulletins/PI-03-12.81.html

Vin break was supposidly at 3600.

[Ron]

Hmmm...the bulletin that refers to, ST-13-9/81 (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?349-Paint-Codes), doesn't mention two colors, just the high gloss.

David, is there any reason this thread shouldn't be merged with the older paint code thread?

[aludden]

There is a service bulletin that states the fascia paint changed from a lighter gloss silver to a darker matte grey:

http://www.dmcnews.com/bulletins/PI-03-12.81.html

Vin break was supposidly at 3600.

Hmmm... then I guess I have the original lighter shiny color in the front, and the darker matte color in the back. Interestingly, the front paint looks in better shape than the back - I guess the original paint job was better.

I would like to try to match the front. Any idea which of these formulas would do that?

I'm going to the paint shop today with the rear fascia (minus D, engine taken apart).
I'm not concerned about matching exactly, I just like the front color better.

Thanks!
Alex

[David T]

When you get to the subject of the gloss the shop changes that to the point they want unless you have some very expensive gloss metering equipment. The shop adds a chemical to increase the gloss. Some of this is more art than science. A lot depends on the skill of the person in the shop. The reason we came up with PPG and BASF is because the older codes are no longer available in the original manufacturers. It was a combination of using the codes and crossing over and then seeing what really matched by eye. Also every shop is more comfortable with certain paints and certain suppliers. If a shop has all BASF hardeners, solvents, glosses, etc, they will not want to use another manufacturer's color, they don't have the additives to properly mix with the whole system.
David Teitelbaum

[aludden]

Thank you! I will know more when I go talk to them today.

[aludden]

When you get to the subject of the gloss the shop changes that
to the point they want unless you have some very expensive gloss metering equipment.
[...]


Thanks for the info, David. My question had more to do with the shade of gray rather than the shine. My front fascia is lighter than the back one. I was wondering which of the formulas above was the lighter color, as that is what I want.