Color Decision on the 25-year-wait Targa - Help me
 

Some may remember the 1975 Targa 911S that was my father-in-laws. I have been driving and restoring it for the last two years. I began the exterior restoration October 2003 and have it disassembled and stripped down. I need help deciding on the color.
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I created a spray booth in my garage by hanging plastic sheeting from 1x2's screwed to the ceiling and duct taped the bottom to the floor. Yesterday I used a spraygun for the first time and sprayed primer on the removed panels. Perhaps today I will do the front fenders and body. I need to guide-coat block sand to a 600 grit smoothness and then I am ready to spray color.
Through the plastic you can see the ventilation ducts of tubular plastic bringing air from the fans to the furnace filters.


But what color?? Help me decide.

If you want to read The Whole Story click here.

I have placed a picture of the tan color of the interior next to the proposed colors. Since I reupolstered the front seats and don't want to replace the trim panels, changing the interior color is not an option.


Here is the original color, Copper Brown Metallic #432, and condition of the paint in Sept 2003 before I started taking it apart.

The prior owner, my Mother-in-law, had considered changing the color to a dark blue, but she also thinks Augergine would be a good match to the interior. Reasons to stay with the original color would be simply to keep it as original as possible. It would require that I spray a metallic and clear coat it - possible more of a chanllenge that I can handle. Also there is not a paint formula for this color in the DuPont Chromaprimier line that I am using.
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Augergine #025 seems to be the only other color from 1975 that would allow me to keep it to an available period color and match the interior. It also has a ChromaPrimier formula. I would use the color without a clear coat and this would simplify application.
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I like Iris Blue and think it would go well with the tan interior. It is not a 1975 color.
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What do you think??

Can't go wrong with the period-correct original color. It is a nice color, goes with the interior, and would be relatively cool in the summer...It also will not show dirt or waterspots so nuch....plus, unless you are a bodywork God....imperfections will be more obvious in the darker color. Nice work so far and great looking paint booth.

Eggplant (Aubergine) is absolutely stunning if you ask me... I'm color-blind but the color looks great to me...

The original is a great color ... stealth mode brown is good in traffic! Easy to live with, too! Keep it original!

I just got through painting mine. I wanted aubergine, the wife wanted black.
So I painted it black. Sounds like you did a good job on the spray booth. Don't forget to use a resperator. I used a hobbyair. It pumps fresh air from outside. Its a pain because of the extra hose but it beats dying.

I like the original color, plus it's less of a PITA route to go.

Let's see how long it takes Jim to post:D! Oh yeah I forgot, he's at Summit Point today.
GP White is also another good color that goes well with the Tan interior. I am currently deciding on either GP White or Yellow for me. If I had to choose between the three colors you listed, I would either go with Aubergine or the blue.

that copper rules
not as much as my cameleoniac , i change with the scenery metallic black, though :D

Ditto, except I'm not color blind.

The blue rocks.
Second is the eggplant I can't spell! (And it's a close second)
Third is something else.
Last is the original color.
Worse than that are some of the really gross tans and browns.

No matter what the color, though, do yourself a favor and test spray some old panels to get the hang of it.

And install some good lighting in your paint area, esp. low, so you can see whats good and whats bad!

Thanks for the opinions. Keep the info coming.

Everyone in my family that has an opinion is against the original color. This would change if I went ahead and painted it the brown and it looked great.

Using the 1995 Iris blue is a pretty big departure from using a stock color for 1975. The owner of Iris the Slut hasn't posted since July when he declared Iris Blue his exclusive color. I was set on this blue until I read the thoughts on the original thread for the 15th time and realized that keeping it to the period is important even if I never sell it. I don't plan to modify the car's appearance any other way and it is about as stock and original as they come.

Aubergine would be a good color to final sand and polish as I am planning to do. Shooting metallics and clears seems to be where beginners like me have problems and the purple would avoid that. I am willing to withstand the Barney and Teletubby pictures - although I would rather not. :p

As far as extra work with the color change - I would have to paint the opposite sides of the hoods and doors but they are off. My engine bay and trunk need new paint because the factory didn't cover them well enough :). I will compromise and not paint deep behind the dash area because there is little to be gained from messing with this hard to see area. I did remove the ventilation system, wipers, washer so I will be able to get pretty far back there. The factory just did a mist in this area.

I wear the respirator and have a new spare ready all the time - positive pressure fresh air would be better because you can still smell it through the charcoal filters.

I have given up being cool in the summer. I have no A/C and if it's going to be over 100 I usually take the Passat ...... because the Targa doesn't have an external oil cooler. Perhaps I should paint the hard Targa top something other than Wurth matte black.

I have halogen work lights that I might move into the booth but they seem to do well diffusing through the plastic. I have a wheelbarrow that I may paint to practice and test a sample of color.

That's a good looking tan interior (fix the tear), any kind or red or blue would look great with it.

Peroid color?

Porsche did a lot of custom colors, they would match anything you wanted, the color of your wifes eyes - what ever.

I like the blue, I vote blue.

Brown metallics look good and are coming back. I'd stick close to original.

How about having some place make you a custom skin out of brushed stainless steel? That would look really good with either the aubergine or the blue.

I had a feeling that you guys might want to see Aubergine, so I took a few pics of the 73E at Summit Point. :cool:
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And here with the NoVA gang:
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Notice that the color looks different in different light conditions.

Hello nowmytarga!

Iris Blue is stunning! That is if you know how to layer those coats right.

Maybe your a pro and know all about it but don't forget to have good PPE. Personal Protection Equipment. If you can, use a real good filter mask that will filter out the Lacquers or what ever you are using as a vehicle. I have used a full face mask before and they are great. It was however used with toxic glues and not paint but it really protects the lungs, eyes and skin. Remember the brain cells get destroyed when you inhale toxic vehicles like MEK and Lacquer... Your brain does not rebuild or replace them. There gone for good.

Great DIY spray booth!

If your don't like the Iris Blue (my favorite) I would choose an O.C. white. If it is done right, white can look really sharp. Especially with Black and Polished metal trim. Its easier to paint and does not show mistakes so easily. White is a VERY COOL color, temperature wise, in a hot summer.


Benson :cool:

It looks like you all had a great time. I'm glad to see the rain didn't spoil the fun today. Count me in next time Jim. I had a freakin nail in my right rear tire that I had to plug this morning.:mad:

Forget about color! How 'bout B&W?
 

:D
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Aubergine - in 1975's??
 

Jim - you are the Aubergine expert. My Red Book shows Aubergine as a Special Order Color for 1975. The DuPont database does not list it for 1975 but for 72, 73.

Has anybody seen a Non-early (74 & later) in Aubergine?

Is yours and others you've seen a base coat without the Clear Coat?

The tear is in the old seat cover - Long fixed!

AS far as personel protection. I won't use a fresh air face mask only because I don't want to buy one because Harbor Freight (bless their souls) doesn't sell one for next to nothing. My long arms & height (77 inches) and ventilation will help with the face absorption and I have a few Tyvek suits for paint protection for me and dander protection for the finish.

Stainless steel - on a already hard top? Despite the lack of modifications I like to avoid extra weight!

Keep up the opinions!

notmytarga, I'm hardly an expert, just someone who happens to like the color. I haven't seen any other Aubergine 911's in person, except for pics here on Pelican. I think my paint is just a base coat, but I'm not sure. How does one tell?