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?

Peru Red
 

I'm partial to peru Red with that interior.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1079317148.jpg

I like the silver......

Blue or burgundy and dye the interior black. Your resale will be way better and in the long run it will just be way sweeter. Copper brown is pretty cool but it isn't really a color. If I had it down to metal. DAMN! I would have a color. Maybe something crazy like lime green or orange. Hey... my car IS orange :D But I mean bright orange! On second thought, maybe not... but
You guys are such purists! I bet you haven't kept your own cars pure. Mine sure isn't.
My little tyrate

I'm still saying blue....

But since Jim asked, a good way to tell whether he has a clear coat ot not is to look at his buffing pad. If, after any buffing or compounding work, the pad shows color, there is no clear.

And I assume that you're going to at least wear a charcoal mask while painting, right?

I dont mind the Copper, proably looks better on a coupe but then again i'm bias.

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I like some of the 70's metallic greens, they look very nice on targas. I think Aubergine looks better on the pre 74 cars.

The pad does show color.

I would like a peru red or aubergine for aesthetic reasons.

However, this is a family car and if you want to restore it to the car that it was when your wife's father owned it, you have to go original.

Otherwise it just isn't the same car.

I would keep it the original color or paint it black. Black on 911s just makes the car look a little meaner.

Porsche offered tonnes of custom colors. Maybe you can find a list of the ones offered during the 70's and pick something that would make it WOW. Deviate from the norm but staying original to what Porsche offered.

Copper! But I am definitely biased. Keep in mind that the metallics are hard to do. The paint shop shot mine three times before they were happy with the results.

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There are a few rare Boxster's out there with silver exterior, and tan interior.

And MAN, were they good looking!

Brick red looks awsome, or metallic silver - a classic that never gets old.

I would stick with the copper brown metallic. There are not that many brown turds out there. If I would have changed my color I would have gone with a candy apple red from my youth. Don't ask me why it was juat a color I really liked on a custom paint. If you have a good small sample they should be able to match with most paint systems.

Good point about matching at the paint shop. I was allowed access to the DuPont site and have looked through their formulas to get a feel for some of these colors. That is how I knew that some of the older colors are not "available" in ChromaPremier etc. If they can provide a match then that takes some of my hesitation for the Brown away.

One reason I want to change the color is to get more people to ask who painted it - so I can say I did! :D :D

I primed the rear and the front fenders (off the car) today - I really need to take more care in adjusting the gun. The front fenders came out wonderfully then I corrected a clog and sprayed too thick over the rear fenders with lots of runs. I'll get lots of blocking experiance.

rpiper - when they shot it three times does that mean they kept adding coats until they liked the final finish or did they do color over a final clear again, and again? Or did they strip off what they didn't like - very curious - I'll have to have a plan for when I am dissatisfied too!

Primer is the easiest to spray, and the easiest to rectify! (softest, usually). Then solids, and finally two stage.

But two stage is the most satisfying, and rewarding. Especially over time.

Remember to practice spray before the gun ever aims at the car, and get the flow right on the test scrap. I often have a few pieces of foamcore or cardboard on the wall for that purpose.

Good lighting from below makes it much easier to judge the amount of paint being layed down. It will get pretty foggy in there doing the whole body, and can affect vision if the lighting is poor.

The good news on metalics though is that the base coat isn't too tough to spray, and if you get a run in the clear, no sweat, just let it kick and block it.

Just don't, whatever you do, run out of clear in the middle of the job. That would be a full scale disaster.

And don't rush it! Prep work is staggeringly time consuming. But after you've layed down the first stage of metallic, (and thought it looked awful...that's normal) then watched it transform in minutes when the clear hits it, it will all be worth it.

They had just switched paint brands from DuPont to PPG and the new paint shot differently. The painter had trouble getting the basecoat to his satisfaction, so he'd shoot it then sand it down and reshoot. It turned out beautifully- the extra work really smoothed out the finish.

Maybe that will help you decide. SC Targa in Copper Brown Metallic. Nice, isnt it?

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"Period color?"

That would mean earthtones in the mid-70s. yellow/ochre/brown/orange/Peru Red.

Remember that Porsche has always offered "paint to sample" meaning you were never limited to the color swatch book.

Medium and dark blue look good with tan/cork interior.

YMMV

FarleyD - your Copper Brown picture is one of the selection saved to the pallette of pictures that I offer anyone that wants to give an opinion of color choices. It's what I will want mine to look like if repainted in the brown.

I talked to the DuPont shop man today. They will likely be able to find a formula or make a new one in the ChromaPrimier line that I want to use. I am sparing no expense on materials since I am putting in SO MUCH of my valuable time.