More paint color match frustration

[SLO-BOB]

Forgive me if the tone of this post is a bit huffy but, WTF!!!??? Why is it so damn hard to get some friggin touch up paint for my car? I used the code off my door jam and I am getting nowhere. No one-even here-can agree on what the name of this color is. The dealership threw their hands on any car before 88. Paintscratch sent me something they call "light yellow" but it looks more like "burn your eyes out of their sockets mid-day sun yellow". I would say my color is off, but I've seen it before, plus it matches the color under the hood and trunk as well as the door jams which have not been painted.

I have to break my promise about comparing this car to my BMWs-because in all other areas, there is no comparison. BUT-at least you can get the paint code for any BMW ever built in about 2 seconds on the internet. Can someone please shed some light on my paint color? Thanks. Btw-it's 174-9-2 a very pale yellow-almost white.

[filo]

I just went thru this with paintscratch. The color they sent me wasnt even close to venetian blue.

[Zeke]

Please take you car down to the local auto paint store. Most can do a spectranalysis of the paint. If you want a spray can, most can load up a spray can or order one once they know the formula.

[webini]

Originally posted by filo
I just went thru this with paintscratch. The color they sent me wasnt even close to venetian blue.

I was just talking with paintscratch about my venetian blue. They basically told me to pound sand unless I wanted to spent a couple hundred $.

No way.

[filo]

They probably told you to pound sand because of me.

[webini]

Originally posted by filo
They probably told you to pound sand because of me.

Not a problem - you probably saved me a bit of frustration.

If I find a source I'll give you a PM.

[Por_sha911]

Find a body shop guy that does custom rods. They can match the paint for you. Tell you drive like a maniac and will probably need their services soon.

[walt]

Never had much luck with color matching from touch-up bottles unless its black or white. If the paint is metallic a good match is ulnlikely due to difficulty getting the metallic dispersion correct.

[xlr8]

Paint fades.

[TerryH]

hmmm... I went to a paint shop, gave them my paint code, he printed out the formula and that's it. With the formula, any respectable paint/body shop can make the paint. I've had both rear bumper extensions painted and the right side mirror I added. Chiffon White L182... is a very pale yellow too. Even more pale than your car looks, Sebring. Do you know if your car has the original paint?

[Zeke]

Terry, you need some drywall or pegboard on those walls! BTW, nice car, I've seen it, but I didn't know it had any yellow.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by Zeke
Terry, you need some drywall or pegboard on those walls! BTW, nice car, I've seen it, but I didn't know it had any yellow.

Yeah, by itself it looks white, but compare it to the white fridge in that picture. It's clean looking, definitely not an eye catcher, but maybe that's a good thing when speeding down the freeway.

When I was a kid our garage was unfinished, but no one ever told me. Here's the opposing wall for the pegboard and bench. I've added some wood blinds to window since this pic was taken to keep that bright sun at bay....

[deanp]

I just checked Paintscratch.com and Glasurit.com and neither even list a paint code with 174 in them for 1977. What did paintscratch.com match your code to? Is it a color from an earlier year or special order?

I have an odd color as well, paint code 436 and a fellow Pelican emailed me as he thought my color was the same as his, and he hadn't been able to get any info or matches for his car. Turns out his 1980 or newer car (can't remember the year) used the 436 paint that was only available in 1976 and 1977, and a swatch sample of touch-up for my car from paintscratch.com also matched his.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by webini
I was just talking with paintscratch about my venetian blue. They basically told me to pound sand unless I wanted to spent a couple hundred $.

No way.

Not odd that you should say that as I received a rude e-mail from some dork there with statements like "did you read?" and exclamation points to emphasize what an idiot I was for even trying to get an accurate match. Thanks for just taking my money and sending me whatever Paintscratch. Why don't you just send everyone pink and then tell them to get screwed-it would cut to the chase.

As re: paint shops-yes, the car has been repainted, and subsequently touched up afterward. The repaint matches the original paint under the hood and trunk as well as the door jams so I believe it's accurate. They got the number off the door jam and the color worked out. The pics make the car look more yellow than it really is. I'll bet it's Chiffon white 184 as it really can look white at times depending on light source.

All I want is a touch up bottle for little nicks. A spray can would be overkill and I'm sure a body shop would be thrilled to mix up a bottle of touch up paint for me. But, I guess that's the route I'll have to take. Thanks for the input gentlemen.

[SLO-BOB]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by deanp
[B]I just checked Paintscratch.com and Glasurit.com and neither even list a paint code with 174 in them for 1977. What did paintscratch.com match your code to? Is it a color from an earlier year or special order?

I'm not sure about the color as far as special order. Unless a full rotisserie resto was done a while ago, and I don't think it has, it's the original color. The key question is-"what code is my car's?" I ordered "light yellow" from paintscratch "hoping" for a match. I wasn't too surprised that it didn't match. What did surprise me is that they were more concerned with telling me I was wrong than solving the my paint needs. I never expected them to give my money back for my order, which was just a guess. I wanted them to tell me what paint code the paint they sent me was. That info would verify that it (my selection) was incorrect for my car and I could move on, but noooooo. They just wash their hands of it.

[SLO-BOB]

Okay-now I have to post that Paintscratch at least e-mailed an apology (after some terse words e-mailed) for the misunderstanding along with an explaination as to why it is so difficult to match pre 80 Porsche paint. Good enough.

[Early_S_Man]

I'm not sure why you started a new thread ... losing all history and comments on your topic ... which hasn't changed one iota ...

The paintscratch comments about pre-80 cars are typical pure BS from a coupany that hasn't even tried to make their paint swatches even close to most colors which they claim to be able to match! Their focus is late-model cars and they feel obligated to come up with an excuse for not caring about pre-80 cars ... even if their comments are non-factual!

If Porsche assigned a paint code and Glasurit supplied the product, you can be assured that the code for the formula still exists, and Stoddard can still get it! Dupont and PPG probably have the codes as well ... for example, my local Dupont dealer can still come up with all of the rare, but popular early-70s Porsche colors, and they even still have catalogs with paint swatches that are quite accurate for the various reds, yellows, oranges and blues that are popular on this forum ... but obscure to anyone outside the Porsche-specific universe!

I strongly suggest that you contact a local automotive refinishing supplies dealer ... before you waste any money with paintscratch.com ...

[HarryD]

And for that matter, you most likely can do what I did. Go to the Porsche Dealer and have them pull the chips for the older colors and match them up with the one on your car.

My car was a repaint by a PO and I did not know what color they used. Turns out it was one of the Reds from a few years later. took me about 20 minutes of putting samples against my car and finding the one that looked the best.