Has Guards Red always been Guards Red?
 

What I mean by that is... did it ever change tint/hue over the years or is 1985 Guards Red the same as 2005 Guards Red?

My '87 and '88 models don't look like the 996 reds but that could be due to fading I suppose. I never saw them new so it's not really an "apples to apples" (hah!) comparison. The older reds look more "orange" in comparison.

That's a good question because for some reason I love it on the 3.2 and don't really like it on the 996...

I think that it was preceeded by, or possibly called India Red starting 1983? Someone has more info on this, but to answer your question...they are the same color/paint code, just different names.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/516833-guards-red-india-red-not-the-same-2.html

Just saying because I do not know for sure......

I am spraying India Red LM3A on an 86 951. My 81 guards red 911 looks like a tomato next to it. Not the same colors.

Interesting that this 944 had been repainted a number of times and some of the removable parts matched my 911 and some matched the new color.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309288166.jpg

Here is the same pic without a flash. I think you can see the difference better

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309288300.jpg

i stand corrected--i think, im still confused

Its easy. They are the same....but even the factory has changed the formula over the years, so there are many variations. The above color difference could be caused by a million factors. Here is the last thread that covered this. I show the paint chips with the same name: Indishrot (india red)/ guards red

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/292111-indischrot-red-guards-red-2.html

If you go to paintscratch.com
They list a couple different paint codes for Guards red for different years
example...1983 911 Guards Red LM31
1989 911 Guards Red LM3A
there are more depending on the year. Mainly single stage non clear coat vs the newer paint with clear coat

The only panel on the car pictured above I did not paint was the driver's door. It is actually pretty close to the sunroof but still not a match. The more I look at it the more the 911 rear quarters look a little darker than the front fenders. Same paint from same can but painted at a different time / close but not the same pressures / maybe a fast vs slow hardener / different temp outside and different humidity levels.

I can't argue tmsautoart's point.

Thanks guys, really appreciate the input.

Since there can be so many variations of the color and so many things can that can affect the color as Bob said above, the best thing to do is always have them match the color FROM the car.
Here is a good example of what I meant about the variations of a single color. All grand prix white, but many slightly different shades:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309311587.jpg

Sorry about the crap scan. I realize you can't see the color very well, but you get the point.

Here is my original 81 911 trunk paint and the 86 944's original hatchback floor.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309312975.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309313046.jpg

Has Guards Red always been Guards Red?
 

It's often the way the light "plays" on the varying aspects of the surfaces... I have seen it many times rear vs front and side vs say a bonnet.

Paint does change a lot in formula and finish over time. I reckon that's why some spray painters go loopy after a few years... That and the fumes!

I work in a Fine Arts museum, and my art buddies tell of art classes in college where the professor has the students collect samples of every white that they run into during the semester -- just throw them all in a box. At the end of the term, they bring their boxes to class, dump them on the table, and see just how many different whites they have run into.

From this thread and others, it is apparent that this applies to auto paint also ...

BFA degree from Paier College of Art in CT. Art professors make you do some crazy stuff. I also grew up in and around restoration shops and worked on and off at one through college and can tell you, the good ones know color and can see slight variations just like some artists. Automotove refinishing is most definitely an art!

I've got that "porsche 911 3.2 carrera, The last of the evolution" book with all that info, and it states 1989 was the first year of guards red between the years of 83 and 89.........it's got the whole paint scheme with every color offered and codes for every color offered through those years.......says the only red offered in 85/86 was india red with code 027....LM3A....G1.........but who knows, books leave info out sometimes? just a random thought you could be painting your parts guard red when you've got an india red carrera?

Sometimes the English language version of a color used by the factory is not the exact literal translation of the German. I think indischrot is an example of this.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/292111-indischrot-red-guards-red.html

just because they call it a different name during certain years doesnt mean its a different color. Different codes? ...well look at the above posts, especially the one that shows the grand prix white color chips and the pic below. There are 5 codes just on that one color chip... there are numerous variations of that one color chip. some slightly lighter/ darker / cooler / warmer etc each with their own color code. Click on the link above and read through that post as well. There are tons of codes for India/guards/indischrot reds. Check out the photo below:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1309398098.jpg