Dalmation Blue - Is this a real Porsche color

Lothar · Lothar's Garage

Hi all,

A freind and I were talking about early 70's colors used in IROC cars of that era. I found the pic below. I don't know if this is the original or a reproduction of this IROC car. I am creating an IROC replica from an SC and am looking for a Porsche color code. My freind thinks this color is "Dalmation Blue", athough I fail to understand what "Dalmation" has to do with any blue color.

Can anyone confirm or deny that such a color exists and does this pic look like that color? Can anyone tell me what the color code is?

Any ideas?

CBRacerX · CBRacerX's Garage

forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69320&perpage=20&pagenumber=2

I had a 73 Coupe in this original color, and had it resprayed (twice...) in the same color. Love it!
-Chris

MikeS · 05-24-2002, 06:30 PM

Check out this site. Looks like dalmation blue is an actual color for 72-73 but its not the same shade as in your pic.
Mikehttp://www.chrisb.net/PCARacing/911rs_pca_racecar.htm

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Dalmatia is a region of the former Yugoslavia, now Croatia, and is where the dog came from and got it's name. That is probably the origin of the name.

A quick web search came up with this car, which the owner says is painted Dalmation Blue. It looks a lot darker than the IROC car pictured.

http://www.chrisb.net/PCARacing/911rs_pca_racecar.htm

www.paintscratch.com lists a color with that name for Porsche in 1972 and 73, with the color code L329.

Hope this helps,

Tom

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

I think Mike and I just both posted links to CBRacerX's car, at the same time and from opposite ends of the country.

Figure the odds of that happening, just after Chris posted.

Tom

CBRacerX · CBRacerX's Garage

Wow! Isn't the internet amazing...

Glad to see someone looks at my old web site! I need to update that site badly, it is three years out of date...

Best to all -

Chris

Phoenix · Phoenix's Garage

Lothar:

Dalmation blue is an official Porsche special order color (329-9-02) available '72-'73. Mine looks a bit darker than the one in the photo though:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/pmpre/pm.cgi?login=Phoenix&action=display&

Bob Chapman · 05-25-2002, 05:40 AM

Lothar,
That color might be Petty's 'Electric Blue' that came about when they mixed whatever was in the shop when it was time to paint a race car back in the 60s. Or, maybe not.

pwd72s · 05-25-2002, 09:05 AM

THe "Petty" car was one of the cars used in the first IROC. Don't hold me to this, but I believe all the IROC cars were painted in special colors, to more easily distinguish one car from the other...in other words, I don't think standard factory colors were used in that series. Ahhh, pleasant memories...when the IROC was an exciting series, with both road and oval tracks used...before it became a NASCAR side show.

Bob Chapman · 05-25-2002, 11:12 AM

I wonder if any of those early IROC races are available on video tape. I'm sure that I watched them way back then, but without knowledge that they would be this significant.

IROC would make a great support series at Watkins Glen, Sears Point ... guess that's all of the NASCAR road races! I think you're right about the colors, Paul.

Lothar · Lothar's Garage

Thanks everyone for the info. As always, "This board rocks!"

I think I will go with the dalmation blue even though it is a bit darker than the Petty car. I'm not a Nascar fan anyway.

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

In fact, I believe the correct full name is Dalmation Blue Violet, so it is indeed a much darker color blue just like some of the folks have responded back with pics of.

Early_S_Man · 05-27-2002, 08:52 AM

I don't have a clue where some of you guys are getting the names of these paint codes ... BUT, IT SURE ISN"T FROM FACTORY PUBLICATIONS!!! There wasn't a Dalmation Blue from '72 thru '83!

'329' is Sea Blue, and doesn't look anything like Petty's IROC car!

The IROC cars were '74 models, first of the RS 3.0 race conversions, and Petty's car looks like it would be the optional '74 code '341' Lilac ...

Lothar · Lothar's Garage

Hey Warren,

Now that I look at the Petty car pic, I think you might be right. I now can see where the car might be more of a lilac color. Before, it looked more blue but now I see where it could be more purple around the front bumper. Thanks.

If it is lilac, I really don't know what to do.

Does anyone know what other IROC colors were used in 74 or 75?

I've seen the Donahue car in orange and the Revson car in yellow. They didn't do much for me and I will not allow another red car to enter the world. For those of you with red cars, you have received your fair share of flattery by immitation. No offense. I have nothing against red, its just a bit to common.

RLJ · RLJ's Garage

I have seen two Porsches that were Dalmation Blue based on the owners claim, fair.

Stoddard Imports parts dept. told me that Oxford Blue was Dalmation Blue in 1972 and 1973 the words Dalmation Blue are in ( ) under the heading Oxford Blue. Paint code 329. Based on their books. Which my thought is, are correct!

I will belive the man at Stoddard long before listing to Warren, I think the only color we have seen here is "REDNECK" and I feel sorry for the Pelican head who asked the question in the first place.

Inclosed is a pic from Jacks page taken at Cambria 2001 of a 1972 911 S that is Dalmation Blue.

Randy Jones
1971 911

CBRacerX · CBRacerX's Garage

Now that is more like it! Looks just like my old car(s).

Really, an excellent color.

Early_S_Man · 05-29-2002, 12:19 PM

I guess RLJ has been drinking waste water from Hanford Nuclear Reservation again ... and to expect grammar that makes any sense is too much to ask!

See if your 'experts' can refute these factory documents ...

Randy W · Randy W's Garage

Settle down guys...

I have a Porsche factory color code/paint sample book for '71 to '77 for 911 and 914 models. For 1972, the 911 Color 329 description is "Oxford Blue" in English and "Seeblau" (Sea Blue) in German, same color with different names. No mention of Dalmation blue in the 1972 description column for that color in my book. It is a very dark blue with a hint of purple (not as dark as Albert Blue 325). This color appears similar to the car I saw at Cambria pictured in RLJ's post.

The IROC car looks closer to the 1972 911 color 326 "Glacier Blue". The corresponding closest color to Glacier Blue in 1974 appears to be 336 "Mexico Blue", which is slightly lighter and brighter in hue.

pwd72s · 05-29-2002, 05:38 PM

Hey guys...I actually WATCHED the original IROC races. Yeah, I'm that old. To my partially color blind eyes, there was a wide range of colors. NONE of them looked factory to me. I'd have described them as ranging from white to black...and you'd better believe "titty pink" was among them. The colors were just weird...so those watching the show on the lousy color TV of the time could tell who was driving what car. BTW, I heard a rumor that during this series, "King Richard" asked Mark Donahue; "What's this heel and toe stuff you road racers are talking about ?" But it's my original story, and I'm sticking to it...I sincerely doubt that any of the original IROC Porsches were painted in what was then considered Porsche factory colors...standard or optional! I guess an easy way to confirm this would be to call Ernie Spada of Portland Oregon...I think he's still the owner of the "Petty" IROC car. Don't think I'd want to bother him with this, though...

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Let me add to the confusion: There were at least 3, and possibly 4, different shades of blue used on IROC Porsches in 1973!! These ranged from very, very light pastel blue to a dark blue similar to the Sunoco Carrera (check color photo in "The Unfair Advantage" showing all 3 or 4 blue cars racing together).

I don't believe any of the IROC colors were standard. In 1974, when IROC switched to Camaros, the colors were basically the same.

Dalmation Blue? I've not a clue.

-- Curt