Need help with my 914 colour code.

[Goldfinger '72]

Hi, I'm new to this forum - it's awesome!

Can anybody offer any information on my 1972 914-4?

The colour code is L97H, although the car has been painted twice, the original colour could still be seen in the trunks etc...

All of the charts that I've seen, online and in Brian Longs & Dr. Johnsons books have the L97 series of paint codes, except they end at L97G.

Any info you could offer would be great - I've just had my car soda blasted - interior, exterior trunks and engine bay - and I want to return the car to original colour.

My local PPG says they have the code, but I want to be sure it's accurate and not a gues-timate.

Thanks, Rob

[Paul_Heery]

L97H is Gold-Metallic. However, L97G is also Gold-Metallic. I not sure what the differences in the two colors may be, if any.

A search of the net only gave up one reference to the color code for 914s. Here is the original:

http://www.mittelmotor.de/deutsch/technik-info/technikbericht/produkt.htm

and the English translation:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.mittelmotor.de/deutsch/technik-info/technikbericht/produkt.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522L97H%2522%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DN

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Two more references:
http://www.dgi.net/914/tech/paint.html
http://members.rennlist.com/chuxter/914Colors.htm

Neither one shows L97H. Are you sure that's what it reads? Sometimes the stamps do not hit the metal evenly and don't leave the most legible impression.

There is a third that I know of, but I don't remember the URL. The Mittelmotor page makes four.

--DD

[Goldfinger '72]

Thanks for the info - guys!

Yup it's clearly a L97H - actually it was part of the reason I bought the car - the mittelmotors page does list the number but doesn't distingush between the two 'gold metalic' colours.

I wonder if either:

this is a Volks colour that was deemed too simialar to the L97G to continue using

OR

did they assign a colour code to colours that were matched to customers samples? if so maybe this is one of those...


tell you the truth - I love searching for information on the history of these cars. I haven't yet contacted Porsche directly - is there any easy way to get this info from them?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

"Paint to sample" had its own code. I think it was one of the "L99" codes, but I don't remember exactly. If you dig out your copy of Porsche Panorama (You are a PCA member, right?) you'll find Jon Lowe's e-mail address. He knows the "paint to sample" code.

--DD

[Vaughan Williams]

I have a similar "weird" color-code, it's a '75 with code L97A

[SummerSledSix]

My local auto parts store makes rattle cans of touch-up paint based on the paint code, and there apparently is a huge cross-reference database out there to support this. This seems to be a semi-common service among auto parts stores that cater to the trade, perhaps your local parts supplier can shed some light on your rare paint code, and even sell you a can to play with.

[Paul_Heery]

Vaughan -

Your color code is a new one to me. The first two characters indicate that it is a metallic (L9). But, the last two (7A) have me stumped.

What color is your teener?

[Vaughan Williams]

It's been repainted, i think twice. But it's a shade of silver in the trunks, etc. I wonder if it was a special silver anniversary shade? If so, I'd really like to repaint it the same shade.