It's official, my car is NOT Guards Red! - Page 2

javadog · 09-04-2014, 05:17 AM

It seems this question will never die...

The two colors are the same.
Carrera 3.2 models (and the turbos from the same era) were available in Guards Red.
The codes changed over the years.
The factory called it by different names, depending on the language used.
There are varialtions in the color over the years. The paint changed.
The paint on your 30-year-old 911 isn't the same color now that it was when it was painted.
Some touch-up paint isn't even close to correct.

JR

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

I agree Java, my problem is my car was resprayed at some point so the color is in question.

javadog · 09-04-2014, 05:37 AM

Take a part off of the car and take it to someone that can analyse the color and blend you a custom color. Most people use the flap over the gas cap, as it comes off easily. Make sure you tell them it is for touching up with a brush.

JR

Rich Gas · 09-04-2014, 06:34 AM

You can use Rustoleum Apple Red Gloss... It's a really good match for my non-guards red, Guards Red paint..... Weird, you seem excited your car isn't Guards Red? Manliest of colors.

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

I'm not excited that it isn't Guards Red, just a bit surprised. They went to the trouble of preserving the original paint code sticker when they repainted yet didn't use the original color? Just seems odd.

javadog · 09-04-2014, 06:40 AM

Or, they just mixed the color wrong. Or, they painted over a differnt color primer. Or, it has been a while since it was painted and the color has shifted. Or, ...

You get the idea.

JR

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

Yeah, all those are possible. Bottom line is it's definitely not Guards now! I'll get a custom color mixed and go from there.

BFT3.2 · BFT3.2's Garage

For what it's worth, here's the paint code sticker from my 88 911. Guards Red and Indischrot on the same sticker. Mine says 80k, previous years apparently had 027.

Milesaway · Milesaway's Garage

From my 77

Mahler9th · 06:10 PM

I have a 1975 911 race car that was painted in 2001 with a PPG singe stage. At the time, the PPG paint code was L80k/"Guards Red." I am pretty sure that PPG's version of L80k was cross labeled as 027 at that time.

Just last year I bought two quarts of the same PPG paint with the same codes.

The new paint did not match what was on the car (and the paint was $200/quart, ouch). However the leftover 2001 paint did match what was on the car. The 2001 and 2013 paints had the same PPG color codes: L80k/027.

What I think is happening is that aftermarket paint suppliers (like PPG and those that make touch up paints as well) have formulations and/or tint ingredients for different paint codes that change over time, and in any case are intended to be their "best effort" to match what was shipped by PAG. But they cannot be an exact match in every instance.

So what I learned, as has been suggested here, is that for optimal results it is best to work with an expert who can use an existing "sample" to slightly tweak the manufacturer's mix for the best match.

In my case that was easy, as I could take my paint supplier a small fiberglass part. He did an excellent job , and even mixed my old remaining paint up with his custom matched version so I did not have to toss it.

He is an absolute expert (he has also done some matching work for valuable old factory race cars including one with /30 in its name).

I think all of this is a "value adder" in body repair and paint supply businesses.

So to me, color dial in by a professional will be mandatory from now on with automotive paints. And if I ever used a touch up product, my first choice would also involve whatever aerosol I could get from a pro resource who can try to dial in the color as close as possible.

If I did buy something more generally available as a touch up or scratch repair product, I would do some sort of test first to make sure the final result would meet my requirements for matching.

hbueno · hbueno's Garage

Mike, that's good info. On a related note, manufacturers of house paint suggest that you mix your cans of paint together to avoid slight color differences between batches.

Hugo

wildthing · 09-05-2014, 12:56 PM

This is why I leave minor chips alone until the next respray.

dad911 · 09-05-2014, 01:04 PM

That's why going to a good bodyshop is worth it. The guy I like will mix and blend, and when he is done, car looks good as new, can't tell where he ended.

Even new car paint/touch ups don't match.

Nathans_dad - test the touch up paint in a spot that wasn't resprayed, or bleached by the weather, and see how well it matches.