Paint code ID
 

So . . . my 1970 (build date circa Dec 1969) has a paint code on it that says 217E or E 217. That is NOT signal orange, which is the color of the car. And it isn't a respray unless they dismantled everything and removed the undercoating and sound proofing, painted orange, and then replaced it all.

So anyway, does anyone know the proper code for signal orange so I can order some?

How unusual is it to have a code stamped wrong? Is my car now worth $2.2 million like a reverse Honus Wagner or something? :)

Mike (in Portland)

Signal Orange is L20E.

Check this site for all the colors/codes:

http://homepage.mac.com/markd/914/colors.html

I don't see a 217E or E217.. maybe its L21E? That would be tangerine and was available in 1970.. ?

try go here

Paintscratch

Look under VW colors, probably L21E-Tangerine. I believe the 914-6 cars had color codes from Porsche

I will take another look at the stamp. I ordered through Paintscratch with another car and saw their codes before, but couldn't find an orange-ish color with the same digits (I should have checked that other site). We'll see if Tangerine works.

Thanks for the help,

Mike (in Portland)

Sounds like it's a six cylinder car? They had different paint codes.

If you're ordering paint for anything other than a complete respray, DO NOT expect it to match just because you got the right paint code. The paints and tints (etc) that were available 30 years ago have been discontinued and replaced with new "technology" and so the color changes slightly. The same paint code will look completely different depending on the line of paint you buy, DuPont will look different than PPG which will look different from PPG Omni, etc ad naseum. If you need to match to respray a single part (i.e. fender, decklid) you need to bring the car or a painted part to have the color computer matched.