Matching Paint Colors

Elcastor

Elcastor

Well-known member
A friend has an antique car that when he removed the fender, he found what appears to be the original body color. What is his best method of coming up with a paint formula to match the color he has found on the body using a major paint supplier like PPG? It would be rather hard to haul the car down to the paint store. Any suggestions?
 
If the car has original Ford paint, you can get a Model A Ford Paint and Finish Guide at most model A suppliers for about $30 or $35. It has all the color chips in it and the years the colors were used. Typically there were only 4 or 5 colors used for each year, so it usually isn't difficult to figure out which of the colors it is. If you aren't 100% sure you can take the booklet out to the car and compare the booklet to the car. I have the Dupont and PPG color mixing codes if you can't find them for the color you pick. Also, it is a good idea to have the smallest amount of paint mixed (usually 1/2 pt) and test spray some of it to make sure it is what you want. I have had two PPG colors (Copra Drab and Bonnie Gray) that were the wrong color.
Rusty Nelson
 
You've probably thought of this, but when I was trying to get some paint for my Model A that was already painted, it wasn't running and couldn't drive it to the paint store. I took an easily removable, painted part in and had them color scan it. For me it was the flat cover for the manifold heater door.
 
Call the paint jobber and see if they can scan the color. This will get your friend real close to the correct color and sometimes even a dead on match.

PROPHET 2 SPECTROPHOTOMETER

PPG have sets the standard in spectrophotometer electronic colour identification technology which is seen as the future of colour matching. The exclusive Prophet® II Colour Analyser is an easy to use device capable of scanning a painted surface to precisely measure its colour. It links to Paint Manager where innovative PPG software makes a rapid colour selection from primes, variants and specials. Ask a PPG Representative to explain how Prophet® II can make identifying the closest colour match as simple and fast as Click & Go!

Notice it does not say exact colour match but rather closest colour match.
 
Your PPG supplier should have the Prothet scanner. Mine will come to the shop and scan the area of the car in question and produce a formula. The area needs to be clean and rather flat, and about 2 inches square.
 
Thanks Mike and 2many cars. That was the information that I needed. Sounds like the Prophet® II Colour Analyser is portable and should work.
 
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