original paint questions

[wengr]

Hello, I have an 83 spider to which the paint has been damaged from tarp wear. The tarps and the ropes holding them on have abraded the paint somewhat due to flapping in the wind. It's left numerous dull spots. What type of original paint was used on this car? I ask so that I can research the best action for restoring the finish. Any info or advice as to the best course of action appreciated.

[courtenay]

Sorry I can't answer the question - but I have one that is somewhat related - does anyone know if it is possible to match the original paint color codes? My car is "grigio fumo" and when I have it repainted, I'd like to keep this color.

[wikkid]

No clue as to what the original paint chemistry was. HOWEVER,

You may want to look into rubbing compound and/or polishing compound, to take off old, oxidized paint layers. Touching up the original paint would be very difficult unless you got a color match off the car itself, since the paint has changed color over time, no doubt. How bad is the abraded area (pix?)

Original paint colors can be found using ppg charts. When I did some prelim research on my light blue Azzuro met 876, these folks at TCP Global were a big help. Worth calling them.

[armchairmechanic]

paintscratch.com is a good source. Where the plate with the VIN is, there should be a three digit number which you can use to find the original color and see a small sample online.

[mdrburchette]

I would think the original paint was enamel. Poly/clear was just coming out in early 80s and wasn't being used widespread.
grigio fumo" paint code in my PPG color chart book is paint code 899.

[cincifiat]

I haven't tried this but it was posted in another thread

http://www.touchuppaintonline.com/Fiat/All-Models

Ray

[courtenay]

Hey Denise - I don't know a lot about this stuff - if the color is identified in the PPG paint code book, does that mean it is available? Does the paint code book identify what mix of tints would be required for any paint manufacturer to make a quantity of the color? Or??
thanks,
Bruce

[Exit98]

Hi Bruce,

Here's my take on this subject. Even if they can mix to the codes I can't imagine it would match the 30+ year paint on the car. Or in my case mine's been resprayed at least once supposedly in the original color but dollars to donuts its not going to match.

My paint is maybe 10 years old but is in great shape except for some major chips on the driver's door. I've done some research and found a place in Calif. that promises to match any paint sample exactly both by computer and a professional mixing expert. My plan is to mail them my gas filler door as the sample for them to work with. I'm not at home right now so I don't have the name or web site. If anyone's interested I can get it in a couple days. I'm thinking it was like $100 a quart but my memory might be way off.

[kmead]

Any paint shop can create your original paint color. The formulations are all in their computers (or books if they are old school) so you can get the original color.

The issue is all paint will change color over time depending on the base chemistry, how the car was used (in the sun all the time, garaged, etc). Other factors that can have a huge effect on the appearance of metallic paint is the direction the painter used to apply the material in the first place which causes the metal flakes to have an orientation. If you apply them in the opposite direction or perpendicular, the color will appear to flip relative to the original color around it.

I would be careful of expecting perfection on a touchup, even using the same "paint" on your gas filler door will yield a different color depending on how it was applied originally and the environmental factors. The top of your car is affected differently than the side of the car.

A body shop tends to blend the color into surrounding panels by feathering its application out over surrounding panels to disguise where the changeover is actually occurring.

In regards to the tarp damage, if the wear only affected the clear coat then there is the chance that cleaning the paint and applying a new clear coat can save your existing paint. If it has worn through the clear into the color, burnishing the metal flakes, it will likely need to be repainted. Depending on how extensive the damage is you will likely want to repaint the car.

A solid color (non metallic) can be matched on the car to account for fade and shift due to time and environment, but it will still be noticeable where the car has had work done on it if it is across a variety of areas.

[courtenay]

Thanks guys - my plan was to have the entire car repainted in the original color, so I'm not worried about having to match an already faded exterior. Sounds like this is doable.

[wengr]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. My car is non metallic black. If the paint is indeed enamel now I can investigate the possibility of buffing and blending in repair areas etc.

[mdrburchette]

Bruce, I took the paint code of my 72 Spider to an automotive paint store. They mixed a gallon per the formula listed in the BASF book. Even though the new paint was poly instead of enamel, it matched perfectly to the original paint in the engine bay. I have found that different paint manufacturers' colors do vary, even after mixing by the formula and that's the reason I went with BASF since Fiat used Glasurit as their paint.

[narfire]

Bruce, I found my 72 was code 317 -Bottle Green. Went to Lordco and they said it was a one year only according to their books and no longer available. I took the fuel filler cap in and had them scan it and then develop a colour to match. I thought it was real close,but the paint (PPG) is now water base and the painter was not happy with the way it laid down compared to the stuff in the past. He found Dupont still makes the "good " stuff and he uses that whenever possible. He ended putting 4 coats on and is wet sanding as we speak.
Anyone else finding the new paint "different" than the paint of a few years ago?

[wengr]

Yes it seems to me that this new "environmentally friendly" paint formulation is much more prone to orange peel.