 Did 914's have lead based paint? |
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| thomasotten |
 Feb 11 2026, 10:52 AM
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#1
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Senior Member  Group: Members Posts: 1,572 Joined: 16-November 03 From: San Antonio, Texas Member No.: 1,349  |
Does anyone know if our cars would have had lead-based paint on the body panels? It seems like Germany was years ahead on the ban of lead in household paints, but I have been trying to find when it was phased out in automotive.
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Replies(1 - 7)
| didenpx |
Feb 11 2026, 11:00 AM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 122 Joined: 1-September 23 From: Usa Member No.: 27,556 Region Association: North East States 
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Thomas,
Last week I tried to get O’Reilly’s to mix some Nepal Orange and put in aerosol cans. They said “no can do” as the formula is lead based. FWIW. Really enjoy your videos. Paul |
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| JeffBowlsby |
Feb 11 2026, 11:27 AM
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#3
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914 Wiring Harnesses & Beekeeper Group: Members Posts: 9,184 Joined: 7-January 03 From: San Ramon CA Member No.: 104 Region Association: None
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Not that I am aware of. Maybe O's paint is lead based... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
914 chassis were dipped in a zinc chromate bath, then received single stage baked enamel paint. The metallic paint cars received base and clear. |
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| chmillman |
Feb 11 2026, 11:37 AM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 344 Joined: 15-June 24 From: Switzerland Member No.: 28,183 Region Association: Europe
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The pigments from that period may well have been heavy metal-based. Not necessarily lead, but for reds/yellows/oranges almost certainly cadmium. Now banned.
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| thomasotten |
Feb 11 2026, 12:09 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,572 Joined: 16-November 03 From: San Antonio, Texas Member No.: 1,349 |
Interesting. I would go to a paint supply house, I am sure they have a non-lead equivalent. The subject of lead has never come up any time I have had paint mixed per color codes at automotive paint stores.
QUOTE(didenpx @ Feb 11 2026, 09:00 AM)  Thomas, Last week I tried to get O’Reilly’s to mix some Nepal Orange and put in aerosol cans. They said “no can do” as the formula is lead based. FWIW. Really enjoy your videos. Paul |
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| wonkipop |
Feb 11 2026, 12:34 PM
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#6
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,393 Joined: 6-May 20 From: north antarctica Member No.: 24,231 Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
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QUOTE(chmillman @ Feb 11 2026, 11:37 AM) The pigments from that period may well have been heavy metal-based. Not necessarily lead, but for reds/yellows/oranges almost certainly cadmium. Now banned. spot on. cadmium used in reds. and being banned is the reason "real" reds are not used much these days and is difficult to replicate precisely to match the colors back in the post war era and into the 70s. almost certainly the paints dating from 914 era used cadmium in the reds. ------ and yes. there could well have been lead in the paints used originally. they were synthetic enamel paints used in the 914. glasurit by BASF. the amount of lead could vary. depending on the color. i'm not sure about auto paints but historically lead or a lead compound was the primary basis of white paints for buildings. was mixed in for other lighter colors too. very opaque. important for bright colours. its been replaced by titanium oxide. same probably goes for auto paints. not sure exactly when lead started to be removed from products but in australia it was just before i attended architecture school which was in the late 70s. so around about early 70s here. i feel sure the USA would have led (no pun intended) the way on this with the USEPA. not so sure about europe. historically they always dragged their feet on environmental and toxic substance regulation. paint in the 914 era is right around the time it starts being phased out. |
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| chmillman |
Feb 11 2026, 01:51 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 344 Joined: 15-June 24 From: Switzerland Member No.: 28,183 Region Association: Europe
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Here’s what Google’s AI summary says:
https://share.google/aimode/nDBV5d1XRNSzAOKyR So, yes, 914 paint could well have contained lead… |
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| mmichalik |
Feb 11 2026, 03:31 PM
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#8
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MikeM Group: Members Posts: 788 Joined: 27-January 16 From: Valley Center, CA Member No.: 19,600 Region Association: Southern California
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I would go to a dedicated paint shop, where the auto body shops get their paint from, and ask them. They have new formulas and new mixes that are echo-friendly. They should be able to take care of you.
the local auto parts stores are a waste of time in this arena. |
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