Color matching vs “correct” paint code based approach Options

[Tdskip]

So while I was taking the doorhandle off the Arizona car it struck me just how pretty the Laguna blue paint was from the factory, and also that it is more muted than modern paint formulations.

That has me wondering if I’ll get a more original looking paint if I bring the door and get that paint matched from the inside factory paint versus going off a paint code. Will clot matching the inner door result in a more original pastel/muted/not overly shiny paint?

I talked to a paint guy and he said the moderns cleats are all so shiny it is hard to keep the finished job from being so modern looking.

Thoughts? Ideas?

[DRPHIL914]

my painter ordered paint samples from 3 different companies for my L99k copper metallic, and the big guns were not even close off their mix, PPG, Sherwin-Williams and one other they were either too dark, too much metallic flake, or too orange. but one , Limco(not sure is spelling)considered a mid level quality paint, was absolutely spot on for color, depth, hue, metallic etc when he shot samples to compare to the original still in my trunk area, so that is what we went with and the color turned out super. it might not be the most expensive paint job but it looks great . point is you might be better off with trying to match it or try different suppliers, and an excel end painter just may get the perfect mix with some time and effort, but it’s almost impossibly to get a new modern paint to come out looking exactly as our cars came off the line from Porsche’/VW 50 years ago.

more people here have a lot more experience and knowledge on this subject but that is my experience in this arena. I’ve here these metallics are the hardest to get to come out uniform, even. personally my car got 4 coats of base and 3 of clear. it’s really beautiful, but probably won’t last 20 years. maybe with good care and a clear bra on front it will, time will tell.

but dont be in hurry , get some samples shot and observe in different light.

i have to say one of my favorite modern car colors is the Ferrari/Maserati Ocean blue Metallic. it’s simply stunning and looks so different in different lighting conditions i just don’t know how they got it to be so perfect and even, it i love it and if i ever do another 914 project that has to be rescued and isn’t original i think it would be awesome on a 914!

good luck and show lots of pictures when you get to this point!!

[larryM]

I’ve here these metallics are the hardest to get to come out uniform, even.

that's an understatement

a bunch of skill-set factors involved in how metallics "look" - gun psi, direction of pattern, drying/setup time depending on reducers & whether the painter lays it on "wet" or ?? , etc etc

imho - if it's a repaint, just go for the best closest color to the oem you seek & forget about it - WHO is ever gonna know??

- it's not like we are gonna park a newly painted 914 next to an never painted preservation car (well polished) & count points-off at the concours -

most concours judges have ZERO knowledge about such and 2X-ZERO knowledge about 914's - they only want to see CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

a few yrs back a concours judge was apoplectic cuz my "rear bumper" paint had some minor orange peel - (i got the 1st trophy anyway)

[DRPHIL914]

I’ve here these metallics are the hardest to get to come out uniform, even.

that's an understatement

a bunch of skill-set factors involved in how metallics "look" - gun psi, direction of pattern, drying/setup time depending on reducers & whether the painter lays it on "wet" or ?? , etc etc

imho - if it's a repaint, just go for the best closest color to the oem you seek & forget about it - WHO is ever gonna know??

- it's not like we are gonna park a newly painted 914 next to an never painted preservation car (well polished) & count points-off at the concours -

most concours judges have ZERO knowledge about such and 2X-ZERO knowledge about 914's - they only want to see CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

a few yrs back a concours judge was apoplectic cuz my "rear bumper" paint had some minor orange peel - (i got the 1st trophy anyway)

so true, same with door gaps etc , stupid to judge a car like that thinking that it was perfect coming out of factory with even gaps or no orange peel. After my experience at a couple other shows and this last year’s Werks - well thst was a joke, i actually would have preferred a more traditional judging than what they did, and then putting a stock 914 2.0 ‘75 against a ‘70 914/6 with no explanation of what the judging criteria was - joke. at least with let’s say a PCA concours you were at you know clean is the thing.
just going to the C&C event and enjoy taking with people about the car and 914 history and so fun to hear others stories .