Did 914's have lead based paint? Options

[thomasotten]

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.

[chmillman]

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.

[wonkipop]

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.

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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 its been replaced by titanium oxide.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.