Let's talk about original paint, Lacquer or base coat/clear coat Options

[442nd914s]

After 5yrs of restoration I'm at the point of painting my 73 Zambezi green. While most people would take this time to change the color or put flames, I want to keep it as much original as possible. For those who can remember original 70s Porsche paint, or those who are fortunate to have a pristine original paint on their cars......what type of paint was used in our cars? Lacquer or base coat/ clear coat? I've read articles about both pros and cons on the subject, but never have seen it with my very on eyes.
What's you guys opinion? Not only what would look good, but why would it look good and last the remaining life of the car. Keep in mind that my car will not be a daily driver, but a historic non concours show car. I plan on the occasion local drives and attending local car shows. No Peeble beach concours car shows.
Thanks for your input. Much appreciated it.

[JeffBowlsby]

Single stage enamel was OE for 1973. To my eye base/clear just does not look right on a 914.

[Tom_T]

Single stage enamel was OE for 1973. To my eye base/clear just does not look right on a 914.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

As to the other part of your query, Glasurit, Sikkends, & one other paint mfgr whose name escapes me now provided the OEM paint for the factory.

I don't know if you can still get Sikkends, but Glasurit is still available, & PPG & Dupont are the top quality paints available today for our 914s.

CA & some states aren't allowing the old school solvent based paints anymore, although CA & some states have a waiver on that for small size jobs. The small size of our 914s usually comes in under the limit, but then the paint shop needs to still have their solvent based paint sprayers & other equipment on hand to do so.

Otherwise, your stuck with water based paints of today.

I'm not sure of when urethane paints came in relative to 914 production, if at all.

There are some topics in the O&H Forum on the paints, if you want to do further research.

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[SirAndy]

Single stage enamel was OE for 1973.

They don't make paint like that no more. Today's single stage sucks compared to the original paint on a 914.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[JeffBowlsby]

I had a quarter panel repaired a few years ago and took it to a painter in an adjacent county, Santa Cruz, where the bay area air quality regs do not apply. They sprayed single stage enamel...looks as good/durable as OE as far as I can tell. No shop in the bay area is allowed to spray anything but base/clear.

Its the air quality regs in our major metro area that requires water based base/clear. In surrounding counties its not a concern.

[IronHillRestorations]

Some pros poo-poo the brand, but Kirker is decent paint and make a nice single stage; but only a limited number of colors and I doubt if Zambezi is one.

[442nd914s]

Thanks everyone for the great input. Not only will my body shop will they paint the car in single stage, but they'll be able to paint it using Sikkens Zambezi paint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) Even the body shop guy has German heritage (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)
If I may ask one more question regarding paint.
What is the original black color for the following;
Front and rear air dams
Fiberglass rocker panels

Are they flat, gloss, semigloss ect type of black?

Thanks for the great input. Soon I will be able to put a picture of the final long awaited project.

Current in prime pics

[930cabman]

Thanks everyone for the great input. Not only will my body shop will they paint the car in single stage, but they'll be able to paint it using Sikkens Zambezi paint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) Even the body shop guy has German heritage (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)
If I may ask one more question regarding paint.
What is the original black color for the following;
Front and rear air dams
Fiberglass rocker panels


Thank you
Are they flat, gloss, semigloss ect type of black?

Thanks for the great input. Soon I will be able to put a picture of the final long awaited project.

Current in prime pics

Did this car ever receive the single stage enamel? if so, could you post a few pics.

[StarBear]

Great choice of color. In 73 the L64K was called Meadow Green, in 74 Zambezi and in 75 Forest Green IIRC. Same code. Most of mine (Avatar) is original so holds up real well! Jeff Bowlsby has a great color chart by year.

[davep]

You are getting them a little mixed up:
Willow Green Weidengrün L63K
Zambezi Green Sambesigrün L64K
On the paint badge it says "Kunstharzlack" translated is synthetic resin paint or we say enamel. Single stage except for the metallic paints which are base & clear coated.

[Johny Blackstain]

They don't make paint like that no more. Today's single stage sucks compared to the original paint on a 914.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Andy- I've found an exception... DuPont Emron, single stage. It's what UPS used on their trucks; how I found out about it. Not sure if it's still available but very durable and came in many colors besides UPS brown (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

[mepstein]

DuPont Imron. Super tough paint. I heard it was developed to paint commercial vehicles, planes & bridges. Not a great looking paint for a classic car.
My friend used to paint it on custom bikes. He called it “liquid death”
Another friend of mine who used to paint it on usps vehicles is in remission from lung cancer.

How dangerous is Imron paint?
One statistic is that a single exposure gives about 10% of those exposed permanent lung damage. I repeat: Imron is not a do-it-yourself garage paint. The health hazards (permanent brain, liver and lung damage) are serious, and require professional level protection against lung and skin exposure.Apr 1, 2012

[wonkipop]

You are getting them a little mixed up:
Willow Green Weidengrün L63K
Zambezi Green Sambesigrün L64K
On the paint badge it says "Kunstharzlack" translated is synthetic resin paint or we say enamel. Single stage except for the metallic paints which are base & clear coated.

they offered zambesi green from 73 on.
called forest green in some markets as alternative name.
L64K

karmann ghias had the same solid color paint range as 4s from 73 on.

doesn't seem to be any meadow green for 914s in 73.
maybe a 911 color?



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"liquid death" aptly named. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hanged.gif)

[Johny Blackstain]

DuPont Imron. Super tough paint. I heard it was developed to paint commercial vehicles, planes & bridges. Not a great looking paint for a classic car.
My friend used to paint it on custom bikes. He called it “liquid death”
Another friend of mine who used to paint it on usps vehicles is in remission from lung cancer.

How dangerous is Imron paint?
One statistic is that a single exposure gives about 10% of those exposed permanent lung damage. I repeat: Imron is not a do-it-yourself garage paint. The health hazards (permanent brain, liver and lung damage) are serious, and require professional level protection against lung and skin exposure.Apr 1, 2012

I thought it was spelt with an e... oh well, my mistake. I disagree on how good it can look, think my truck looks pretty. My painter cut the paint with Imron clear before application to get that shine. It is however, toxic as hell and I did have the truck professionally painted at a shop. Paint is now 17 yrs old and is holding up very well.

[dhuckabay]

Use Imron on my plane and trucks. Read the MSDS and don't see the stuff reported above. It is a polyurethane, still sold, as well as many others like it. I know that in some areas in CA it is not VOC compliant. We had to move some shop painting from LA to Kern County due to this. VOC's don't seem to have a reported link to cancers.

[wonkipop]

Use Imron on my plane and trucks. Read the MSDS and don't see the stuff reported above. It is a polyurethane, still sold, as well as many others like it. I know that in some areas in CA it is not VOC compliant. We had to move some shop painting from LA to Kern County due to this. VOC's don't seem to have a reported link to cancers.

what i have learned in my industry is anything that good is going to kill you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

VOCs unfortunately do have a link to cancer.
volatile organic compounds.
its now a big thing in housing. your carpet can kill you! etc. it goes on.

but ........it is good stuff. imron.
probably the high point in paint durability technology.
all down hill from there.
there are some problems connected to it in terms of it shrinking away from tight contours and cracking with time. but thats a measure of just how tough it is too.

as to base coat and clear coat.
aus is the test bed for the world.
highest UV levels anywhere, maybe chile, south america comparable, only the south pole trumps us. you want to feel the sun burn your skin in summer after 5 minutes, come here. i wouldn't advise it.
cars go to crap here within 5 years in some cases.
clear coat failures line the streets.
hyundais are the worst.

[dhuckabay]

VOCs unfortunately do have a link to cancer.
volatile organic compounds.
its now a big thing in housing. your carpet can kill you! etc. it goes on.

Certain VOC's do have a link, phenols, methylene chloride, formaldehyde are some. A lot of chlorinated organics also. None of these show on the MSDS for Imron.

[wonkipop]

ok

i better look into that, because imron is good stuff as a paint.

there is some stuff they paint on oil rigs here too which is very good gear.
we used it all the time on our structural steel.
but have recently been facing some road blocks from the off gassers.

[dhuckabay]

ok

i better look into that, because imron is good stuff as a paint.

there is some stuff they paint on oil rigs here too which is very good gear.
we used it all the time on our structural steel.
but have recently been facing some road blocks from the off gassers.

Generally used epoxy in high corrosion areas. Hard to work with but high solids, dry layer of 6 mils was typical, used to spec 3 coats. Requires blasting to near white also. Usually top coated with a urethane to stop chalking.

[BillJ]

OP asked about correct color/finish for the black stuff (spoiler, side skirts, etc). Anyone have the correct answer?