L32K Phoenix Red - A Close Enough Match ? Options

[Literati914]

I have a '73 with hail damage and crap paint, Phoenix Red L32K which blurs the line between Orange and Red. I've had a Tangerine 914 in the past and this I'd say is a little redder than that.

Anyway, I'm planning on giving the car an over all respray at some point, but was hoping to do a couple of rust repairs now, as well as touch up the multitude of chipped spots - and maybe drive it as is for a bit. So, I'd rather not even pay for a custom can from a jobber if I can avoid it. At that point I'd go ahead and get a gallon for the future respray (maybe not a bad idea).

Long shot - but has anyone found a decent close enough spray paint that worked? I've researched but as you can imagine there's basically nothing on the subject. I see Dupli-color has a DE1607 color which is actually a Chevy Engine Orange-Red ..BUT it's a ceramic paint and I'm afraid it wouldn't dry with the cool weather.

[Literati914]

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[Literati914]

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[SirAndy]

I have a '73 with hail damage and crap paint, Phoenix Red L32K which blurs the line between Orange and Red. I've had a Tangerine 914 in the past and this I'd say is a little redder than that.

Anyway, I'm planning on giving the car an over all respray at some point, but was hoping to do a couple of rust repairs now, as well as touch up the multitude of chipped spots - and maybe drive it as is for a bit. So, I'd rather not even pay for a custom can from a jobber if I can avoid it. At that point I'd go ahead and get a gallon for the future respray (maybe not a bad idea).

Long shot - but has anyone found a decent close enough spray paint that worked? I've researched but as you can imagine there's basically nothing on the subject. I see Dupli-color has a DE1607 color which is actually a Chevy Engine Orange-Red ..BUT it's a ceramic paint and I'm afraid it wouldn't dry with the cool weather.

https://www.google.com/search?q=L32K+paint+can
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Literati914]

I have a '73 with hail damage and crap paint, Phoenix Red L32K which blurs the line between Orange and Red. I've had a Tangerine 914 in the past and this I'd say is a little redder than that.

Anyway, I'm planning on giving the car an over all respray at some point, but was hoping to do a couple of rust repairs now, as well as touch up the multitude of chipped spots - and maybe drive it as is for a bit. So, I'd rather not even pay for a custom can from a jobber if I can avoid it. At that point I'd go ahead and get a gallon for the future respray (maybe not a bad idea).

Long shot - but has anyone found a decent close enough spray paint that worked? I've researched but as you can imagine there's basically nothing on the subject. I see Dupli-color has a DE1607 color which is actually a Chevy Engine Orange-Red ..BUT it's a ceramic paint and I'm afraid it wouldn't dry with the cool weather.

https://www.google.com/search?q=L32K+paint+can
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Not sure what you're linking me to, I used google while researching.. am I miss something obvious? Like mentioned, I don't want to pay the prices of a custom mixed spray can from a jobber - just looking for the best OTC 'close enough' for now.

[SirAndy]

I have a '73 with hail damage and crap paint, Phoenix Red L32K which blurs the line between Orange and Red. I've had a Tangerine 914 in the past and this I'd say is a little redder than that.

Anyway, I'm planning on giving the car an over all respray at some point, but was hoping to do a couple of rust repairs now, as well as touch up the multitude of chipped spots - and maybe drive it as is for a bit. So, I'd rather not even pay for a custom can from a jobber if I can avoid it. At that point I'd go ahead and get a gallon for the future respray (maybe not a bad idea).

Long shot - but has anyone found a decent close enough spray paint that worked? I've researched but as you can imagine there's basically nothing on the subject. I see Dupli-color has a DE1607 color which is actually a Chevy Engine Orange-Red ..BUT it's a ceramic paint and I'm afraid it wouldn't dry with the cool weather.

https://www.google.com/search?q=L32K+paint+can
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Not sure what you're linking me to, I used google while researching.. am I miss something obvious? Like mentioned, I don't want to pay the prices of a custom mixed spray can from a jobber - just looking for the best OTC 'close enough' for now.

$30 - $40 for a spray can of L32K premixed and ready to go. Not sure how much cheaper you can get.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Literati914]

I have a '73 with hail damage and crap paint, Phoenix Red L32K which blurs the line between Orange and Red. I've had a Tangerine 914 in the past and this I'd say is a little redder than that.

Anyway, I'm planning on giving the car an over all respray at some point, but was hoping to do a couple of rust repairs now, as well as touch up the multitude of chipped spots - and maybe drive it as is for a bit. So, I'd rather not even pay for a custom can from a jobber if I can avoid it. At that point I'd go ahead and get a gallon for the future respray (maybe not a bad idea).

Long shot - but has anyone found a decent close enough spray paint that worked? I've researched but as you can imagine there's basically nothing on the subject. I see Dupli-color has a DE1607 color which is actually a Chevy Engine Orange-Red ..BUT it's a ceramic paint and I'm afraid it wouldn't dry with the cool weather.

https://www.google.com/search?q=L32K+paint+can
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Not sure what you're linking me to, I used google while researching.. am I miss something obvious? Like mentioned, I don't want to pay the prices of a custom mixed spray can from a jobber - just looking for the best OTC 'close enough' for now.

$30 - $40 for a spray can of L32K premixed and ready to go. Not sure how much cheaper you can get.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

More like $40 + shipping.. and the paint on the car isn't really worth that tbh. I could spend that locally and get a can too (I might still). The picture doesn't show it, but there are significant issues .. besides the hail damage someone has gone over the paint with a clear, that is delaminating badly. FYI - Here are a couple cheaper options I've been considering:

https://www.amazon.com/VHT-DE1607-Orange-Re...atcorr&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-7762830-S...ONNV92&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-PTUCS249-...sr=8-4&th=1

https://www.ebay.com/p/2259817791

[914rrr]

FWIW, I saw a flawless OG paint Phoenix Red 914 years ago owned by Joe Courey. When the garage door opened on a sunny FL day, the reflection lit up the garage! Stunning! My personal take on Phoenix Red is something akin to interstate construction sign safety / day glo orange.

I had a 74 Phoenix Red 914 2.0 project with a twin donor car that I still regret selling...

[wonkipop]

i am afraid there is no colour like phoenix red. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

its pretty unbelievable.
in the same way that saturn yellow (the non metallic version) is green......no its yellow.

there will never be colors like that again.

you either do phoenix red (the real deal) or you are stuck with being red, or being orange.

trust me, those mofos at VW were really into undecidabilty back in those wonderful early 70s years. there was one other color which had similar right on the borderline type color but i cannot think of it right now.

and there there are all the shades of actual color they did.
ravenna green. etc. what can you say. germans. they were going for it back then, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

i attribute the mentality to being a still divided nation. east and west.
checkpoint charlie. i could go on but you get the picture.

[chmillman]

in the same way that saturn yellow (the non metallic version) is green......no its yellow.

Well, I was actually quite surprised, I recently had to do some paint detach/surface rust repair in the left hellhole (under the relay board) as well as a small area under the left rocker panel and I found to my surprise that RAL 1016 (Schwefelgelb/Sulfur yellow) is almost a perfect match to my Saturn (Chrome) yellow. I'm wondering if VW actually used some of the RAL colors at the time and just renamed them.

I'm wondering if one of the RAL red series would be a close match to Phoenix Red. Maybe 3026 - Luminous Red... Probably a moot point though, as although you can find RAL spray cans in the more common shades here, in the US probably not...

Check out some of the possible near matches scrolling down on this page...
https://encycolorpedia.com/f92420

[930cabman]

Kinda went through this with my 1975 L31M example. Reading the code produced a very red, where the original Scarlet Red is somewhat orange. Much of this example has original paint and I wanted to retain it. I removed a head light cover and sent it to my local paint guy. They read the color with their machine, perfect match

[wonkipop]

in the same way that saturn yellow (the non metallic version) is green......no its yellow.

Well, I was actually quite surprised, I recently had to do some paint detach/surface rust repair in the left hellhole (under the relay board) as well as a small area under the left rocker panel and I found to my surprise that RAL 1016 (Schwefelgelb/Sulfur yellow) is almost a perfect match to my Saturn (Chrome) yellow. I'm wondering if VW actually used some of the RAL colors at the time and just renamed them.

I'm wondering if one of the RAL red series would be a close match to Phoenix Red. Maybe 3026 - Luminous Red... Probably a moot point though, as although you can find RAL spray cans in the more common shades here, in the US probably not...

Check out some of the possible near matches scrolling down on this page...
https://encycolorpedia.com/f92420

i'd say your probably right. its a very germanic thing to fully engage with a system like RAL. somewhere in my files i think i may have the specs for phoenix red as a RAL code.

the bigger problem these days is being able to use/or even obtain - the glasurit paint.
in solid coat form rather than base and clear coat.

[Artfrombama]

I have a 74 with L32K
I had a local O'Reilly's prepare an aerosol can with the code, which wasn't listed on 74 Porsche but WAS listed on DuPont 73 VW formulas. Dead nuts!

Had a pint mixed at a local PPG supplier in the Shopline brand mixed, Ray Charles could have gotten it closer.

Art's $.02

[914rrr]

i am afraid there is no colour like phoenix red. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

its pretty unbelievable.
in the same way that saturn yellow (the non metallic version) is green......no its yellow.

there will never be colors like that again.

you either do phoenix red (the real deal) or you are stuck with being red, or being orange.

trust me, those mofos at VW were really into undecidabilty back in those wonderful early 70s years. there was one other color which had similar right on the borderline type color but i cannot think of it right now.

and there there are all the shades of actual color they did.
ravenna green. etc. what can you say. germans. they were going for it back then, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

i attribute the mentality to being a still divided nation. east and west.
checkpoint charlie. i could go on but you get the picture.

Perhaps Berber Yellow? I considered it a cousin of Ravenna Green, I had a rough project Berber Yellow one with a factory white interior. Shouldn't have sold that one either....

[wonkipop]

I have a 74 with L32K
I had a local O'Reilly's prepare an aerosol can with the code, which wasn't listed on 74 Porsche but WAS listed on DuPont 73 VW formulas. Dead nuts!

Had a pint mixed at a local PPG supplier in the Shopline brand mixed, Ray Charles could have gotten it closer.

Art's $.02

Art, thats because it is not a porsche color.
all the 914s are VW colors. exact same range of colors were also used on the karmann ghias. at least from 73 on.

some were shared with other VW models. for instance you could get phoenix red on beetles. but some of the KG and 914 colors were exclusive to them only.

there might have been some more mixing of porsche colors and VW colors in the range before 1973 model year but not after.

the 75 and 76 models share their colors with the VW scirocco.
thats where you go looking for 914 colors from domestic (ie USA) paint manufacturers.
will be filed under their range of VW colors from those years.

[wonkipop]

i am afraid there is no colour like phoenix red. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

its pretty unbelievable.
in the same way that saturn yellow (the non metallic version) is green......no its yellow.

there will never be colors like that again.

you either do phoenix red (the real deal) or you are stuck with being red, or being orange.

trust me, those mofos at VW were really into undecidabilty back in those wonderful early 70s years. there was one other color which had similar right on the borderline type color but i cannot think of it right now.

and there there are all the shades of actual color they did.
ravenna green. etc. what can you say. germans. they were going for it back then, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

i attribute the mentality to being a still divided nation. east and west.
checkpoint charlie. i could go on but you get the picture.

Perhaps Berber Yellow? I considered it a cousin of Ravenna Green, I had a rough project Berber Yellow one with a factory white interior. Shouldn't have sold that one either....

i think you are right. berber yellow is also one of those undecideable ones that change if its in either sunlight or in shade. was used in 75 i think?

also saturn yellow metallic (which i think was called delphi green in the USA). a mate of mine had a 73 in that color which was still factory original paint back in 1990. you would swear that was golden yellow metallic out in the aussie sunlight. but park it in the shade and it turned green. beautiful color.

a thing i remember when i was researching phoenix red back a few years ago is that it was apparently very similar to the red on coca cola cans back in that particular period during the late 60s and 70s. which might have been the game that VW was up to with the color. relating it to youth culture and things go better with coke etc. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Literati914]

Ok well I picked up some Rust-oleum in “Satin Fire Orange” today, $7..

[Literati914]

This is probably the best I’ll get with OTC spray can paint. Not bad really, I’d say it could be ever so slightly redder, to be ideal… but should do until I respray later this year.

PS - there is a "Fire Red" also, I may pick up a can just to check .. because honestly the cap match-up is terrible.

[wonkipop]

its close.
would not be exactly the same - almost sure that coke trademarks the shades of red it uses like everything else including the bottle shape. nice theory if its true about phoenix red.

[Artfrombama]

I have a 74 with L32K
I had a local O'Reilly's prepare an aerosol can with the code, which wasn't listed on 74 Porsche but WAS listed on DuPont 73 VW formulas. Dead nuts!

Had a pint mixed at a local PPG supplier in the Shopline brand mixed, Ray Charles could have gotten it closer.

Art's $.02

Art, thats because it is not a porsche color.
all the 914s are VW colors. exact same range of colors were also used on the karmann ghias. at least from 73 on.

some were shared with other VW models. for instance you could get phoenix red on beetles. but some of the KG and 914 colors were exclusive to them only.

there might have been some more mixing of porsche colors and VW colors in the range before 1973 model year but not after.

the 75 and 76 models share their colors with the VW scirocco.
thats where you go looking for 914 colors from domestic (ie USA) paint manufacturers.
will be filed under their range of VW colors from those years.

You are correct (as usual) sir!
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/paintcodesghia.php