Paper paint code labels, When and why did they use these? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

I have images of a couple of the foil-faced paper paint code labels on my Plates-Labels-Marking webpage and I just found another one on a 2/73 car here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...A%3AIT&rd=1

Until now, the earliest car I have seen them on is a late 1974 car, this new find bumps it up a year. The label is found on the drivers door jamb and none of the four 1974 cars I have owned had any sign of ever having them. Any idea when the factory began to use these, and why or under what circumstances they used them? The paint code is also indicated on the Karmann plate on these cars. Maybe this was a production line thing before the plates were affixed? Anyone know?

Also, this ebay cars' label is odd to me too...Is not saturngelb translated as Saturn Yellow and not Delphi Green? L99A does = Delphi.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)