The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Transport Blue Paint Formula?

Been looking all thru site, at one time found where someone had posted paint chips, They appear to match firewall of my truck. But have seen complete paint jobs of 54 transport blue trucks and they appear to have a little less green to the color. I really like the color of the completed trucks over what paint chips appear. Talked to a paint supplier and was told that old paint codes would pretty much be of no use as they would pertain to old discontinued paints. He suggested a computer match but also said they tend to come out slightly darker than original. Does anyone have a current formula as a starting point for modern paints and which color is more correct? the chips or the completed trucks I am running across? Thanks for any input. G.H. :confused:

According to the PPG site here 1954 transport blue is PPG number 10983. I have not had any experience with the accuracy of these colors (my truck is still a ways from the painting stage) but maybe your local shop could give you a better idea using this number? Hope this helps

There is a man in Stephenstown, NY named Bob Adler who restores AD trucks for a living. For about $20 he will send you a packet with all pertinent color info on these trucks including paint chips and modern formulas. I you want his address you can email me.
Robin Wise

Here's the color, and the corresponding number.

If you want to send me $20 for it, that's great. But you can have it free.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image1/2/53/74/26625374kMpsZGVLJA_fs.jpg

If that link doesn't work, go to this link and then click on Stovebolt Reference Photos and look for '54 Chevy Truck colors.

Greg_H,

The PPG code given by BiggerHammer is the correct code and a formula for most PPG auto paints should be available. I found my local PPG shop to not be interested in finding a formula, so I called PPG's paint library and they were quite helpful. They had formulae for all my 1954 colors (except white and black for trim), including Mariner Blue, Pulsay Gray, Maroon (Suburban interior side panel trim and seat frames), Anvil Gray, and Thistle Gray (bumpers and inner grill bars).

The PPG phone number has changed (its been 5 years since I bought paint from them) but you might be able to find a phone number by calling various numbers in PPG (check out the website link given by BiggerHammer).

It is impossible to be sure what the colors truly were. 50 year old paint chips and aging/oxidated paint (even in protected spots) are most likely not "true" colors. On top of this, the PPG pigments have changed over the years. Nonetheless, PPG seems to be the best source for old paint colors.

Transport Blue could also be described by some people as Baby Blue or Powder Blue. My Dupont/Ditzler/Acme 1954 paint chips for Transport Blue do not seem to have any green tint.

Good luck,
Tim

Thanks. I had run across your paint chip page before and always kick myself for not bookmarking it. I think the paint project is definitely going to be a long term project. Just trying to get my ducks in a row. Daughter turns 13 later this year and really has her eye on driving the old truck. 3rd generation in that thing. want to do full diassembly and paint when can better afford it. Right now, just trying to get it mechanically sound as it had been sitting for many years. It is fun driving it again though. Thanks again G.H. In another post somewhere around here there is a link to webshots page of it's 2 tone interior. Guess I oughta take some daytime pics of truck as it sits now and put them up too.

Greg, you may already have all the information you need, but thought I'd add that Transport Blue has a Duco code of 1620-G, Dulux 93-72003-G. I painted my '53 Burgundy Maroon and was able to take the Duco number for that color to my NAPA store. They mix and sell Martin Senour automotive paint which is good stuff. They matched the paint using the Duco code. Might be worth looking into if you're interested.