The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Dupont paint code confirm (non stock)

I recently purchased a 54' 3100 and the color was changed to a non-stock color. According to info I have it was painted based on Dupont #GS 664k, which is close to a teal color.

In any case, I don't have access to Dupont info...and thought I'd check with stovebolt to see if someone might be able to confirm if this is legit number, and if so, what the PPG equivalent might be.

Thanks!

Kevin

I'll tell you right up front that I know nothing about paint. Tim, Denny, and Brad have been trying to educate me ... with little success. Perhaps another 'Bolter can give you info on your GS-664k paint code.

This is a site that the GM Heritage Center sent to me when I was researching the color for the bowtie on my 1954 3104 chrome hubcaps. These are probably near approximations of the original 1954 colors created with modern paint bases and tints. I gave the 54 PPG paint code to a local PPG paint store and they mixed a can of Mariner Blue for me.
> Modern Approx - 1954 Chevy Truck Colors

Tim has a lot of paint color info on his website:
> Right column

FYI - here are interior and exterior details from Tim's site:
> 1954 Chevrolet Truck Colors
> 1953 (and 1954) Chevrolet Truck Color Chips p1
> 1953 (and 1954) Chevrolet Truck Color Chips p2

- Lonnie

Here is another illustration of all the 1954 Chevrolet Truck colors. You might note that Ocean Green is like some shades of teal (that I found in Google images).

If you want to know the PPG equivalent/offset formula/code, you could try calling PPG. Lonnie has done this recently - maybe he will post the phone number that recently worked.

Glad you posted this up, I got a look at the Coppertone color in '54, assume it was the same as '53. My firewall is painted this color, I know one thing, the truck cannot be that color again, it just can't.

Thank you, Lonnie! I appreciate the paint info. It's my understanding the previous PO's wife went through a Dupont book and just picked out a color a color she liked. It's actually pretty nice, and is only 6 years old, so would make no sense to change at this point. I want to change grill from white to body color, but want to match as close as possible.

Cheers!

Kevin

Thanks, Tim! If I can confirm if the code I believe is correct Dupont, then I will do just that. Kevin

sstock, are you saying "no way" to Coppertone on your truck in the future?

66kcode, do you think the Ocean Green (call it Ocean Teal) will satisfy your 6 year old (an important matter - keep her happy and keep her interested in "her" truck).

Yes, it just doesn't do it for me. More of a fleet color I would think for a public works department. Maybe it would be ok with a chrome grill and bumpers, but a Korean war truck with gray caps and bumpers on coopertone would be bad IMHO. A 54 truck with a two tone and chrome items might look ok though.

Tim....haha...good question! Yes, my 5 yr old daughter approves of the current color.....so don't have to sweat that one (yet!).

Tim asked me to post the phone number to the PPG Paint Library. So here it is, plus some other ways to research your paint color:

1) Call PPG. Phone Number: (800) 647-6050, ask for the Paint Library. Use this "800" number instead of the number on the bottom of Tims Paint Tech Tip.
> Paint Tech Tip (Great Info, but do not use the PPG phone number in the tip)

2) Send an email to the GM Heritage Center
> GM Heritage Center Contact Info

3) Find the codes on PaintRef.com
> Paint Ref.com - All Chevrolet Truck Paint Codes
Click on the model year at the top of the page to narrow the search.

You can also narrow or expand the search by entering specific terms in the search box below the color samples and mfg paint codes. Such as:
"Chevy Truck" for paint codes for all years of Chevrolet Trucks
"1954 Chevy Truck" for paint codes for 1954 Chevrolet Trucks
"GM" for all General Motors colors
"Mariner Blue" for all paints named Mariner Blue
"GM Mariner Blue" for Mariner Blue on GM vehicles
"Chevy Truck Mariner Blue" for Mariner Blue on Chevrolet Trucks ... yes, there are two PPG codes for the color. One for '47-'52, and one for '53-'55. But there is only one DuPont color code. Old trucks are a puzzlement.

3a) UPDATE - Here is the main page for PaintRef.com Pretty easy to search. Has links to paint databases and chips by major suppliers.
> PaintRef main page

4) Go to your local PPG automotive paint store.
I received an email from the GM Heritage Center responding to my question that confirmed that PPG #10984 is the correct color for the bowties on my '54 chrome hub caps. I called the PPG Paint Library to confirm that the number was 1954 Mariner Blue. I didn't ask the PPG Library for the mixing formula. I gave the number to my local PPG automotive paint store and they mixed a pint for me. I asked the store for the formula that they used to mix the "1954 Mariner Blue." They printed the mixing formulas for "1953-'55 Mariner Blue" and for "1947-'52 Mariner Blue" so that I could confirm that the two were different colors of blue. Good customer service!

Here is info that I learned from Brad Allen, Tim Lederman, and Denny Graham:

Tim Lederman:
Original Advance-Design (and several earlier year) trucks' exteriors paint was Dupont Baking Dulux, synthetic enamel. Repair work was usually done with Air Drying Dulux (synthetic enamel). Wheel/body striped was lacquer.

An "offset" is used by PPG to refer to a modern formula that produces a color very similar to an older paint color (an older code that usually/probably required a mixture of different color-pigments that are no longer available).

Denny Grahamn:
None of the original formulas are the same as they were back in the 50's. The offset color is formulated from modern day resins and pigments to look as close to the original color as that can get it today.

This is an interesting read concerning the DuPont/GM marriage:
> DuPont Paint Information

- Lonnie