Re: modern paint mix for old color needed

Posted by Marty or Marston On 2018/5/21 3:13:57

Seeing how your car was originally painted in the '70s your paint will either be a lacquer or acrylic enamel. While you can use acrylic enamel to spray over lacquer with proper prep work I probably would not do so if I could get lacquer (In California that is an impossibility unless of course you have a son or two that lives out of state). If you are talking about repairing a few nicks & chips then I would not hesitate to go with the enamel to repair either one. You would never want to spray or touch up with lacquer over enamel.

To determine if you have lacquer or enamel follow the steps below in an area that does not show:

1. Take a clean white cloth, wet it with lacquer thinner and rub a spot of paint to test the reaction.
2. If the color comes off immediately or the spot starts wrinkling, it shows that the type of paint is enamel.
3. But if the color wipes off onto the white cloth only after vigorous rubbing, it is a sign of lacquer paint.
4. If nothing wipes off onto the cloth, the paint is probably urethane based.

Now on to that important question of how can you match the color. My favorite process is to find a small easily removable part (e.g. gas cap door) and send it to TCP Global. Last time I used them it cost about $70. You should be able to order paint from them, make sure that you get your hardener and reducer from them so you know it is compatible with the paint you buy. Don't be afraid to use their house brand as is most probably PPG and will cost you a lot less than the name brand stuff.

I've seen cars that were painted with lacquer that is 50+ years old (that don't have and cracking or crazing) buff out real nice. So don't hesitated to give it a try. Use a very mild cleaning rub cleaner (not a Rubbing Compound). Just be gentle and to not overly aggressive especially on the corners or other sharp areas.

Good Luck

P.S. By the way I think your Golf Club panel should have been more than flat enough to do a color scan on.