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Look like a great choice of color but I am curious why you didn’t simply have it gold anodized.

You know the old saying Don.
Woulda, shoulda, coulda!

The main reason I did not have it anodized is because of the unknown cost factor and having to find someone in my area to do it. The closes place was an hour away.

The paint industry has made great advances over the years and the paint I used is made for wheels. Few things take more abuse than wheels. It is a leap of faith hoping that the dash paint will stand the test of time. I am also thinking about adding a layer of ceramic over the paint before I place it on the dash to add another level of protection.

I need to get some paint for the dashboard and other interior items.
I’ve said here in the past that my 400 is NOT going back to its original color of Black and White (MV).
Packard used so many beautiful color schemes (in 55 & 56) that I want to take advantage of one of them.
For a couple of years, I’ve had the color Topaz (K) in my head. I am thinking Topaz and White Jade (MK) similar to the one below.
To me, Topaz is a burnt orange color. I am thinking about the shade that is circled below.
I’m just looking for 100 other opinions unless you are going to say keep it original because I won’t listen anyway.

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I think the Topaz is darker than what you have selected, at least from looking at pictures online. If you really want to get as close as possible I would find someone what has a car in that color, and ask them to take it to a local auto paint store and have the store use their color matching machine. That will get you as close as possible.

-Kevin

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I stopped by my local small town NAPA yesterday to talk about paint chips and they dig this out.

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Now that is customer service I would not expect these days!

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Agreed.

The trick now will be to find a paint store that can translate the old and probably obsolete pigment numbers or designations into modern pigments and then have the new paint come out in the expected shade. On top of that, if it is a metallic paint the flakes used today are larger so that throws the color off and then half the states only allow paint stores to mix water based formulas if the amount required is over a certain quantity so that throws in another layer of uncertain.

I pulled this cloth off the dash board a couple weeks ago when I removed that clipper face plate. I assume the original 400 dash one under the face plate as well.
Does anyone know its purpose? Just wondering if i should recreate one. Not sure I can clean this one up without it falling it apart.

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I believe the purpose is two fold. One is to prevent buzzing or rattling of the screen against the dash metal in unsupported areas and the second is to provide a consistent color behind the screen so you were not looking thru perforations and seeing metal that might be painted, bare or in primer or even have light shining thru some extra hole. I would try and replace it or make something that would work.

If I were to try and make one,I would spray the metal dash (not the gold colored piece)with something like 3M Spray Adhesive and glue the cloth material to the metal dash. Allow it to completely dry. You should be able to use an Exacto knife and easily cut out the areas with the holes.

Good Luck with your project.