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Packard Paint X-Ref lists a 1953 two tone color as Sunset Red Metallic. Does anyone know what that is, or what shade it is?
The 'data plate' on the drivers door jam says the color code is 'R', but I find no info on any such color. Thanks for any help.

Actually Sunset Red Metallic is a 1951-52 color. I am familiar with it because our original 1952 Mayfair was Sunset Red Metallic and Twilight Taupe Metallic, although to be honest I never did see the metallic in the Twilight Taupe which was a light tan. The red had a lot of gold in it and was a very deep red.
Look at these pics of a 51 Mayfair.
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=10159&forum=2

Thanks. I'm trying to determine what the 'orangish red' is on my Caribbean. Was hoping the 'sunset red' might be a match, but it's not--if it's a deep red. I'll keep trying.

By any chance have you checked the top of the glove box for a build slip? Included among the option codes are paint and trim. Would be curious to see if it matches the 'data plate'.

Did Caribbeans have special colors in 53 as they did in later years? There was a bright orange-red Caribbean in the L.A. area for many years. I believe it was always referred to in PI publications and shows as (owners name) 'famous' or sometimes 'incomparable' "Scarlet Lady".

I do have the build sheet from the top of the glove box, and it has the same code 'R'.

From what I can tell from the inside of the fuel filler door, the color does look like 'The Scarlet Lady". As I removed trim and undercoat, the original paint is the 'orange-red',
not red-red or maroon-red (Matador Maroon). I've had the fuel door "shot" by the local DuPont supplier, so I can use that formula if needed.

Thanks for the help.

The only thing I can find is that the '53 Caribs were offered in four, standard, single-color, paint schemes:

Polaris Blue (Code C)
Gulf Green Metallic (Code J)
Matador Maroon Metallic (Code U)
Sahara Sand (Code W)

However, I've read that there were some special-ordered cars painted in Ivory (Code T) and Black (Code X) - again, single color.

Can't find anything about Code "R". Makes me wonder if this was some sort of special request.

Can't find anything about Code "R". Makes me wonder if this was some sort of special request.

"R" was the paint code Packard used to denote paint color when painting small runs of cars with proposed new colors to judge public reaction, as for example with the 1954 Carnation & Amythyst. There are a few other known colors similarly coded "R". That may have been particular to a particular era like the mid-50s, other eras might have used different identification methods.

Between at least 1936 and 1949 (22nd series) the paint code appeared on the Unit Vehicle Record Card, inserted in between the two portions of the vehicle number, for example 2252-F-2124 for Golden Green Metallic. I've reviewed several hundred of these surviving vehicle record cards, never seen a color code which wasn't a standard color, but another correspondent on this site has a collection of those cards and may have further information.

From what found out was that PPg has metal plate with every paint that Packard did. If you have the code you can have your paint store call PPG and talk with the historical department. What they did for me was to give me the new formula for the original color

If you have the code you can have your paint store call PPG and talk with the historical department

If the paint code is indeed "R" I don't think that will work; as I noted above "R" was the code for special paint and thus could be any color Packard chose. In addition to the "R" code for Carnation & Amythyst, it was also the code for Golden Anniversary "gold" cars, and others.