240z thru 280z colors

[gotmoxz]

I'm looking for a site or file which would have actual color chips or accurate (not perfectly accurate obviously) photo's of the original Datsun Z color's. Have tried searching the web for early OEM brochures, have tried several paint sellers sites, all to no avail. Googling isn't getting me anywhere. I'm not looking for a perfect color match to paint from, just a very good representation of the colors to get a good feel for their original hue. Specifically most interested in 240 colors, and Series One colors would be ideal initially, but all up through '78 would be of value. I have Carl's paint codes & color names, am looking to match up the "chips" with those codes. Started searching this sites Body & Paint threads, but it seems I could go on forever on a page at a time search without getting to the info I'm interested in :)perhaps there's a way to search here more efficiently? I fully understand no electronic file will give me a perfect match - but perhaps there's a source for some pretty-darned-good samples! Much Appreciated, Mike

[TomoHawk]

The the colour gallery at Zhome. They have little 'color chips' you can click on that show you a picture of a real car in that color.

http://www.zhome.com/History/ZColorGallary/

Good luck finding paint at a supplier in your color. They will just tell you "we can math any color." Because no one has the color codes from Datsun any more, you'll have to settle for something that is "close" instead of just mixing it to the Satsun colour formula.

Edited November 29, 2010 by TomoHawk

[gotmoxz]

Thanks, I had seen that site, there's so much variance in the colors there that I'm hopeful there could be a better/truer collection of colors available. Seems perhaps an original Datsun brochure may be my best resource ...

[tamboozle]

Did you end up having any luck gotmoxz? I'm looking at an orange 280z, but I thought orange was only offered for 240's? Anybody know? I'm only looking at pictures online, and it looks legit...

[gotmoxz]

tamboozle, I was not able to locate a definitive photo array of early Z colors in electronic file fashion. However, to your question regarding 'orange" as an OEM Z color, the '75 280 in the photo at this link http://www.zccr.net/main/modules.php?name=gallery2&g2_itemId=446 belongs to one of our club members...it's original as-painted by the factory. Other years had similar colors.

[jfa.series1]

Have you checked with a PPG dealer for your paint code? I had no difficulty getting my 920 gold mixed directly from their computer formulation.

Jim

[TQs30z]

I think Orange does offer for 260z and 280z as well. My early 74 260z is origin Orange paint, but now repaint to red.

Ed

[tamboozle]

thanks all- yeah the only 'official' collection I'd seen was this-

http://zhome.com/History/colors.html

http://zhome.com/History/ZColorGallary/index.html

but looks like its still a work in progress...

Mike have you had any luck? Are you repainting your Z or just collecting for fun? What color are you thinking?

[gotmoxz]

My interest was in collecting the OEM colors (chips) for reference. I had a small project where the availability of very-good color references would have been helpful, but it was not critical. I'm not color replicating for a car-repaint so haven't gone the paint shop route. It had seemed that with all the energy perviously extended by others in the Z-world that a collection of accurate samples would have made it into electronic format by now but it seems not ... if I do come across good representations I can share then I will make them available through all our normal Z channels. Best Wishes ... Mike