41 Years Later...............

[Kathy & Rick]

In 1970, we didn't have "choice of color" when our name came up on the waiting list.

We were fortunate to get a #918 orange car, which was fine, but the color we really

coveted was #919 Sunshine Yellow. We have now purchased another early 1970 Z

in process of restoration which, 41 years later, will finally enable us to fulfill our desire.

The question is: will it be possible to re-create the actual, original Sunshine Yellow

after all this time? I haven't seen a Z that color in YEARS. Are there resources that

can track down the original "recipe" or formula for a particular obsolete color? That

failing, is there another more recent yellow which is practically identical? I'm thinking

along the lines of a canary yellow or lemon yellow, as opposed to a "traffic yellow;"

that is, something of a softer tone than one of those which hints of an orange cast.

I've seen some nice yellows on VW Bugs, earlier Corvettes, Mustangs from a few years

back, and maybe others, but I have no way of establishing how well they would match

or compare with the original Sunshine Yellow on the Z.

Thanks and All Z Best,.......................Kathy & Rick

[ajmcforester]

Try PPG, the original paint company works with PPG for their US distribution. If you want the sheen you might need to find lacquer paint. I'm painting #920 Safari Gold and that looks like my best bet for accurate color, now can a get the lacquer like sheen is my question.

[Arne]

I don't have the details here at work, but go to the Classic Motorsports magazine website, look for the articles on their 240Z project. It was 919 yellow, and they bought paint for touch-up that matched well. I seem to recall that they noted where they got it. And even if you don't want to use that brand paint, you could buy a sample to have your preferred paint mixed to match.

[Mike W]

I haven't personally tried this company, but found them when trying to find touch up paint for my 74 260 with #303 Emerald Green.

I did a search on their site and they do list 919 Yellw as being available in up to 1 gallon quantities.

Here's the link:

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/choosecolor/buypaint.aspx

Hope this helps.

Mike.

[rtaylor]

Kathy and Rick. I had to have my BRE spook repainted on my 71 sunshine yellow car. The painter matched the paint exactly from the paint codes. The onlyissue is that they had to use clear coat. This is California after all. So the end product has more gloss than my original paint. Luckily its under the front chin so unless you look closely it is not noticeable.

[hr369]

ppg just called it yellow.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/aclchip.aspx?image=1971-datsun-pg01.jpg

[26th-Z]

PPG provided the painting technology for the Vintage Z program, Rick. I suspect your best bet is with them. I like Tower Paint as a supplier / helpful resource myself. http://www.apstowerpaint.com/index.php

Chris

[Kathy & Rick]

Try PPG, the original paint company works with PPG for their US distribution. If you want the sheen you might need to find lacquer paint. I'm painting #920 Safari Gold and that looks like my best bet for accurate color, now can a get the lacquer like sheen is my question.

Thanks, everybody, for your insights and for your assistance.

In appreciation, when we finally spray the car, I'll be sure to share what developed from our quest.

May I mention now, in response to Mr. Forrester, that nobody seems to want to shoot acrylic lacquer

nor acrylic enamel anymore. The two-stage (base coat and clear coat?) seems to be the order of the

day. I wonder how badly that would detract from the ORIGINALITY of the car, which is my overall goal?

All Z Best,.................Rick (and Kathy, of course)

[Arne]

Rick (and Kathy, of course), the two-stage paint on my car (905 red) has more depth and gloss than the 38-year old original paint it replaced, but I don't know how much different it might look from the original when it was new. I too asked about using a single-stage paint, and got the same responses you have.

In any case, I removed all glass and trim, and had the door jambs, etc. all painted as well. The hatch was painted (on both sides) while off the car, as were the headlight buckets, valance and spoiler. I did not paint the underside of the hood, nor the interior or the engine compartment. It was my goal to retain originality where ever possible, and those areas still looked good.

I don't feel that the two-stage paint has detracted from the car's appeal as a car that is driven frequently. I suppose if I were trying to win Gold Medallion or something like that, I might feel differently about it.

[26th-Z]

Opinion, of course, but if a car has been repainted, in the strictest sense originality is no longer part of the conversation. Arne's mention of the Gold Medallion leads me to another thought. (And I'm assuming you are talking about the ZCCA Gold Medallion) You shouldn't get dinked for a re-paint unless it is a bad quality paint job. There are too many precedents.

[Jehannum]

I had my sunshine yellow redone in a Glasurit single stage, and they matched the color pretty well.

[Arne]

Opinion, of course, but if a car has been repainted, in the strictest sense originality is no longer part of the conversation.

I agree. A repaint is part of a refresh or restoration, not an original car. I have tried to retain as much "originality" as possible on my car, but it is no longer "original".

I also tend to differentiate between "refreshed" and "restored". A refresh is less comprehensive than a restoration, but likely still has more original parts. A restoration will be restored to original with replacement original parts (think NOS). I consider my car to be refreshed, not restored.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Arne