topy TOPY Wheel, Tail-light Finisher, and "D" Wheel Cover Colour

[Careless]

Hi everyone,

I'm refinishing some TOPY wheels soon, and I have an ORIGINAL unused TOPY wheel that even has the original tire and finish. Unscathed. It's in perfect condition.

Now, I know the "D" emblem wheel covers are different in colour. They are more "metallic / graphite" in colour. However, I see that there are a number of listings for the paint for said wheel covers being sold as identical in colour to the taillight finisher/garnishes.

I have two refinished sets of taillight finishers/garnishes, both look to be done by two different people, but the colour is very close to one another.

However, I also have two sets of unfinished sets, and one is from a very early car, and the other is from #1606. Yet, the colour is closer to the TOPY wheel colour than they are to the "D" wheel covers/hub caps.

Now, I'm going to be sending the 4.5J TOPY wheels I have to get refinished to match the mint original one, but now I'm wondering if I should take the tail-light finishers to get done at the same time.

 

Any solid info on this? I understand that they could just be "weathered" and the 240z does have issues with exhaust fumes billowing back towards the vehicle when coming to a stop, which *could* change the tint of the taillight finisher panel- but it's not even close to the "D" wheel covers. Not in sheen, not in colour, not in "metallic" speckling... 

 

Were cars around #2000 or prior different than what everyone else is selling, or... ?

[Bonzi Lon]

You might try the archives.  I would try to find it, but computer stupid.  I remember about 5 to 7 years ago, a rather lengthy thread about the very early and early color differences in the items you are trying to match.  I also have an original D wheel cover & the paint on it looks very light by now.  In the Wick Humble book "How to Restore Your Datsun Z Car", there is a recipe for the color.

 

Bonzi Lon

Edited June 3, 2016 by Bonzi Lon
add info

[DatsunZGuy]

Here's a thread on the subject that I took part in:

 

[siteunseen]

Here's as close to the color that I've seen.  I used Dupli-Color Graphite but it is more metallic than this Dupli-Color Dark Shadow Gray.  I think this is more like the "matchbox striker" I've always heard that gray called.  I'm tempted to redo mine someday with this color but for now it looks okay with my Graphite Rewinds.

 

[CanTechZ]

Here is an old thread with a "spirited" discussion on the subject of grill vs tail light panel vs hubcap colors. No clear consensus but interesting none the less.

I am still working on stripping the old paint from my T.L. panel as well as polishing some scratches out of the stainless trim, and I like the look of the hubcap color so that is what I am matching to.  However I am of the opinion that the grill is a similar but lighter grey, when I get my car out of the garage and into some better light I will look at this again to re-evaluate my opinion.

FWIW

Mike

[26th-Z]

What does TOPY mean?  I have always taken what I believe is the logical side of this debate.  Why would Nissan specify a different trim color for such few trim finishes?  Uniformity would not only be consistent but economical.  I don't think they did specify another color, or texture, or finish, or anything.  I think the grill, tail light finisher, and hub caps are all the same color.  Perhaps, and only perhaps, differing sub-manufacturers used different equipment resulting in slight variation, but I don't think that's a valid point for a restored car.

[CanTechZ]

Wasn't TOPY the wheel manufacturer used by Nissan?

I do agree that that it makes sense that Nissan would have planned to use the same color for grill, TL panel and hubcaps but I do believe some variation did occur. Differing sub mfger's is one possible reason, as you have mentioned, also the way the grill reflects light could just be making the color appear lighter.  If I had to paint my grill I would use the same color as the hubcaps. 

[siteunseen]

I had never seen Topy either but apparently they are HUGE and headquartered in Tokyo.

OUR HISTORY

Our company manufacturers steel wheels for a variety of automotive manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Honda, Isuzu, Nissan, Saturn, Subaru and Toyota. Located in Frankfort, Kentucky, TOPY America is a privately owned company and is a subsidiary of TOPY Industries, Ltd. in Japan. Our world headquarters reside in Tokyo and other plant locations include Taiwan, England, Indonesia, as well as the United States, with a sister company located in Chicago.

			Merged into one “TOPY”
1921	1934	1955	1956	1964	2008
Miya Steel				Steel Division
	Toto Wheel			Wheel Division
		Toto Zoki		Undercarriage Division
			Toto Steel	Bridge Division
					Science Division

[26th-Z]

Thanks!  Learn sumpin new everyday!

[Travel'n Man]

Reach out here - they can let you know the facts on the color

http://pierrezcar.com/

[Careless]

I think the best thing for me to do prior to making any decisions is to take a photo of what I have. Perhaps it's the tail light panels on the earlier cars had a different paint supplier for a short time.

I mean, the probability of it being so wildly different from the wheel covers seems strange- but then again... stranger things have datsuned.

[Careless]

Update:

I am in the process of singing lullabies to this thread. I took over 200 pictures (204, to be exact ) of the various items I have. I am glass-beading the wheels today because I'm happy with my decision.

Wheels currently in possession are:
- FULL    4.5J TOPY SET including SPARE 4.5J from #01606
- SPARE 4,5J from #00182
- SPARE 4.5J from #07214 with aftermarket tire.
- SPARE 5.0J, NOS with NOS Tire. Never used!

Tail-light Panels in possession are: 
- 3 PIECES - from #01606
- 3 PIECES - from #00182
- 3 PIECES - from #07214 - Possibly Refinished, Car was resprayed
- 3 PIECES - Refinished by someone else
- 3 PIECES - On "Restored" vehicle done by someone else.

Hubcaps / Wheel Covers in possession are:
- 4 PIECES - D Emblem - from #01606 - original, untouched, with lower tab count
- 4 PIECES - D Emblem - Refinished or NOS, brand new, with higher tab count
- 4 PIECES - Z Emblem - Refinished or in V-GOOD condiiton, from 72 or later car

FINDINGS:
- ALL TOPY WHEELS have a matte "black" face, though it could be seen as charcoal. I have yet to match it, but it looks close to matte black.
- ALL TOPY WHEELS have a dull, low-to-non gloss gray or silverish colour, with no metallic speckling covering the backside, and inner and outer barrel.
- ALL HUBCAPS / WHEEL COVERS have the same Graphite Gray color amongst one another, with a small degree of variance (i.e. - almost undetectable in certain lighting)
- ALL ORIGINAL TAIL LIGHT PANELS have the same matte "black" or charcoal colour, sheen, and feel as the TOPY WHEEL FACE (this is why I created this thread and what I was asking about)
- ALL REFINISHED sets of TAIL LIGHT PANELS from #07214, the spare set, and the "Restored" car are the same Graphite Gray colour as the HUBCAPS / WHEEL COVERS
- GRAPHITE GRAY colour used on all TAIL LIGHT PANELS that were REFINISHED are a very close match to the HUBCAPS / WHEEL COVERS

My conclusion, which I've come to by laying out each part, and putting each other part in question over-top and trying to get the best lighting possible to show colour has led me to believe that the TOPY WHEEL face colour, which is a Matte Black face (not quite flat!) is the exact same colour used for the tail light panels FROM FACTORY as early as #01606.

I, personally, cannot speak for the colour choices Datsun made for any of the later TAIL LIGHT PANELS from #07214 or later, but the SPARE TOPY WHEEL from #07214 matches in colour to all other TOPY WHEELS in possession.

 

< placeholder for 200 some-odd photos #hatemylifebutiloveyouguys> 

Edited June 21, 2016 by Careless