First I want to thank everyone for answering my previous questions, regarding lights, roll cage, and others. As I get close to deciding how to move my project forward I appreciate all your advise.

As you all know, I have a 65 SC that was painted red sometime in the 80's. I went to my local paint outit, actually they were highly recommend by Wayne Baker's outfit. They are South Cal Paint Works. They have a pretty good operation, saw some of their existing jobs, really high quality.

The idea is to strip the car myself, engine is going to be rebuilt (will tell more about this one later), transmission and drive train will be pulled and worked on. I will then proceed in stripping the car. South Cal Paint will take the car down to bare metal, repair any imperfections, rust and pain back to the original color of Slate Gray.

The question I have today, is this, considering this will be a 15k plus paint job, I want to get it completely right the first time.

What is the best way to determine the exact color of Slate Gray? Was the paint metalic? Is it comprable to the current Slate Gray that Porsche is currently selling? The shop recommended in finding a paint color as close to slate gray today made by a current manufacture, as today's paints are going to be better. I am trying to get my ducks all lined up before I pull the trigger.

Thank you.

 

Slate gray is definitely not metallic (I have a friend who just did a concours quality Slate repaint). The best way to get a correct color for your painter to match is to order a spray out card from John Willhoit: http://www.willhoitautorestoration.com/PaintChart.htm

I thought you said your original color was 6404 (Light Ivory)? Slate is 6401. In any case, the same page on Willhoit's website has most paint colors for 356 production.

 

Mine is Slate 6401. The Ivory is the gentleman who just purchased his first 356 a couple of entries below. No worries about the confusion.

A question. If I get the card from Wilhoit, will the paint shop be able to match or do I need to get certain color formula?

 

Jim, you might have been thinking about my recent post. I just purchased a grey car that was repainted 15 or so years ago, over the original paint, which was light ivory.


I found that site very helpful as I was trying to get a little better feel for what color 6404 looked like. Found the site via a link on the 356Registry in the "Technical Information" section. Wow, that site is fantastic for those of us new to the 356 world. More good information than anyone would imagine.

 

Sorry, Max - you are right, I confused you with M_Weining.

It is my understanding that any auto painter / paint supplier can do a virtually perfect match with a sample (and Willhoit's sample cards are probably the closest you can get to the "real" thing.

This is what you get from Willhoit (cards are actually spray painted):