996Fever

Hi.
I have had four 928's over the years. I have been blessed enough that 2 of those 4 were L999 special order paint codes. It's something I search for along with a pristine dashboard. My question is for other owners of L999 cars. When looking at how the paint rolls around the edges and curves like the rear corners of the hood and such on my L999 cars, it appears that they both had many more coats of paint than the standard paint cars. Is this normal for special order cars? Is this why L999 cars tend to have less rust and better bodies? And, any idea why if so? Did they just keep spraying coats until the special paint they had to mix ran out, or did they just do a better than normal job because they knew the buyer was paying such a premium for it?

Kiln_Red

Special order "L999" simply means that the color was chosen apart from a standard color from that model year. The undercoats, basecoats, and clear coats were identical in chemistry and application. No extra coats of anything.

Mrmerlin has an '88 S4 that I believe was "special ordered" to be the same color as the '87 S4 that appeared in the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. The color code is 11H - Elfenbein Perlglanz, but I wouldn't be surprised if "L999" appeared somewhere on his '88.

I have painted a lot of "L999" cars. In most cases, a color had been chosen that was available from a different car maker.

996Fever

Yep. Often it's just to order a standard Porsche color that was just no longer available in that year or on that car. In my case it was to match a 70's 930 turbo the buyer also owned.

996Fever

BTW. I love that red on your avatar. My wife has a limited edition Redline Turbo Sky in almost the same color. I think it's called "Ruby Slippers" on the Sky. Is there a picture of your shark after being put back together?

Kiln_Red

My car this past spring cruising the Great Smoky Mountains. Paint code is 811 - Zeigelrot Kiln Red Metallic

996Fever

Wow! Looks awesome. Same rims as mine too. What year is that gem of yours?

Kiln_Red

Thank you.

This car is an '84 US. The chrome slotted disc wheels are staggered. They were donated from an '88. Complete S3 interior. I favor the sport seats so much more than the older style. Even at 6'2, it's worth the forfeiture of head room. Only other mod is the 8" H4 headlights.

Otherwise stock, clean, and simple.

Kiln_Red

You've got a nice example yourself. I think you expressed interest in selling it in a separate thread. You shouldn't have much trouble unloading it. Nevertheless, good luck with your sale!

drscottsmith

Kiln I just wanted you to know that I have downloaded that picture you posted above as my "benchmark" for what I want my '83 to look like when its finished, oh many years from now!

Are you in the area of the Great Smokies?

-scott

Mrmerlin

I knew it, I knew it,
Austin I think its time for you to update your avatar,
your car looks terrific

Kiln_Red

Thank you!

I'm about 250 miles away.

Good luck with your project. It looks like you have a terrific starting point. Your paint code 811 doesn't look to be in too bad of shape in your avatar.

Maybe.. I still just think there is something so cool about the masked shark. It's also a reminder to me of how much the color flops. The brightness of the color in my avatar pic is only viewable in florescent light.

drscottsmith

Oh how those looks can be deceiving! That's about her best angle at present! Clear is peeling off on just about every other panel around the car. It's a mess!

That's ok though - just ready to get the engine buttoned back up so I can drive it!

-scott

JWise

Repeating this post from another thread as it's applicable here, along with some additional commentary.

(BTW- Austin, your car looks great!)

Guys - I think L999 is more correctly referred to as "Paint to Sample", not special order. In the factory WSM, each year has "Special Colors" listed. It's been my understanding that "Special Colors" were those available for customer orders only, not dealer stock inventory. My own car is one of these "Special Colors" and is not denoted by L999.

Below is the window sticker from a Pearl White Metallic 95GTS. Pearl White was neither a "Standard" or "Special" color in 1995. Note the color section at the top (9999) as well as the line item in the option section (Metallic Paint to Sample).

That said, as has been stated previously in this thread, L999 can be a previously offered non-current Porsche color, it's not limited to true custom colors or those from other manufacturers.

Kiln_Red

So does your "Velvet Hammer". You have to love a clean red 928.