Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Hi all

The Dodge was, I'm told, originally painted in ICI Westminster Green. The old guy who worked on the car and lorry told me this, so I assume he's correct (I'd want to see a sample before ordering paint mind you!!). Does anyone know how I'd find a modern code to match this old colour, which was applied to the Dodge back in the 40s?

I'll try asking via the ICI website, but other pointers would be handy too

ta, Rick
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[UKdave2002]

Rick

this link is a good source of codes;

http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

Rick, as long as there is some original paint somewhere, all you need to do is get it optically measured by a good refinisher. That way, you get it exact, without the need for colour codes.

UJ

[Rick]

mmmm there's not much original, unfaded or uncrusty, paint anywhere on it. Plus it has been touched up in places over the years which could make identifying the main colour tricky now might be the only option though, if I can find a good undamaged piece of paint

R
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[Uncle Joe]

Rick, I thought about one thing after I posted. If it was ex-RAF, then maybe the colour would originally have been their Dark Blue, or Army Olive. The latter came in both gloss and matt...and was used on private cars until at least the mid 60's....

UJ

[Rick]

Hi UJ, after the war it was first repainted quickly with a sandy paint finish, prior to being sold via a demobbed vehicle specialist on the South coast, and when it was used to carry the Alfa, it was repainted a dark-ish green, which is the colour I'd like to recreate

RJ
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[Uncle Joe]

Hi Rick, I've just had a quick look through my colur codes. There are two Westminster Greens listed. One was used on US cars, so I doubt if it is that one. The other (Ditzler 42622) was used on early Minis, so that coulsd be easy enough to check. Be careful though, there were two dark greens on early minis. sorry I dont have the ICI code, but at least you have a clue where to look now.

I'm enjoying this thread, its making me think.....

UJ

[Rick]

Hi UJ

I had a look online and found similar info. AMX used that colour, and as you say early Min-bins were also available in Westminster Green. The Morgan Motor Company also used it on their early competition cars (I've dropped them an email), and it seems that Triumphs from 1948-1952 did too.

Will see what Morgan come back with, perhaps they've had to research just such a thing when restoring older cars at the factory.

RJ
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[Uncle Joe]

Hi Rick, from memory, the AMX colour is quite different, but its a long time ago.

Remember that the same colour can be used on different makes, with just a name change...

Just out of curiousity, was it sprayed, or coachpainted? Or is it to hard to tell due to the condition?

By the way, I'm still running the spares check for you, I got a lead the other day....

UJ

[Rick]

A little more digging around suggests that for 1955 the Austin A30 could be bought in Westminster Green, as could the Austin 7 of 1932-1934, although shades could well vary.

I had a brainwave in the middle of the night - the Dodge trailer canopy was painted on the inside as well as outside. The outer paint has faded badly but I need to see if the paint sprayed within is ok - it may just have survived well enough to be used for a spot of spectrum analysis - fingers crossed

Rick
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[Uncle Joe]

Rick, I'll see if I can dig up anything on the two shades you mentioned, and see if they are the same.

I'd quite forgotten about this post!

UJ

[LadyThames]

Excuse me for my ignorance but how does a person work out the colour of the paint from a bit thats left?

I have a few patches of the original colour and would like to re-paint it that colour would I have to take the van to someone or take sample of the paint in presuming I can remove some?

How is this done? Thank you, as it is quite hard to match colours on the internet charts as some are different, it's either Deep Brunswick Green or similar, what were 1962 Civil Defence vehicles painted?

All new to me but very interesting and worthwhile,

[Uncle Joe]

Its really easy nowadays. You simply take the vehicle (or just a body panel) to a good refinisher, and they do an optical (aka spectral) analysis of the paint. From the results, they mix the paint up to match.

Bit like witchcraft really, and not at all like it was in the old days!

One thing I would suggest though, which is one thing that I do. Rather than having it refinished in the exact colour, get it refinished in the nearest commonly available one. That way, when its scratched, you can touch up with rattle cans....

UJ

[UKdave2002]

Most of them will now mix a paint and put it in a "rattle can" so you can get some paint mixed up to spray with a gun, and have an aerosol with the exact match in.

[Uncle Joe]

UK, you are correct in what you say, but my reasoning is, you always need the rattle can on a Sunday or something, which is the only time it can be bought, 'off the shelf'

UJ