How to Find Classic Car Paint Colors

If
you have spent the money and effort to fully restore a classic car,
then you will want to ensure that the paint is as close to the
original as possible. While this will be easy for some makes and
models, others will be more difficult. The problem stems from paint
colors being discontinued. Fortunately, there are some tips you can
follow to help.  

• Research the original specifications for your particular car. These specifications will include information relating to the color of the car. This can help you to determine where to look for paint first. For example, if the color is a common color still used in automobiles, then you will have a relatively easy task of purchasing this particular color.


• Join a classic automobile club. Automobile enthusiasts will often form clubs for recreational and maintenance purposes. However, these clubs are not maintenance shops, you will need to be an active member and actively network within the club. These clubs can be the best source of information about the exact paint used on a particular classic car. In particular, these clubs can help you discover whether the paint you are looking for is still being manufactured and where to purchase it. If it is not, then you will need to purchase the shade that is the closest match to the original color. 


• Contact a dealership for the company that manufactured your car. While they will no longer service classic models, they will likely being able to consult their reference materials about your particular car. Usually, these reference materials contain information about which shade of paint was used, and often car dealers will be able to direct you to the manufacturer of the paint.