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Finding factory paint color

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 2:47 am
by scottzg
Yo. I have my 90 legacy. Over a year ago i got hit by a motorcycle in the rear right quarterpanel. Well, shops quoted me 900-2400 to fix it, so i let it stay damaged for a long time. Eventually i decided to fix it myself, which i have now done, and it looks good, if i may say so myself. I am primered and everything, i just need to figure out a match for my white paint. How do i go about this? I can't find a listed match in the pep boys book o paint. Does anyone know offhand a match that works?

I can post a pic if anyone is interested in my work.

Thanks!

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 2:54 am
by THAWA
look at the placard int he engine bay, and find the color code, and see if someplace will get you some paint like that or if you can find some that's the same color at an auto store.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 2:56 am
by scottzg
are color codes universal? So if it says like "pancake brown" is it gonna be the same color as "pancake brown" at pep boyz?

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 3:02 am
by THAWA
I believe so, as ford's rio red looks the same as subaru's rio red, but if you want to be 100% wait for an expert to say yes.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 3:12 am
by scottzg
cool. "Ceramic white" sounds like a pretty generic color. and if it isnt.... well, im already painting there.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 3:33 am
by mTk
Your best bet for color matching would be to have a shop mix up paint that matches your color. Over 14 years the paint is bound to have faded, the new paint would probably not be the same.

MK

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 3:47 am
by Flip_x
the paint code is in the engine compartment on the driver side badge, i went to a auto paint area so they mixed the right color and everything

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 4:30 am
by evolutionmovement
There's a universal book of colors that the industry uses and they are identified by number, not name, so Rio Red from different companies could be completely different. I'm also pretty sure that the paint code under the hood only equates to what that manufacturer uses - it's not universal, but relates to a standard industry number. I think only certain colors are released each year, too, so getting the exact same color may not happen unless its been sitting around. Not that it matters - as mentioned the paint would be slightly different by now anyway. Unless you have lottery-winner luck, the only way to get a perfect match would be to go to a body shop. You could have them mix it in a can for you. I have my a can of my blue paint.

Steve

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 5:02 am
by Flip_x
ya its hard to get the same color because they have to mix it so they might add too much flakes or add to little or less but if its a good area they should get it really really close i havent put it on yet i will see if its close to mine

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 3:07 pm
by QuickDrive
I'd like to see your bodywork pics. I've got some small stuff to do myself this summer as well.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 4:12 pm
by greg donovan
http://autocolorlibrary.com/acl_files/subaru.html

here is a good link to paint and codes