BUICK CUSTOM COLORS FROM THE FACTORY

Here's a paint-color question for the Buick experts.

I'm asking specifically about 1970, but your

insights on other years would be welcome too.

Was a Riviera-only color available on the other models

by special order?

I thought it might be interesting (and a good conversation piece)

to have a 1970 Buick (LeSabre or Wildcat) convertible in

"sunset sage." That's a light purple or lilac color, Paint Code V,

which according to my 1970 Buick factory paint-chip folder

says "Exclusive Riviera Color."

For other years' paint chips, I've seen that colors supposedly

not available on a particular model could be obtained from the

factory at extra cost. For example,

1972: "Colors available at extra charge," says the paint-chip

color key for all colors that aren't "available on the series indicated."

1973: "Riviera exclusive colors may be ordered on the other Buick

models at extra cost," says a note on the paint-chip folder.

1976: "Special Skyhawk and Skylark colors available at extra cost

on other models," says the paint-chip folder. Couldn't you just

picture the shocking Firecracker Orange boldly (tastelessly?)

painted on a full-size Buick?!

But what about 1970? The paint-chip folder is mum. I don't have

the Color & Upholstery album.

And if you can provide documentation from

some factory source, that would be especially interesting

for everyone--and helpful too!

Photos of Buicks in non-standard factory colors,

such as the '72 Centurion that Keith Bleakney has

in Flame Orange, could make this an interesting thread!

I have personally seen 69 & 70 full size Buick's in Riv only colors, as with other years it would indicate such beside the Paint code on the data plate. Also the build sheet on SCO cars had the info and was often actually written out in longhand on the sheet as well

Keith, what does SCO mean?

Special Customer Order

What about Buicks in colors "available" only to other divisions. A friend is picking up a '65 Wildcat painted Chevrolet 'Evening Orchid'/Pontiac 'Iris Mist'.

That color was not available for Buick, Oldsmobile, or Cadillac according to any color charts that we can find.

Ed

John, here is one about as shocking as the fire cracker orange you used as an example,nan Electra in a 1974 Apollo only color.

The special ordering of paint color was uncommon but not as uncommon as one might think. Even colors from other divisions, companies or special colors all together.

OMG Ed, a 65 Wildcat in Evening Orchid would be stunning.

OMG Ed, a 65 Wildcat in Evening Orchid would be stunning.

I could certainly go for such a car as well. As it is, my favorite '65 Wildcat color is Sea Foam green, but Evening Orchid would be quite attractive. Since my car has already been changed from the original color, I would have to highly consider that upon a repaint.

SCO = Special Car Order

Here are two trim tags from 1970 A-body cars (GS 455) painted in Stratomist Blue Metallic (Fisher body code 26, Buick sales code . The R infront of the paint code on the Flint built car indicates it is a Riviera color.

My friend JohnnieBuick is picking it up this weekend. He's seen pictures of it and I'll ask him to post some pictures of it. It also has white interior and a white vinyl top. We'll just have to wait and see.

Keith, that '74 Electra in a rather bright "Canary Yellow" is interesting!

Ed (or anyone), can you quote some Buick documentation to the

effect that a non-Buick GM color could be obtained on a Buick?

I'll bet that "evening orchid" (Chevy color) 1965 Wildcat will be a stand-out!

Cadillac may be different from Buick, since a more expensive car

may have offered more possibilities; but my 1973 Cadillac

"Salesman's Merchandising Guide" (dealer album) has a tab that

describes "Special Order." It states:

"Past model or non-standard colors can be supplied on special

order at extra charge. To order, type 00 on COLOR space on

order form. which denotes that color is not a standard option.

In space captioned SPECIAL EXTERIOR COLOR describe color

by name and model year, e.g. 1964 Lime, 1969 Seminole Red, etc...."

Dig into those Buick salesman's guides, folks, and let's see

the interesting things we can come up with! And thanks for your help!

I believe there is similar wording in Buick sales info. I know for instance for lets say a 72 centurion, we can tell you the number of ever color that was built, including special colors. except the non buick colors are left blank, we just know how many non Buick color built not the actual color. I know of a 71 Centurion conv painted Tar Heel blue. Usually on cars such as it the paint code is left totally blank on the data tag. Technically you could paint that car chartreuse and no one could tell you it was wrong. I even know of one documented 71 LeSabre in Plum Crazy. I can't pull out any of my books, I am in the middle of a move and it's all packed.

Our A.A.C.A. region interviewed Bob Lutz, retired

a few years ago as Vice Chairman of General Motors.

He told me that, even today, a person could special-order

a GM car in a color from another division. He quoted an

extra cost of $1200 to do that.

(We were asking him, in essence, why modern cars have

such limited and bland color choices.)

I had no idea that service was still available, and I haven't seen

any printed reference to it in recent years. But then again

I don't have salesmen's literature for modern cars.

Keith, that '74 Electra in a rather bright "Canary Yellow" is interesting!

Ed (or anyone), can you quote some Buick documentation to the

effect that a non-Buick GM color could be obtained on a Buick?

I'll bet that "evening orchid" (Chevy color) 1965 Wildcat will be a stand-out!

I think it was actually called mint green, it was a bright yellows green

SCO trim tag from 1973 Century (4AD37).

A couple of 1969 SCO trim tags, don't know what these colors are.

Sean, thanks for posting the pictures of the special-order

trim tags. The tag from 1970 proves that it was possible

to order a non-Riviera Buick in a Riviera-only paint color.

Quoting from Buick salesman's literature would add to the

documentation. That way, a car-show judge could see it in

black and white.

1967 and 1968 trim SCO trim tags and 1950 tag with 1949 paint code.

The body plate on my '41 Special lists a paint code that, according to the BCA judging manual and all the paint code sheets I've seen, is a 1940 two tone code. I don't know if it is an early car and was just a crossover or what.

John, although that would not fly if you painted a car let's say a Riviera color and it wasn't originally that color.

Keith, are you saying that in Buick Club of America judging,

painting a car a special-order color wouldn't be accepted

unless that color was on the car from the factory?

How about changing the color of a car from one

standard offering to another standard offering?

I'm pretty sure A.A.C.A. would be more lenient in that regard,

as long as the owner could document that such was available from the factory.

I like my cars excellent and entirely correct, but I never have them judged.

I figure I'm preserving cars for history's sake and enjoying them with

fellow hobbyists at shows and tours; but trophies aren't my goal.

In BCA judging, we don't look at the data plate to determine whether the colour is factory correct for the car. That means a colour that was correct for the year is acceptable. However, I don't recall whether the special order or Riviera-only colours have been discussed.

If there was a question of authenticity, the owner could point out the data plate and ideally have documentation for the colour. However, if you painted your car with a Buick colour that wasn't correct for the line, I don't know how the judging would handle it.

Does anyone have access to the 1970 Buick

color & upholstery album, or salesman's data book,

or other literature to document Riviera-only colors

on other Buicks, or special-order colors?

You can change your color to a standard color with no deduction, a non standard color you would need to document. Lets say your car scored enough to senior at a BCA national, a non authentic color would be a "mandatory" deduction, a car cannot senior with a mandatory deduction even with enough points. If judging or authenticity is not important to you then the judging aspect does not matter. One thought, resale could be affected though.

You would need the daily build report list for year end.

On the ROA's website, the list of colors for 1970 lists the following codes / colors as being Riviera only colors.

B-26 /Astro Blue

F-20 / Azure Blue

L-16 / Teal Mist Gray

T-46 / Emerald Mist

V-76 / Sunset Sage

W-61 / Sandpiper Beige

X-74 / Titan Red

I can't guarantee the accuracy of this but it's what's posted.

Here's a paint-color question for the Buick experts.

I'm asking specifically about 1970, but your

insights on other years would be welcome too.

Was a Riviera-only color available on the other models

by special order?

I thought it might be interesting (and a good conversation piece)

to have a 1970 Buick (LeSabre or Wildcat) convertible in

"sunset sage." That's a light purple or lilac color, Paint Code V,

which according to my 1970 Buick factory paint-chip folder

says "Exclusive Riviera Color."

For other years' paint chips, I've seen that colors supposedly

not available on a particular model could be obtained from the

factory at extra cost. For example,

1972: "Colors available at extra charge," says the paint-chip

color key for all colors that aren't "available on the series indicated."

1973: "Riviera exclusive colors may be ordered on the other Buick

models at extra cost," says a note on the paint-chip folder.

1976: "Special Skyhawk and Skylark colors available at extra cost

on other models," says the paint-chip folder. Couldn't you just

picture the shocking Firecracker Orange boldly (tastelessly?)

painted on a full-size Buick?!

But what about 1970? The paint-chip folder is mum. I don't have

the Color & Upholstery album.

There were a couple GS's made in Sunset Sage in 1970, several in Stratomist Blue and also one in Plum Crazy as I recall.

I own a 69 GS400 Convertible in Fireglow Orange Poly, which was a special order color until the Spring of 69 when they made it generally available.

Thanks for posting the pictures, Chris.

Photos make this thread especially interesting.

It was my understanding along with the special pamphlet that introduced Fireglow that it was a limited color when introduced in the spring. What is your cars build date?

I myself don't have a '70 Buick at this point:

it's one of the cars on my long-term

look-for list, and I know I'll never

acquire everything on that list. But a '70 Buick

would be more interesting to me, and more desirable,

if it could be legitimately be painted in an

uncommon yet attractive color. In our area, where cars are

popular and local shows draw hundreds of cars,

unusual cars are good conversation pieces.

This color question is also good to document for history's sake.