Packard Engine Colors

[Den41Buick]

I have noticed several shades of Packard green engine paint. Do different series have different shades? If not is there one correct color and what is it?

[Earl B.]

Over the years, the color changed slightly. Also, with time, some of the greens changed colors. I imagine when Packard ordered paint, different companies bid, and even if the same company got the bid, it wasn't something that was acurately mixed each time.

Bill Hirsch sells the Packard green and probably other companies also.

When I got my 1932 901, the head was one shade and the block another....B

[Restorer32]

We have at least 3 partial cans of Packard Green engine enamel, all slightly different shades and all from the same national supplier. The color varies randomly over time as I'm sure it did when the cars were new. Same with Cadillac Green.

[West Peterson]

There used to be a lot of yellow in the Packard green, at one point almost leaning toward brown. Yellow used chrome. Chrome became unavailable or very expensive during the war, starting as early as 1939. Thus, the Packard green became a lot more "bluer" looking.

That's the way it was explained to me, anyway.

[Guest bkazmer]

Chrome yellow pigment has the chrome in hexavalent state - not gonna be in the paint today.

[West Peterson]

I understand. I was just giving my understanding as to why the color change on Packard engines from the factory... and why restorers should pay attention to which color they use.

[Guest bkazmer]

no difference of opinion - just saying the old pigmentation will not be used today so the current color may differ. I hadn't thought of it before your comment, but the 40's cars I've seen do seem more sage/grayish than the mid 30's cars which look more yellow, but that's just my poor memory

[Restorer32]

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me the chemical difference, IF ANY, between high heat paint and regular paint.