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1936 Buick Color and Trim Code help needed


38Buick 80C

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I needs some help on color and trim codes for a chapter member with a '36 Model 48. He has no data tag.

Car is a grey with black fenders (was two tone even an option in '36?). Looks like there are two grey's in the BCA judges manual. Attached are the photos anyone venture to guess if this is 42540-60 ModerneGray Met or 43240-60 PhantomGray Met?

and the cars has brown/taupe bedford cord interior.

My books only go back to 1937 as far as color and trim codes. any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Here is what I have for 1936 Buick color info. It doesn't look like there were any two-tones. You can find more details about the paint codes here:

1936 GM Color Codes - Buick Paint Cross-Reference

Interior codes

245 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 40)

246 - Taupe Mohair Fabric (Series 40/60)

247 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 60)

248 - Taupe Mohair Fabric (Series 80)

249 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 90)

250 - Brown Broadcloth (Series 90)

251 - Blue-Grey Bedford Cord (Series 90)

252 - Blue-Grey Broadcloth (Series 90)

253 - Tan Bedford Cord (Series 90)

254 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 90)

255 - Brown Broadcloth (Series 90)

256 - Blue-Grey Bedford Cord (Series 90)

257 - Blue-Grey Broadcloth (Series 90)

258 - Light Tan Bedford Cord (Series 90)

259 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 40/60)

260 - Grey Cloth (Series 80)

261 - Brown Cloth (Series 80)

263 - Tan Leather (Series 40/60)

265 - Black Leather (Series 80)

266 - Tan Leather (Series 80)

268 - Black Leather (Series 90)

269 - Tan Leather (Series 90)

270 - Tan Leather (Series 40/60)

271 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 80)

272 - Light Tan Bedford Cord (Series 80)

273 - Black Leather (Series 80)

274 - Tan Leather (Series 80)

275 - Black Leather (Series 90)

276 - Tan Leather (Series 90)

277 - Blue-Grey Bedford Cord (Series 60)

278 - Black Leather (Series 60)

279 - Blue-Grey Bedford Cord (Series 80)

280 - Blue-Grey Leather (Series 60)

281 - Blue-Grey Leather (Series 80)

282 - Brown Bedford Cord (Series 80)

283 - Tan Bedford Cord (Series 80)

284 - Grey Bedford Cord (Series 80)

285 - Brown Plain Cloth (Series 80)

286 - Grey Plain Cloth (Series 80)

Series 80 and 90 paint codes

370 - Imperial Black

371 - Musketeer Blue

372 - Chateau Green

373 - Ballue Brown

374 - Francis Cream

375 - Moderne Grey Metallic

377 - Casino Beige

378 - Trouville Blue

379 - Cardinal Maroon

380 - Touraine Green

381 - Cascade Blue Metallic

382 - Phantom Grey Metallic

Series 40 and 60 paint codes

420 - Imperial Black

421 - Musketeer Blue

422 - Chateau Green

423 - Ballue Brown

424 - Francis Cream

425 - Moderne Grey Metallic

427 - Casino Beige

428 - Trouville Blue

429 - Cardinal Maroon

430 - Touraine Green

431 - Cascade Blue Metallic

432 - Phantom Grey Metallic

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  • 1 year later...
Guest MichaelM

Hi there, I am in the process of restoring my 1936 Buick, and the main colour of yours appears to be the morderne grey, which is the correct colour for this 1936 Buick. Regarding the 2 tone, the original colour brochures for all of the 9 different models of Buick for 1936 ( which can be found online ), show each model in different colours, none of which featured 2 tones, however, I believe many of these cars were made to order. For example, my 1936 Buick is an original right hand drive which was factory made from Canada, and has been in Australia since new. The original client for my 1936 buick obviously chose to have a right hand drive car, and Buick made it ! !....There is no one to say that a client could not have chosen a colour scheme suitable for his colour tastes - from the Buick colour range that was available for 1936. If you look at the original hand drawn and hand painted Buick colour brochures of ealier Buicks during the early 1930's, they almost all feature 2 tone, factory made cars. I don't know why Buick dropped 2 tone from their brochures for its 1936 series vehicles, but during that year ( of 1936 ), it would still have been a fashionable thing to do to have 2 tones. I have seen no evidence of Buick making 2 toned cars for 1936, but in my opinion, they probably didn't, BUT, considering the colour attitudes of that era, coupled with the factory-car-order-culture of that time in motor history, I believe it would be within originality to repaint a 1936 Buick in a 2 tone, so long as you use the colours that were available for 1936 Buicks - and there's a good choice of them. Moderne grey and black, are both colours that were available for 1936 Buick in that time, so, considering all things, I would therefor personally deem this particular car as being painted to orignial colour specifications. If anyone reading this post knows of a 1936 car being an original 2 toned car, I would really love to hear from you. Thankyou. Michael

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... For example, my 1936 Buick is an original right hand drive which was factory made from Canada, and has been in Australia since new. The original client for my 1936 buick obviously chose to have a right hand drive car, and Buick made it ! !....l
Welcome to forum :)

Is your '36 a Fisher style coupe ? GHM (Australia) made 121 off 8/40 & 85 off 8/60 sloper coupes. GM New Zealand assembled Fisher style coupes. GMH did things differently from the USA, but literature I have seen has cars as 1 colour

Edit: 1937 Aussie sloper vs Fisher 44 (will try image of Fisher 46 to compare)

http://forums.aaca.org/f165/1936-buick-8-40-century-sloper-295667.html

http://forums.aaca.org/attachments/f165/74428d1294464608-1936-buick-8-40-century-sloper-1937-fisher_holden.jpg.

Edited by 1939_buick
formatting failed again and again. Only on this web site !!~ (see edit history)
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Michael,

Thanks for the response and great info here for others with '36s. The car is not mine, but I was trying to help the owner get a replacement cowl tag made. I believe the car has now been sold (or at least it was for sale earlier this summer).

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Guest MichaelM
Welcome to forum :)

Is your '36 a Fisher style coupe ? GHM (Australia) made 121 off 8/40 & 85 off 8/60 sloper coupes. GM New Zealand assembled Fisher style coupes. GMH did things differently from the USA, but literature I have seen has cars as 1 colour

Edit: 1937 Aussie sloper vs Fisher 44 (will try image of Fisher 46 to compare)

http://forums.aaca.org/f165/1936-buick-8-40-century-sloper-295667.html

http://forums.aaca.org/attachments/f165/74428d1294464608-1936-buick-8-40-century-sloper-1937-fisher_holden.jpg.

Hi there, thankyou kindly for that information. I have contacted the Buick car club of Victoria Australia to ask for advice on Australian paint colours for the 1936 Buick, but they have said that Buick was not made in Australia in 1936. If it is true that Australia made 121/85 Buicks in that year, it is amazing information. There are about 5 known ones in Australia, and I don't know if any of them were made here. Mine is a 4 door Sedan with 2 side mounted spare tyres, original right hand drive, Fisher body made in Canada. If you know of the colour schemes that were available for the Australian 1936 Buicks, or are able to direct me to any site that has a paint chart for the Australian colours for 1936 Buick, it would be much appreciated. Thank you for the attachment of the Aussie 36 sloper in maroon. If I can't find the colours that were available for the Australian version, I shall choose one from the US Fisher range. Also, I love the 2 tone also, but I'm trying to keep it original, but tempted to have it done 2 tone.

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Hi All. according to my book "Standard cataloge of Buick 1903-2000" edited by Kowalke, in 1936 there is not listed two tone paint as a factory options. Listed factory options for 1936 are "Heater- Master and Deluxe, Dual Side mounts, fog lights, White sidewalls, Grille Guard, Electric Watch, Buick Master 5 tube radio, Buick master 6 tube radio and Trim Rings" the earliest I can find two tone paint in this book as a factory option is for 1941 when 19 colours were offered for combination. Oldre and more wiser members may have more information

cheers

Andrew

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Guest MichaelM
Hi All. according to my book "Standard cataloge of Buick 1903-2000" edited by Kowalke, in 1936 there is not listed two tone paint as a factory options. Listed factory options for 1936 are "Heater- Master and Deluxe, Dual Side mounts, fog lights, White sidewalls, Grille Guard, Electric Watch, Buick Master 5 tube radio, Buick master 6 tube radio and Trim Rings" the earliest I can find two tone paint in this book as a factory option is for 1941 when 19 colours were offered for combination. Oldre and more wiser members may have more information

cheers

Andrew

Thankyou for your post. I may become daring with my colour choice and have it sprayed in a 2 tone from the 1936 colour palate that was available.

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Guest Rob McDonald

McLaughlin-Buick of Oshawa, Ontario, always built a fair number of cars for export to other British Commonwealth countries, most of them right-hand drive. The Prince of Wales, later (and briefly) King Edward VIII, was famously fond of big Canadian-made Buicks.

Oshawa also built bare chassis in either left- or right-hand drive, many for export. Conventional sedans like MichaelM's car were shipped complete, while special bodies would have been fabricated and installed on bare chassis at their destination. Until GM Holden began assembling complete cars - maybe 1937? - I think much of their business was in building locally appropriate bodies for Chevrolets and Buicks. I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that, in 1936, Holden-made Sloper Coupe bodies were installed on Canadian-built Buick chassis. Experts out there, armed with facts, are welcome to shoot down this assumption.

MICHAELM, 1936 was a landmark year for General Motors styling, Buick in particular. They really caught onto the Art Deco, Streamline fashion and broke with old, upright traditions. Two-tone colour schemes, with contrasting fenders and body, were suddenly hopelessly old-fashioned. Single-colour paint jobs prevailed - with some exceptions - until well after WWII, when bold two- and three-tone paint schemes returned. Because you seen tentative about how to refinish your car, let my cast my vote for an all-over metallic grey, in which ever shade you prefer.

The following link has 5 pages of 1936 Buick paint charts, Moderne Gray and Phantom Gray - Paint Chips 1936 Buick (personally, I'd go with the lighter Moderne Gray).

Edited by Rob McDonald (see edit history)
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McLaughlin-Buick of Oshawa, Ontario, always built a fair number of cars for export to other British Commonwealth countries, most of them right-hand drive. The Prince of Wales, later (and briefly) King Edward VIII, was famously fond of big Canadian-made Buicks.

Oshawa also built bare chassis in either left- or right-hand drive, many for export. Conventional sedans like MichaelM's car were shipped complete, while special bodies would have been fabricated and installed on bare chassis at their destination. Until GM Holden began assembling complete cars - maybe 1937? - I think much of their business was in building locally appropriate bodies for Chevrolets and Buicks. I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that, in 1936, Holden-made Sloper Coupe bodies were installed on Canadian-built Buick chassis. Experts out there, armed with facts, are welcome to shoot down this assumption.

MICHAELM, 1936 was a landmark year for General Motors styling, Buick in particular. They really caught onto the Art Deco, Streamline fashion and broke with old, upright traditions. Two-tone colour schemes, with contrasting fenders and body, were suddenly hopelessly old-fashioned. Single-colour paint jobs prevailed - with some exceptions - until well after WWII, when bold two- and three-tone paint schemes returned. Because you seen tentative about how to refinish your car, let my cast my vote for an all-over metallic grey, in which ever shade you prefer.

The following link has 5 pages of 1936 Buick paint charts, Moderne Gray and Phantom Gray - Paint Chips 1936 Buick (personally, I'd go with the lighter Moderne Gray).

GM Holden built bodies from the 1920's (if not before) Australian import tax laws made at happen. Chassis, drive line and front sheet metal were imported from USA to my knowledge. Many detailed differences between GMH & Fisher USA/Canada bodies. Trim & doors are not same for example. GMH also built bodies for Chrysler, Willys, Nash and other brands in the 30's.

There are some good books available "100 years of GM in Australia" by Norm Darwin and "Buick in Australia" by Eric North & John Gerdtz

These books list GM Holden production (i.e not including imports)

8/40 sedans 1325

8/40 sloper 121

8/60 sedans 344

8/60 sloper 35

GM literature of the time lists 8/60 Century, 8/80 Roadmaster, & 8/90 Limited also available as imported. (Source "100 years of GM in Australia")

Some of these cars, that still exist, are in the Australian Buck Club membership list. The 2006-07 list has 26 off 1936's, including 9 off series 60 Centuries & 3 off series 80 Roadmaster's. Includes 1 off series 60 sloper coupe. May include some cars imported from the USA or elsewhere in recent years (thanks to a favorable AUD USD exchange rate) [cannot find my later list]

In 1939 some series 90 were built with local Martin & King bodies. May be for other years as well

In New Zealand GM assembled cars using USA components CKD, with Fisher bodies (not Canadian Mclaughlin), and possible local upholstery - glass

Edited by 1939_buick (see edit history)
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.... I have contacted the Buick car club of Victoria Australia to ask for advice on Australian paint colours for the 1936 Buick, but they have said that Buick was not made in Australia in 1936. If it is true that Australia made 121/85 Buicks in that year, it is amazing information. There are about 5 known ones in Australia, and I don't know if any of them were made here. Mine is a 4 door Sedan with 2 side mounted spare tyres, original right hand drive, Fisher body made in Canada. If you know of the colour schemes that were available for the Australian 1936 Buicks, or are able to direct me to any site that has a paint chart for the Australian colours for 1936 Buick, it would be much appreciated. Thank you for the attachment of the Aussie 36 sloper in maroon. If I can't find the colours that were available for the Australian version, I shall choose one from the US Fisher range.....

Not sure what question you asked Buick Club Of Australia, but 1936 Buick's were built here.

Have you got a photos of your car ? Does it have a body data plate ? What model - series is it ?

Are you a club member ? Brian buick840 is a regular poster in this forum and active in the Buick Club of Australia (Victoria).

The maroon image is of USA Fisher model 48 (2 door sedan). The lower black & white image is Aussie designed sloper coupe.

Edited by 1939_buick (see edit history)
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Guest MichaelM

Hi Rob McDonald,

Thank you for your very imformative post. Your information is very valuable. Yes, my 1936 Buick is indeed a McLaughlin. You are partly correct regarding the 1937 Buick. I am also in the possession of a 1937 Buick ( and the 1936 Buick in restoration ), and my '37 was indeed partly made by Holden, but only the body. The body of my '37 bears the original Holden badge. For many years leading up to 1937, and beyond, Holden only built car bodies that were fitted to the chasis/running gear/engine etc of US made Buicks, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, and Chevrolets ( and probably others ). It was not until 1948 that Holden built its very first all-Austrlian car; body, chasis, engine....everything. The car was a historic first for Australia, highly advertised, and has heralded as "Australia's Own". It was never given an actual name, and was sold as the serial number 48-215. It was later nick named the FX Holden, but this name was not officially given to it by Holden. The 48-215 ( Alias FX ), was the earlier series to the FJ Holden ( Holden's official name ) which was produced between 1953 and 1956 ( I think ).

Regarding the 2 tone for my 1936 Buick, I am somewhat both disappointed and relieved that it was never an option for 2 tones. In the last 24 hours, after staring at the various pictures of 1936 Buicks in different colours ( trying to decide of colour(s), I can see why Buick considered 2 tone an old fashioned thing of the past. I would imagine that Buick, like any other car manufacturer, would want to keep their new products exiting, different, and appealing. Why revisit the early 1930's with 2 toned colour schemes? Also, the then new 1936 Buick series, were now more streamlined, modern, and different than their earlier cousins of a few year earlier. Also, I have noticed the supbtle changes that occurred to the body and fenders over the natural progression of car evolution. By this I mean that from the early 1930's to 1936 and beyond, the fenders were slowly evolving to become more and more a part of the body ( until today, there is no distinction between fender and car body ). If you compare the 1934 Buick to the 1936 buick, the fenders for the '34 are slightly more "seperate" in style than later years. By 1936, the fenders had become supbtly more a part of the body to the point that Buick felt that it should be the same colour as the body. Coupled with the new art deco style, stream lining, and market strategy, I would suppose it would come as no surprise that all the series for the then new 1936 Buicks were single toned. It looks like I will have to choose just one colour if I wish to keep it completely historically original. I will consider the grey, but I would be prone to only pick a colour from the proper Buick palate of what was available for 1936. Thank you again for your post. I am now closer to deciding on a colour !....I have to made a decision by October some time which is when she's due to get stripped and resprayed :)

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Some color's schem here, but not all orginal 1935 - 1938 PreWar Buick Gallery - PreWarBuick.com

And the BCA Buick Club National Meets

Edited by 1939_buick
formatting failed again. Only on this web site: -never on others using the same software (see edit history)
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Guest Rob McDonald
my 1936 Buick is indeed a McLaughlin

That's the give-away. If a right-hand drive car is badged as a McLaughlin-Buick, it was for sure built in Oshawa. I think there were import duty advantages to shipping cars and bare chassis from Canada to other Commonwealth countries, rather than from the US. Whether complete McLaughlin-Buicks were regularly sent to Australia or they were all bodied by Holden, I must defer to Allan's (aka 1939_buick) far better local knowledge.

MICHAEL, choosing paint colours is probably one of the highlights of the old car hobby experience but one that's fraught with self-doubt. "What if I don't like it?" is a nagging question. Not liking it happened to me once. My '73 MGB, which I bought new, finally needed a complete respray in 2004. I had always loved the colour, Mallard Green, and didn't think twice when I told the painter to just do it as original. Well, he got it wrong. Instead of the very dark but brilliant blue-green (think of a male Mallard duck's head) the car came back a muddy swamp-water green. The painter offered to re-shoot it, for the cost of materials, but he went out of business before I could arrange that. No surprise there. Moral of the story - be very careful with your paint choice.

ALLAN, I Googled images of "Martin & King Buick" and only came up with a Series 90 from '39, which has since been re-bodied with an American-made body. Do you have any photos of these Australian-built customs?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Off topic

..ALLAN, I Googled images of "Martin & King Buick" and only came up with a Series 90 from '39, which has since been re-bodied with an American-made body. Do you have any photos of these Australian-built customs?
No. Nor I have seen one. I took the photos referenced above in The Largest Vintage Buick gallery on the web - PreWarBuick.com There are b&W photos in some Aussie car history books, but too small a scale to notice differences
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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 years later...

I ordered a paint card from TCP Global.

http://www.autocolorlibrary.com/ use the link at left to get the colors for 1936.

My car, the body number indicated moderne gray. I pulled some parts and sure enough Moderne Gray under the horns. 

I was going to go with Tourene (sp) Green, but when you see the Moderne Gray in all its glory, you take a second look.

I got a duplicate of my original body plate made and decided to keep it Moderne Gray.

 

I have a question... It seems that Moderne Gray is a rather complex color, with some sparkle, etc. Was this a common color? The reason I ask is my Model 48 has all the option, wonder if this was a loaded Buick when ordered?

 

 

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