Special Order Color Choices

[kgreen]

What range of choices would a buyer for this era of car had for special order colors?  For instance, would the factory have access to LaSalle or Cadillac colors?

[Hubert_25-25]

Ken,

   See page 45 of the BCA judging manual.  These are the 1940 colors.  Although Buick and Cadillac and LaSalle were all part of GM, I doubt Buick was doing special order colors, and I doubt they were getting colors from Cadillac and LaSalle.   I am no expert on this, but I would start here.  Hugh

 

http://www.buickclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bca_judging_manual.pdf

 

[kgreen]

Thanks Hugh.  That's a start.  

 

I heard and wish to verify that special order could mean a color from a previous year or possibly the next year of vehicle if a late year car was ordered.  

[kgreen]

If someone, on a special order car, chose a specific color, why didn't Buick just stamp the code for the color chosen rather than stamp SPEC in the color code position?  

Edited September 6, 2017 by kgreen
clarity (see edit history)

[kgreen]

I asked the same question on the Cadillac forum, here is one answer that I received:

 

"In a word, "Yes." to all of your suggestions. Any previous colour, any GM color, all except white, which for the paints available then, was difficult to apply. As far as simply stamping the # on the tag, that would mean nothing, as unless a Cadillac dealer dualed with another GM make, they would not have the colour chart available. Back then, money talked and if you wanted a shade that you saw on a 1936 Airflow, you could get it."

 

[Budensor]

I have a 1957 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery that has "  SPL "  for a paint code.