MotiveLensPhoto Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 (edited) I have the color code info (not the VIN) from under the hood of my car, a 1973 Riviera. The color codes don't match any information I can find about the color, the interior, etc. The reason I'm asking is that there are several similar colors and I can't find the exact match just looking at the color sheets. They're all slightly different. Edited June 10, 2020 by Golden73 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 Were the color sheets produced in late 1972? If so, then they have aged, even sitting in a binder. And watching them on a monitor, like from this site, also changes the color: https://www.autocolorlibrary.com/pages/1973-Buick.html What is the color code? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 If you post a picture of the trim tag I can decode it. There were two codes, the sales code on the Buick literature and the production code used by Fisher body on the trim tag. For example Harvest Gold paint was Buick sales code M and Fisher code 60. For trim, Saddle Cloth with 60/40 front seat in the Riviera was Buick sales code 366 and Fisher code 686. I think most online paint references use the Fisher codes and most interior places use the Buick sales codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiveLensPhoto Posted June 10, 2020 Author Share Posted June 10, 2020 10 hours ago, sean1997 said: If you post a picture of the trim tag I can decode it. There were two codes, the sales code on the Buick literature and the production code used by Fisher body on the trim tag. For example Harvest Gold paint was Buick sales code M and Fisher code 60. For trim, Saddle Cloth with 60/40 front seat in the Riviera was Buick sales code 366 and Fisher code 686. I think most online paint references use the Fisher codes and most interior places use the Buick sales codes. That makes sense because the color codes on the sheet I have are nothing like what is under the hood. I think it's Harvest Gold exterior but it was re-painted before I bought it. The seller said they used the factory paint, but who can be sure. ST73 4EY87FL1 281966 BDY TR 684 54 T PNT 05B AM6 Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiveLensPhoto Posted June 10, 2020 Author Share Posted June 10, 2020 10 hours ago, Frank DuVal said: Were the color sheets produced in late 1972? If so, then they have aged, even sitting in a binder. And watching them on a monitor, like from this site, also changes the color: https://www.autocolorlibrary.com/pages/1973-Buick.html What is the color code? 54 corresponds to a number on my tag, which is Autumn Gold. The other sheet I found has completely different numbers, such as A60, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 ST 73 4EY87 FL1 281966 BDY TR 684 54 T PNT 05B AM6 Fisher body style number = 4EY87 4 = Buick E = E-body platform Y = Riviera 87 = 2-door hardtop coupe FL1 = body built at Flint MI 218966 = body number Trim 684 = Neutral Cloth with 60/40 Front Seat, available on style 4EY87 (sales code 364) Paint code 54 = Autumn Gold Metallic (sales code K) T = Sandalwood vinyl top (sales code 7) 05B = build date = May (05) 1973, second week (B) Option codes AM6 = 60/40 Front Seats 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiveLensPhoto Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Thanks for that. I owe you one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 (edited) Here is a page from "American Automobile Paint Code interchange manual 1945-1995 Numbers on left are Buick codes.... number on right is PPG color code Edited June 11, 2020 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 " Gall Bladder green" ? WTH? #99 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 On 6/11/2020 at 10:07 PM, JohnD1956 said: " Gall Bladder green" ? WTH? #99 Gastroenterologist's favorite by a 3:1 margin! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 On 6/10/2020 at 11:04 AM, Golden73 said: The seller said they used the factory paint, but who can be sure. You can be 100% sure it was not repainted with the paint the factory used, as that is a heat cure reflow product that can not be used in a post factory type paint shop. Different binders and possibly different pigments. So any paint bought to spray outside of the OEM factory is an approximate formula that a paint manufacturer came up with to match the OEM type paint color. "Factory Pack" automotive paint is aftermarket paint by any manufacturer that was supplied to the paint distributor in a can to be sold to shops. It means it was not mixed at the distributor from a mixing bank. At one time it was thought the manufacturer mixing 100 gallons at a time took better care to match the original spec color than the mixing bank data/person reading the scale for small amounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotiveLensPhoto Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 Probably not an exact match, but I didn't buy it to win prizes. It's close enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 On 6/11/2020 at 8:07 PM, JohnD1956 said: " Gall Bladder green" ? WTH? #99 Buick's term for Chevrolet's "Citrus Green" 1970 color. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Barney, Where would be a good source to purchase a "American Automobile Paint Code Interchange Manual" for 1945-1995? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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