So I need to order paint, I am confused as to why Dupont offers two codes for Solar red, and no one else does.

Here is the info from paintref.com

Dupont:

4948LH, 4948DH

GM WA3804

Dotzler 71634

Martin Senour 4376

Anybody know what the heck is deal? Anybody got any thoughts as to what I should do? I posted this over on PY as well, and am totally confused as to why one company has two codes. One is supposedly more yellow than the other.
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I still have the can of paint from when Scarlet was repainted in 1989. I can see what that says on it. They used lacquer + clear coat back then. Has held up exceptionally well!

Here's what I used in Dupont Acrylic Lacquer: (The paint store's data base used the Chevy color name. Pontiac Solar Red it is also called Matador on '68 Chevy and Scarlet Red on Buick and Olds.)

The above post was when I painted a new RH quarter. It matched the 1988 paint used on the rest of the car, below.




Could the "L" mean lacquer? and the "D" another paint like urethane? I'd ask your paint shop.

Jim,

Thanks for the info. The pics help a lot, and knowing you are the original owner of you bird helps as well. It's been awhile since I met up you!
I will call them and ask what the letters mean.

68tpls400,

I know you have had Scarlett for quite some time, and I really loved the red on her the last time I was over. If you could post the info from your paint when you get time, I will compare it to Jim's paint and go from there. Maybe I can get this sorted out.

Thanks guys!

I checked my records; a gallon of that lacquer cost me $56.25 in April 1988 and $278.85 in November 2003. If lacquer is even available today, I wonder what it costs?

What type of paint are you planning on?

Boy Jim, you sure are messy!

The big brush I used putting it on slopped it all over side of the can.

You won't be painting with Lacquer these days. And not acrylic enamel either.

I would go with the Ditzer / PPG 71634

I learned a lot about paint through this exercise, and still wound up with no explanation as to why is Dupont is offering two different versions for this paint. The most common possibilities I heard were that they may have had or been preparing for a shortage of one or more of the ingredients in the original formula, they may have upgraded the paint for something, there may have been a slight difference in the formula depending on what plant the cars were produced at.

In short, I have no clue. This is the paint that we can get the best price on, so I am hoping to get samples of the two colors and pick the one I like the best. They are both the chromabase line up, so they are good quality. I am sure they are not that far off from each other in appearance though.

We can always compare to Scarlet once you have some samples.

Sounds good,

Here is a sample of Ditzler Solar Red/ Matador red. This is the DVC line up. This was three coats, no clear.

What do you guys think? I know nothing about Ditzler quality and pricing.

68tpls400- I will call you later tonight..