Who does the best job of putting out the right color/hue/pearl in a paint? Like getting a B5 blue in '69 correct? PPG? Does it all depend on the mix?
Also, what is the best way to go for a novice painter? Single stage? Base clear?
Thanks.

Different paint manufacturers have different color-matching capability, and some systems require more color coats on a 2-stage than others. The chemistry is different, too.
For metallics, 2-stage allows the base color to be corrected before applying clear, whereas single-stage metallics require a real touch to avoid problems. I'd recommend a lot of practice before applying single-stage metallics.
For some old colors, you need to find a similar newer color and tint/match to get them right.
I've seen a lot of "B5" jobs that have too much red in them, as most blues tend to have now; back then, blues tended to be greener.
As an example, IIRC, '68 W1 has black, yellow, and sepia toners in it.

IMHO, nobody has an exact off-the shelf color match for the older acrylic enamels. I have an acquaintance who just went through this in BC/CC for 1969 F6 and it took $600 of sprayouts to get an accurate color match.

Agreed, even "back in the day" using the same paint mfg as OEM could not guarantee a paint match as too many variables can effect the final product, one can still have the so called "perfect match", and all it takes is the wrong shade of primer, along with application technique and your a "shade" off, the only "true" match would be to find an original well preserved component in the color you desire, match it with the many techniques available today, then do spray outs simulating the exact technique and mat'ls you intend to employ, and even then it's no guarantee, as I've had the same mixer Fubar the agreed upon finial mix formula after altering mixes to achieve the required results, so due diligence is required right up to the moment of actually spraying the finished product

Mike

Thanks to both of you. Seems I have some research to do.

PPG made the paint originally, the exact materials are no longer made or have been banned by big brother.
Don't try a single stage metallic paint. You wont be happy.
There is so much of the clear binder in the single stage paint that streaks are gonna be a huge problem.
Has to be BC/CC.