Hey guys I tried three different paint codes and I get the same mixture each time. My 71 roadrunner was painted 12 years ago and I'm doing some frame rail repairs, now that they are done I'm trying to paint but the last three paint shops have given me the same mixture. Tried L5, butterscotch, Bahama yellow at different paint shops, and they all end up the same yellow color that's more yellow than my butterscotch color. Have you guys found a different paint code that works closer to match our cars?? Not sure what's changed in the past 12 years

The local PPG counter guy told me a few years ago that some of the toners in certain lines of paint had been made obsolete, and the substitutes for those can and does affect the hue. If possible bring them a part off the car and have them tint it to match.

That's what I'm doing, hopefully the guy is good at his job, but really frustrating we can't just order the proper colors anymore😞

It will require someone who will spend the time tinting with different toners, and understands the "color wheel".
Yellows were never easy, even with the old toners.

if you have the paint code that was applied, contact the Mfr. of the paint. They should be able to gve you the new mix to match. Most are unaware or too lazy to pursue it that far.
A customer had a car that was painted 40 years ago with PPG Deltron. The first shop must have employed Helen Keller. The customer called PPG and was given the new mix. Perfect match

Thanks for the tip! I'll contact ppg and see what they say😊

i am a PPG certified painter. been certified for over 30 years with PPG.
a couple of things to try.

i am assuming you are painting the color base coat / CC.
yellows and reds are known to darken as they dry. if you clear then to fast they will be light.
i would suggest spraying out the original non match color then bake the base coat 20 min @ 140* before clear coating it. also increase flash time between coats. this can darken problem colors.


if spraying single stage i would suggest baking the spray out card for at least 40 min @140* after proper flash time given. use a fresh spray out card with fresh mixed paint.
i would also suggest giving more flash time between coats. this can darken problem colors.


also yellow based colors are sometimes extremely transparent.

what is the color rating on the spray out card you are using? i would assume they are using a #5 standard gray.
the ones i use for water base coat are rated at G1, 3, 5,6, &7. from white to dark gray.
maybe use a slightly darker sealer color, maybe a #6.. this can give you a darker top color.

maybe try one of those multi striped spray out cards with all of the primer colors. from white to black.
this could be the fastest way to see if you have enough paint on the spray out card. with proper coverage there should be NO difference between all of the stripes of primer if you use enough coats.
with modern tech tints in old formulas, you might need 4 -6 coats for proper coverage instead of 2-3 in the old days.

maybe a combination of darker ground color and another coat will do the trick.

you also could try to thin the color a bit less, thicker paint will give you a darker color. it will dy slower and not lay out like thinner paint, but it could be a better color.

also to contradict the above statement. sometimes yellow tints don't like to dissolve properly, especially in solvent based paint.. you sometimes need to over thin the color to get a good match. this is most common with blue shade green colors that have yellow tint in them. it can also happen in solid colors.



hope this info helps.

actually PPG changes the tints and formulas a LOT.
i just painted a VW red, LY3D, where they updated the formula from 6 months ago that was updated 3 months before that,. this color has been in constant in use since the mid 80's

Yellow ages just like white. You could be using the same can from 10 years ago and it wouldn't match.

Thanks for the info guys! I have a few things to try. I'm also using a airbrush for the really hard to get to spots, you have to put on a ton of coats but its small enough to do the job and relatively easy to use. I am using a base / cc, I haven't put on the clear yet as the yellow was significantly brighter than the butterscotch that I don't think adding a clear would darken it, rather make it brighter. We are trying a few things to darken it up. Luckily its only the lower frame rails inside the engine bay, I couldn't imagine if I had to paint a fender or something major