1958 Aquamarine paint question

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Jesse Benedict
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1958 Aquamarine paint question

#1 Post by Jesse Benedict »

I am about ready to strip off all the paint and rust off my 57/58 356 coupe, but before I do I want to get the color right. It left the factory with the 5707 Aquamarine blue. I have noticed while stripping the car down it seems to have several layers as it is yellow now, green once, but in the deepest areas such as under the badge on the dash or under the door sill rubbers it is the nice blue still.

Question is, I have a sample from a local Glasurit shop of what they say is the original mix, as well as a sample from Willhoit. Both samples are close just not quite the right blue. (See attached pic) I do know that pictures and screens don't do paint justice and at most angles you can't tell the Willhoit from the original but when the light catches it like this it is distinctively different. Has anyone else dealt with this blue, I am trying to retain originality, do I match the car or will it stick out wrong at a show if I don't go with the standardized samples?

Thanks

Jesse Benedict
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Glasurit on the left, Willhoit on the right.
Glasurit on the left, Willhoit on the right.
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Jesse Benedict
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58 Coupe
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David Jones
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#2 Post by David Jones »

Jesse, go check my previous posts for pictures of my 59 aquamarine coupe or if you need more PM me. I think the Glasurit is an excellent match especially as they were the OEM paint supplier but remember that different batches of paint can look slightly different.
Also you may want to double check the paint code as 5707 is aquamarine but 5607 was metallic.
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Jesse Benedict
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#3 Post by Jesse Benedict »

Thanks David,

I will be in contact!

I am just worried because I have seen more of these turn out almost gray looking where as yours look more like the untouched areas of mine, a deep blue. Maybe someone needs to slap me and say its lighting. It is 5707 non metallic aquamarine listed on the Kardex. Here is the example I have seen the most examples of and it matches, I feel, more of the Glasurit code but again I think a little too gray. Its a beautiful color either way I'm sure once its on the vehicle it will also change some as well.

Jesse
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1959 Porsche 356A Reutter Coupe for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $118,000 on March 13, 2019 (Lot .jpeg
1959 Porsche 356A Reutter Coupe for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $118,000 on March 13, 2019 (Lot .jpeg (240.7 KiB) Viewed 2229 times
Jesse Benedict
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David Jones
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#4 Post by David Jones »

You are correct Jesse, different lighting can make a big difference and also whether it is clean and polished as well. PM me and I can send a couple of pictures right after both paint jobs in the last 30 years.
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Richard Emerson
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#5 Post by Richard Emerson »

My 1958 Speedster In aquamarine blue just got painted and matched. It’s a color that varies in photos though so need to see in person.

Image
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#6 Post by Richard Emerson »

David Jones wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 10:26 am Jesse, go check my previous posts for pictures of my 59 aquamarine coupe or if you need more PM me. I think the Glasurit is an excellent match especially as they were the OEM paint supplier but remember that different batches of paint can look slightly different.
Also you may want to double check the paint code as 5707 is aquamarine but 5607 was metallic.
It’s no doubt the light but this photo on my screen makes it appear too bright blue. That seems more like my 1956 aqua marine metallic was without the metallic.

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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#7 Post by Richard Emerson »

Jesse Benedict wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 3:18 pm Thanks David,

I will be in contact!

I am just worried because I have seen more of these turn out almost gray looking where as yours look more like the untouched areas of mine, a deep blue. Maybe someone needs to slap me and say its lighting. It is 5707 non metallic aquamarine listed on the Kardex. Here is the example I have seen the most examples of and it matches, I feel, more of the Glasurit code but again I think a little too gray. Its a beautiful color either way I'm sure once its on the vehicle it will also change some as well.

Jesse
I agree from that photo it looks too gray. Again photos and lights can be deceiving.

Jesse Benedict
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#8 Post by Jesse Benedict »

Richard,

That color looks awesome on your speedster! Do you know which paint they used or how they matched it?

Jesse

Richard Emerson wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 5:27 pm My 1958 Speedster In aquamarine blue just got painted and matched. It’s a color that varies in photos though so need to see in person.

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Jesse Benedict
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#9 Post by Richard Emerson »

For our matching on the speedster, we found original unexposed paint behind the ID plate we removed (a prior owner had repainted the car in aquamarine blue metallic).


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Nanette Reid
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#10 Post by Nanette Reid »

I had a local Glasurit paint shop make me a 21x17cm example - it certainly gave me an idea of the colour and how it changes in the light!

Took a few quick iPhone shots today - shows the swatch under different conditions and also a couple of shots of an actual 57A painted in Aquamarine Blue under sun and cloud. My 59 is this colour originally and I'm really looking forward to restoring and having her resprayed. Took almost 25 years before I saw a car in the flesh in this colour - as rare as hens' teeth here in AUS!!

Image 6389 shows the original paint under my car's door rubbers and the swatch - pretty good match when seen in person, looks a little grey in the photo (note it's not polished and just turned 60 years old!)

Hope these help - great colour, good luck!
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Joris Koning
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#11 Post by Joris Koning »

Personally I really feel that when it comes to paint if you really want an accurate match you need to find an unexposed piece of original paint and have that matched by a talented (not just computer) paint matcher. The chemical composition of paint changes over time so old formulas might not necessarily yield the same outcome when used now. That said, good luck matching especially the old single stage metallics. I have discussed this topic with some of the best in the business (Dave DiMaria etc.) and it is a daunting task which, given the changed composition of paints, will never be "exact"

Now to really open a can of worms, let's discuss the black dipped engine sheet metal
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Jesse Benedict
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#12 Post by Jesse Benedict »

Wow! Its amazing how complex this color is in lighting!

Your samples Nanette show how much it changes perfectly! Great Color! I think my next step is to polish up a few places and roll it out in the sunlight to compare and match to the original. Given the variance of the paint, I should be able to get a very close match with all of the input on here it should be pretty damn close! It makes me wonder also if the factory had any variance also depending on the guy mixing the paint that month or day?

The spot under the door rubber looks to be the largest area to shine up and match to, I looked under the tag like yours Richard and its there but matches the door sill. As you can see plenty of rust and time till it gets painted but need this nailed down before it gets erased by the media blasting.

I hope the engine colors are a bit more simple Joris! ;)

Thanks for all the help! I will update once I get this spot cleaned up and a new sample made!
Attachments
large spot under the door sill rubber,Original Aquamarine Blue 5707
large spot under the door sill rubber,Original Aquamarine Blue 5707
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Jesse Benedict
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Richard Emerson
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Re: 1958 Aquamarine paint question

#13 Post by Richard Emerson »

That’s awesome Jesse that you have the original paint to match. As you stated, it’s a great color - I find it better than the metallic version, with either interior color red (which I have) or tan. We tried not to use s clear coat but the paint separates so a slight percentage was needed

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