I'm looking for a color match for the headlight housing for a recently purchased '65 912. I'm assuming that it is the same or similar to the '65 356.
Although very worn, it appears to be almost a primer gray color - flat or semi flat.
I did look for past threads and found this from 2009:

Krylon "Stone Gray"
Rustoleum "Light Gray" or "Smoke Gray"
All work well. Buy the satin finish version of either or use a clear satin finish over them.

Anyone have a favorite product to do this?

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

My brother is restoring a very original 65 912, one family owned. Here are some shots.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

I used krylon "aluminum " then clear coated. I'm pleased with the results.

Rich
59 d
Hawaii.

Not sure if this helps but here is a photo of an unrestored headlight bucket from Miss April. I can send you an full pixel shot if helpful. I do not know of a spray paint that replicates this color.

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Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com

Thank you Adam, Richard and Paul - I'll experiment with the paint above. I have the time as the car is going to the metal man to get some rust holes fixed. I'm not going to strip the car completely - just get the worst done for now and then a complete job later - I don't want to get into a full blown resto at this point - a rat-rod sounds like fun for a while.

'65 912 Sunroof

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

Greg, is it a painted dash car? Those are my favorite.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

Not a painted dash - one of the last 65 VINs and is actually registered as a 66. Kind of a fancy 912 with 5 gauges and a sunroof and built at the Porsche factory as opposed to Karmann.
Not matching drivetrain, so anything goes!

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

My '58 T2 Speedsters headlight buckets have been this chrome color forever, but I think it is likely incorrect. Can anyone confirm what the proper color finish should be?
Thank you,
Steve

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I've never spotted a color difference between the sealed beam headlight units in my:

1. 1958 Porsche 356A T2 Cabriolet
2. 1965 Porsche 911 coupé
3. 1966 Volkswagen Type 2

They're all light grey with maybe a slight pinkish cast.

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I have always thought that preA and A had a flat silver finish and B and C had the flat grey finish.

Here's a photo of a pretty unmolested 1955 Speedster (I wasn't trying to get the headlight in the photo).



It looks like the same old light grey to me.

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Follow up - I bought about 10 cans of paint and experimented with matching the 912 buckets. Like Jim, I've observed that the housing color was very similar over the years.
Here's the stuff I settled on - perfect, probably not, but close.
Paint - Valspar Color Radiance - Hazy Stratus - 84507

Since the Valspar is high gloss and the original paint appears to look almost like grey primer, I finished it off with:

Rustoleum Matte Clear

Finished product

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

Looks good to me, Greg! Can't wait to see the newest acquisition.

Mike

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Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe