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Color Code Error?

912 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  68Conv400HO, 
396 SS/RS
4
36 years ago ('86) I bought an all original loaded Ash Gold '68 396 SS/RS from the original owner. The paint was still in good shape but I wanted to repaint it since my dad owned a paint and body shop as I had intentions of showing it on a regular basis. The color code per the POP and CT was C2 (Ermine White) but the car was actually painted G2 (Ash Gold). The owner stated that Ash Gold was the original color and I basically took it down to the metal in prep for painting and there was no remnants of there ever being any white paint beneath the Ash Gold. Tony Young who was a lifelong family friend and vary knowledgeable Camaro man who also owned a '69 427 COPO car (as well many other rare Camaro's) and my dad assumed it was a paint shop factory error.

This car has a very interesting story (at least to me) as to how it was acquired as the original owner said it was built as an "GM executive car" and it took him a while to get the sale finalized. I need to write it up and post it sometime.

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fairfax1000
396 SS/RS said:
36 years ago ('86) I bought an all original loaded Ash Gold '68 396 SS/RS from the original owner. The paint was still in good shape but I wanted to repaint it since my dad owned a paint and body shop as I had intentions of showing it on a regular basis. The color code per the POP and CT was C2 (Ermine White) but the car was actually painted G2 (Ash Gold). The owner stated that Ash Gold was the original color and I basically took it down to the metal in prep for painting and there was no remnants of there ever being any white paint beneath the Ash Gold. Tony Young who was a lifelong family friend and vary knowledgeable Camaro man who also owned a '69 427 COPO car (as well many other rare Camaro's) and my dad assumed it was a paint shop factory error.

This car has a very interesting story (at least to me) as to how it was acquired as the original owner said it was built as an "GM executive car" and it took him a while to get the sale finalized. I need to write it up and post it sometime.
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The error could be attributed to pushing the wrong button or checking the wrong box after a 3 martini lunch. Someone dictating to someone entering information—g and c sound the same. My car was ordered parchment interior, came standard blue.
That’s what makes your car different.
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396 SS/RS
I agree, that typo has always haunted me but I in fact know it was originally Ash Gold since I went down to the metal and saw behind the trim panels. Another uniqueness with the car.
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3forme
I think there were errors for different reasons and then concessions by buyers and their dealer. C and G
are close visually-no telling the reason
I am, since 1992, also the second owner of a 67. Mine is a convertible that the OO ordered with a black top.
It has its original top and its white. The foreign distributors order form says black (ordered while in the service) but delivery papers say white.
The cars have to go somewhere when the ordering party says, "that's not what I ordered". You are fortunate to be the 2nd owner, that is a beautiful car.
In my case the OO said after owning it he realized black may have been too hot, so it worked out for him
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fairfax1000
396 SS/RS said:
I agree, that typo has always haunted me but I in fact know it was originally Ash Gold since I went down to the metal and saw behind the trim panels. Another uniqueness with the car.
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If I’m reading this correctly, it appears the car sat on the lot for 5-6 weeks before it was sold. It could be the dealer noted the discrepancy during the PDI, then notified GM, and corporate wouldn’t let the car be sold until given the ok due to the wrong info/color. Whatcha think?
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Coincidentally, a recent discussion on the 1st Generation Firebird website had a similar mystery with '68 Firebird. In that case the body had been already shot with the Verdoro Green as stamped on the trim tag and repainted blue within the factory before completing assembly.

See: Body Tag/VIN numbers don't match

Perhaps the orders got changed or commandeered for a different order early in the production process.
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fairfax1000
68Conv400HO said:
Coincidentally, a recent discussion on the 1st Generation Firebird website had a similar mystery with '68 Firebird. In that case the body had been already shot with the Verdoro Green as stamped on the trim tag and repainted blue within the factory before completing assembly.

See: Body Tag/VIN numbers don't match

Perhaps the orders got changed or commandeered for a different order early in the production process.
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That’s a good read there. My hypothesis is the paint was damaged enough at some point to be rerouted for repaint. And there was a car or 2 in front or rear that were already being painted blue.
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396 SS/RS
68Conv400HO said:
Coincidentally, a recent discussion on the 1st Generation Firebird website had a similar mystery with '68 Firebird. In that case the body had been already shot with the Verdoro Green as stamped on the trim tag and repainted blue within the factory before completing assembly.

See: Body Tag/VIN numbers don't match

Perhaps the orders got changed or commandeered for a different order early in the production process.
Click to expand...
This one of mine was never white. I haven't a clue how it ended up Ash Gold.
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396 SS/RS said:
This one of mine was never white. I haven't a clue how it ended up Ash Gold.
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It just shows that significant build order changes sometimes occurred after the Fischer plant started production. And, they did not go back and change the original stampings to reflect the new orders. In your case, the body had not been painted yet. In the Firebird example, it had.
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