[396 SS/RS]

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.

 

[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.

 

[396 SS/RS]

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.

This one of mine was never white. I haven't a clue how it ended up Ash Gold.