I am trying to find out the original color of my car.

My RPO sticker is missing from the console. I don't have a paint sticker on the driver's door. I DO have a thin, riveted tag on the core support under the hood that has a 12 (underlined) and then a 6965.

Does the 12 mean it was Silver Metallic? The car is red now, seems to be close to the flame red color, but its a repaint from some other time and place. I can't find any significant color spots anywhere under the interior pieces or anywhere else that indicates it was repainted a different color from stock.

I searched this site pretty heavily, and someone did mention that riveted tag under hood to give a two digit paint code. if that's true, then Silver is what it is.

Anybody got any better data than that to help a guy out?

Thanks!

You can pull off one the back panels or your sails and see what color is under there,that would give you an idea of what color the car was originally.Then you can go from their!!!

Kris, I believe you're right. My 88 has 10 on that rad support tag and it was white originally.

Well, I popped some of the panels again in the interior, I guess the color could be silver, or some sort of gray. I thought it was just bare metal before, I didn't realize that it would be painted body color under all of that.

Does anyone know for sure about that tag under the hood?

For correctness, should the strut towers and firewall be body color or black? Mine are blacked out right now, but maybe they did when they put the different color from stock?

The whole engine bay would be the same color as the body.As far as that plate,I thought that was only used up until 84 or 85,then thy started to put the RPO list in the console,I could be wrong,but I'm almost positive.A pic of the plate would help.
Try this,http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7...1988%26rows=50

Ok, here's a picture of the tag in question. I sure hope that the RPO sticker (which I don't have) isn't the only way to find out the original color of the car. I seriously doubt that there is a build sheet left inside the car, but you never know, I might get lucky someday and find it. I have to tear out the console soon to change both damaged rubber shift boots, so maybe I'll find it.

Anyone know what the data on the above tag means?

I don't think that's a paint code plate.The 12 is a paint code for silver(WA8535)but in 88 for Fire bird their were 2 codes for Silver, 12 and 13s(WA9021) and neither match the four nos.that your showing.And whitegold88 is saying that his code is 10 for the White he had,but the code for White in 88 for the Fire Bird is 4O(8554).So, I don't know what that plate is for,my 86 TA didn't have one of those plates.Maybe someone on here can help you out with that plate.

The debate goes on, I believe this was a trim tag for plant use while on the line be fore the RPO codes were used. I may be wrong but this is one of the more likely things I have heard; was for trim identification.

So if that's what the tag is, then the 12 would most likely be the color, and then the other numbers tell trim options...

Ripping into the interior deeper does reveal some silver-ish or gray colors in the underneath everywhere. I really did just think it was bare metal so I just dismissed it in the beginning.

That plate is not your trim options!!!trim options usually have two nos,and a letter(U=Upper) (L=Lower).In your case,if your primary color was Silver,you would have a (12U).

You can call GM with the vin# they can tell you what color the car came with.

Really? I never heard of that on an old car before. I'll see what I can search out to figure out that option.

Yes, Ive had to do it numerous times on cars that are missing the sticker.

Would you happen to have the good number on hand to call? It would save me a lot of time for sure.

Thanks for chiming in, by the way!

I don't think GM does anything for Pontiac owners!!You may have to go here
http://phs-online.com/order.htm.

http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7...hs-online.com/
this one has the no. to call

No problem, i usually just call the local dealership for whatever brand of car Im painting.

Like I said could be wrong, but it was not meant for the consumer, it was for the assembly line workers.

Thanks for all the help, guys!

With the gas tank out, I keep finding silver-ish or grey-ish paint everywhere.

I guess that part of the mystery is solved. I'd still like to know if that riveted tag told the paint shop what color to program the computer with as the bare body went down the line.