I had my car repainted last year and the only thing I told the paint shop was the RPO code 74U, I know now that there are two different codes for 74U depending on the year. What's the difference? Is it a different shade or is it really the same thing?

The reason I ask is because I want to have my doors redone due to some waviness, but I'm unsure what code they used.

 

From 1987 & 1988 The WA number is 8748
in 1989 9535

Scott has the Flame Metallic Red on his 1987 IROC, We had this conversation a while back about the differences in color... he may know better than me.

John

 

The 89 color seems to be a slightly deeper red. My neighbor has an 89 and mine is an 87 and his color is not the same as mine. Your painter probably used 74 for your year, not just 74. I'm sure most painters try to match the color for your year as they know the shades might change from year to year.

 

One thing I do know from painting a few cars, the primer color will change the color of the top color...

John

 

Yep, I do believe the red oxide primer is best for this color. Unfortunately my painter used the light grey primer and I can see light spots when the sun hits it just right. I may end up repainting the whole thing, minus the bumpers and gfx since they seem to look okay.


I won't be using the same painter.

 

i love the flame red color, i'm painting mine soon. glad i found someone who could suggest the color primer that would be best!

 

Most paint systems primers have a sealer thats used between primer and paint to help keep the primer colors from bleeding thru. Of course not all painters can lay down paint properly. Ive seen 3-4 factory flame red met cars and they all seem to be a diff shade.

 

Grey primer is the standard for a red base coat. My car is 75U RED. When I did my engine bay I shot it with grey feather fill G2 and dupont 75U blaze red on top. Its a perfect match. Shades can also change with how your gun throws met. If its not perfectly mixed you will see a different shade.

 

I guess you should also note that all cars from the factory had the same color primers for any particular year. The Medium Gray is what I tend to remember.

Some cars I have seen where the original primer on the front "Doghouse" and the back of the car were different, Many older cars the front clip was primed Black IIRC,, and then shipped to be assembled on the car. The back of the car was painted Gray... Of course it could have been the other way around, my memory is a bit vague.

Ultimately the front clip and the back of the car did not match in all cases.

John

 

Old thread:

89 IROC, RPO 74Q and 74U. 74Q=Flame Red Metallic GFX and 74U=Victory Red Body. Pretty sure they should both be same, right?

 

There was no Victory Red. It was either Bright Red or Dark Red Metallic. Pontiac referred to the Dark Red as Flame Red. Victory red is bright red. Code 74 is Dark Red Metallic.

 

Code 74 Victory Red is a 2005-09 Corvette color...

 

I am pretty sure my car is flame red, but the RPO decoder says Victory. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

If you have a Camaro, you do not have "Flame Red". You have Dark Red Metallic. Which RPO decoder says Victory Red? Most RPO decoders use the 1991 code specs which are wrong in so many areas. Lower stripe colors are almost always incorrect because of this.

 

It might be our current RPO Decoder (the one that we're working toward replacing) as 74U does show Victory Red (91).

 

Just an FYI to everyone posting Color RPO codes... The first two numbers are the only important portion of the RPO for determining color... IE 74 = The Red color... U = Upper, L = Lower P = Wheels, etc...

In 1991 & 1992, the "Chevrolet Passenger car color Chart" called #74 "Flame Red Metallic"


John