I'm taking in on trade a base 85 TA WS6 hardtop with about 150k on it. Its supposedly repainted in the original hue, which to me looks like 88 Medium Orange Metallic/4th gen Sunset Orange Metallic.

Was Copper Metallic in 85 the same color? Cool color...hacked car The paint job is gorgeous, but it has an LS1 WS6 style hood, a "355 circle track" motor that feels slower than my L98 despite the owner's 400hp claim, and it has a built 700R4 with ridicukously high shift points and firmness.

Needless to say, this is the first third gen trade-in I've had that I didn't buy for myself

 

Jason, I believe that's the Russet Metallic (69)? I don't see Copper metallic specifically listed in the 1985 Pontiac documents. My book shows there was two different shades of Russet Metallic used in 1985 on the Pontiac side as the Trans Am's version is slightly different shade.

Not sure how to tell if it's the same color as Medium Orange? I have the color charts but not yet for the Camaro side.

Any pictures to post?

 

I don't know if this helps you for the Camaro side JT: http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipcrea...amaro&ret=code

I have also come across copper being referred to russet, but for for Canadian cars.

As far as the copper goes, I have an '85 copper Camaro and it isn't anything like sunset metallic. It's more of a brownish color with a hue of pink. Albeit mine is faded some. The interior colors would really clash with SOM if I painted it that color.

 

No, they are very different.

 

Well, this sure looks like SOM to me...here's a couple pics I snapped of it before he took off. To me, there is no way this is an 85 color then...the jambs and under the hood were so worn, dirty and faded it was hard to tell what color they were originally...





As I've said before, my dad has an SOM '02 Formula...this looks like SOM to me...

 

Looks like a nice car, but i'm not feeling that paint at all. So Jason-the guy is trading it in to the dealer then? On what?

 

I don't know if the helps or not (especially since monitors aren't all that accurate) but here is a thread on Copper Thirdgens with images. >Link

 

That looks pretty close to the color of my 1988 formula. RPO code U63, WA8748, medium metallic orange.

 

Wow that hood fits like crap.

 

Man, that'd be a nice car if it weren't for the aftermarket 4th gen hood! I can deal with the base model rear spoiler, but the hood just kills it IMO. Definitely looks like SOM though. Very popular color to change older GM cars to.

 

Jason, considering variables (monitor, camera, etc.) it does not look far off from the color chip for Russet Metallic in 1985 as it does appear to have some orange tint to it. The Lt. Chestnut aero was available for that color combo.

This should not to be confused with color used on the 1987 GTA that is also commonly called Russet as that's more of a brown with a different RPO and different name from GM (Dark Brown Metallic).

 

At this point, he is keeping it to sell on his own. He's buying a new SRT 392 Challenger...the payment on this sucker makes me cringe personally, but he's all for it. Its a gorgeous car he's picked out...a white 6 speed with red stripes.

I felt like I was on one of those pawn shop reality shows as we talked about the trade. First he wanted $10,000...then it was $8,000...then it was $6,000 (mind you, in the real world, trade negotiations NEVER go like this...). I explained to him how I sold 2 mint third gen TAs this past Spring, both quickly and for good money...but they were the opposite of this car. They were perfect, low-mile, stock examples, not high mileage modded cars of questionable origin.

After we got down to $4,000 on the trade, I offered him $2,500. I'd estimate the real value of this car to be $5,000 retail, so I figured I would buy it from us personally and take the risk of flipping it to make some $$$ on the side. This is the polar opposite of a third gen I'd want for myself. Between the mystery motor, obnoxiously-built tranny, complete lack of creature comforts, no A/C, and a hood that isn't even close to fitting right, there is a lot to fix on it.

He passed on the trade offer...I don't really blame him.

 

It is primarily orange, hence my curiosity. I saw one other one years ago for sale online that was chestnut trimmed, and the color appeared to be very similar to this one.

It sure looks SOM to me, but the link someone posted above with the faded Z28? It looks like a shiny version of that car, too! We may never know...

 

Yeah, I'm not into high paymants myself, but to each his own. Alot of people just don't get that modded cars don't sell all that easy unless you want to give them away. Also you can't take a 27 year old modded car to a dealer and try to get over retail for it or even close-wow he was smoking something LOL! I'm sure he will sell it as long as he does not try to ask crazy money for it, but it seems that may be the case.

 

Here's a copper '85...

 

^^^Car has to be SOM then. The jambs look like faded versions of that car...

 

I have a copper car, which you can see here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...9-gapeach.html

 

^^^Now that there looks just like the T/A in question.

Really though, considering picture quality, monitor settings, lighting, paint fade, factory paint variances, painter technique, etc... I don't think we'll ever really know.

 

Right. Let me tell you how my 85 Camaro got to look that way. It is a Copper/Russet code 85, and it had just been buffed which made a HUGE difference, and the morning sun made the paint look MUCH brighter and SOM than it really is. I can promise you that Copper/Russet is NOT SOM or medium orange, because if it was, I wouldn't want to repaint the car. In fact, at an AACA meet, most people called it BROWN because it was overcast that day. The Copper/Russet color car looks very different depending on the light. I am considering repainting it SOM/Medium Orange/Corvette Bronze. Any Corvette Bronze thirdgens out there? I'd love to see it. Regarding the 85TA, I believe on the show The Office, the Dwight Schrute character drives a copper/russet TA, at least to my eye. I remember those cars from back in the day, and I liked them then.

 

I think your car looks great as copper, it's a cool looking color that is not seen often. I love the uncommon copper interiors too.

I always thought Dwight's car was dark red met.

 

I always thought Dwight's car was dark red met.[/QUOTE]

It is. It's an 87 GtA.

 

85 Camaros had two Russet paints.. the early 85 Z-28s had a higher metallic lacquer (68L)with a very heavy clearcoat and the other a lower metallic acrylic (68A).

I believe the firebirds were the same. The basic model camaros had no metallic and were acrylic (68)

 

In 1985 that car is paint code 69U Russet Met / W Lt Chestnut Aero