jjpish68

So I am still deciding what color I am going to paint my 1982. It originally is Charcoal Grey with Red interior.

I spent the afternoon walking around the inlet in Ocean City yesterday during Cruisers Weekend trying to find "the color". Unfortunatley there was a lot of black, blue and red... Nothing jumped out and said "I'm the one".

I was thinking black or a real dark blue, but I think a dark charcoal might look good. Since my paint is so badly in need of a redo I would like to see some that are looking as they should.

Thanks
Joe

CQRT

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-pictures.html

tailskid

I love that charcoal color but you can never Go wrong black!

gbvette62

Here's a shot of my 81 Charcoal Gray 81. It's a Bowling Green car and has the Slate Gray leather interior.

donnie1956

Look at the Harley Davidson paint. I they call it Gunmetal gray.
https://colorrite.com/product/harley...-gray-1981.cfm

larryg3

here are a couple pictures of mine. it is a bowling green charcoal with charcoal interior

Mod75

Old color of car, just repainted it blue.
Not Charcoal Grey but close, Steel city gray ( 1975 Buick pewter ).

bluegtp

See my signature...it's not a charcoal grey it's medium spiral grey metallic. (msg) Factory C5 color

Other colors I was back and forth on was the C4 blue steel color (google it, beautiful) or I can't remember the name but it the medium charcoal color that comes on the newer dodge pickup truck....very nice when the sun hits it.

gbvette62

If your looking for a different Charcoal, stop by your local Caddy dealer.

The Cadillac CTS has a very nice Charcoal Gray, called Thunder Gray ChromaFlair. It's a very pretty Gray, with quit a bit of metallic flake in it. A Thunder Gray 81 would still have a stock look, and yet still be different than other Charcoal Gray 81-82's.

jjpish68

Thank You for the ideas. I appreciate the detail in the colors. I will start searching and stopping by some dealerships and writing down the colors I like. I have not seen too many Charcoal grey C3s which is making me think I need to stick to the original or at least a variation of it.

Thanks
Joe

gbvette62

Charcoal Gray was only offered in 81 and 82. There were 3,485 Charcoal cars built at St. Louis in 81, and 1,093 Charcoal 82's built.

There were also Charcoal Gray 81's built at Bowling Green, but there are no production numbers for them. Of the 8,995 Corvettes built at Bowling Green in 81, about 3,600 were painted one of the 7 solid colors offered. The majority of Bowling Green 81's were painted one of the 4 two-tone combinations. I would guess that less then 1,000 Charcoal Gray 81's came out of Bowling Green. Total 81 and 82 Charcoal Gray production, was probably around 5,000-5,500 cars.

Steel Cities Gray was offered in 71 and 72. There were 1,591 Steel Cities 71's and 2,346 72's. Though Steel Cities is a variation of charcoal gray, when painted properly, it does have a green tint to it. I think that Steel Cities is one of the prettiest colors ever offered on a Corvette, but then I am a fan of charcoal gray.

Overall, there have been fewer than 10,000 factory built Charcoal Gray 68-82 Corvettes ever built.

Laguna Gray was offered in 70, and though it is a good looking color, it really is more of a dark silver, than a charcoal gray.

jjpish68

Thank You gbvette, definatley food for thought...

The more I look at my car the more I like the original color. I guess it is the mess up front that is throwing me off and of course that little voice in my head saying "paint ain't cheap so you better make the right choice..."

This is what I have now, looks awesome from the back...front not so much.

First two Pictures from the original owner, not my mess in the backround.....

jjpish68

Hey Larry g that is sharp looking. Very Nice!

tyler77

Redwing01

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...cs-thread.html

moose8793

Awesome color choice Your car looks great!

iokepakai

Check out this thread from a few years back.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...you-think.html
I'm planning on using that color for my 76.It's a Ford color Tungsten Grey code T8.Was used on the Ford GT supercar.Looks great with Gunmetal colored wheels.This was one of my favorite Vettes on the forum.It was in an accident and was sold,anybody know if it was repaired and put back on the street?http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...e-wrecked.html That was one awesome Vette.....

jjpish68

Thank You, I like that!!!

MuzkGuy

Laguna Grey:

jjpish68

Laguna Grey - Very Nice!!!