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1974 Orange paint code

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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 10:36 AM
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Default 1974 Orange paint code

I have a question about my paint code. My car is a code 80 for paint, which is suppose to be Corvette Orange. I ordered the paint chip sheet and when I got it there were 2 different orange colors on it, one was a much lighter bright orange and the other was a darker metalic orange. The darker orange is listed as code 80 on my paint sheet, but all of the 1974 Corvettes I've seen in orange are the lighter color. The lighter one is listed as GM orange. Did they offer 2 different oranges on the Corvettes or is my paint chip sheet incorrect? If anyone who has an orange 74 could let me know if there paint code is 80 and if it is light or darker I would appreciate it. I'm getting ready to get mine painted and want to know what color is correct. Thanks
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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 10:57 AM
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I think that in 1974 there was only one orange paint code - code 980 called 'corvette orange'.
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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 11:41 AM
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Catalog of Corvette ID numbers says Code 980 is "Orange Metallic"
Corvette buyers guide says Code 980 is "Corvette Orange". All 73-74 colors are 3 digits.75-76 are 2 digit and code 70 is "Orange Flame". Code 80 is listed as "Corvette Tan" for 77'. Now you're really confused.
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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 12:03 PM
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Maybe it was 980, I'll check when I get home in another hour. I know it's listed as the "Corvette Orange" so it must be 980, that or my car is really screwed up. Thanks for the help, I'll post when I double check the paint code.
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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 01:27 PM
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My code says 80L for my paint. Any ideas?
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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by orange74
My code says 80L for my paint. Any ideas?
80 Corvette Orange L for "lower" although upper and lower colors are the same.

Try the link below. If memory serves 74 Orange is not a metallic color.

http://www.corvettepaintcodes.com/

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Old Jul 24, 2006 | 03:50 PM
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Default Agree, Corvette Orange was a

non-metallic color. My '74 'vert was originally this color and I saw a '75 'vert of the same shade (an original low mileage car on display in the Bowling Green museum a few years back). I'll check my trim tag but I'm sure its L80 or 980 (I think 980). I ran across an original paint chip chart and they break out the Corvette colors at the bottom but some shades are not unique to just the 'vette so you could be seeing another shade of orange used on other chevy cars on the paint chip chart you're looking at (if its not a GM produced one and one from a paint mfg).
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Old Jul 25, 2006 | 12:37 PM
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...1974 "Corvette Orange Metallic" was indeed a "metallic" paint...at least the "original" 32yr old St. Louis paint on my 1974 is. The 1977 Corvette Orange has NO METALLIC to it, so it appears slightly darker. 1974 Corvette Orange Metallic was known as one of the "FireMist" colors that year along with Silver, Medium Red, Medium Blue, Brown, Dark Green & Grey. The '75/'76 Flame Orange was a non-metallic color and it has more red in it.

The paint code for this color is "80L" similar to all the other '74 paint codes. Two digits followed by the letter "L".

Last edited by Paul Borowski; Jul 25, 2006 at 12:40 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2006 | 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
...1974 "Corvette Orange Metallic" was indeed a "metallic" paint...at least the "original" 32yr old St. Louis paint on my 1974 is. The 1977 Corvette Orange has NO METALLIC to it, so it appears slightly darker. 1974 Corvette Orange Metallic was known as one of the "FireMist" colors that year along with Silver, Medium Red, Medium Blue, Brown, Dark Green & Grey. The '75/'76 Flame Orange was a non-metallic color and it has more red in it.

The paint code for this color is "80L" similar to all the other '74 paint codes. Two digits followed by the letter "L".
I stand corrected. Paul's the Man.
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