Racer C3

I picked up a 74 for Xmas and I want to paint it orange. It seems the orange on C3's varied quite a bit throughout the years. Can anyone tell me what the orange was like in 74? Was it dark - light, flat - metallic, pearl or burnt, etc. Pictures would be great!

Thanks a million.

Alan 71

Hi RC6,
I'm thinking you had to go pick it up because Santa couldn't get it up on the roof and down the chimney?!
Regards,
Alan

Racer C3

That's funny, Alan. I'd have gone to the ends of the earth to get it. I've been having a blast.

dannyman

Here; check it out!

Youtube search for '1974 corvette'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whi2FElLzjA

beige79

Not sure of the shades of orange, but it looks like there were several different ones between 74 & 77:

74 - "Corvette Orange" - paint code 80

75 & 76 - "Flame Orange" - paint code of 70

77 - Another "Corvette Orange" - paint code of 66

I just found these on-line, so I am not certain that they are correct. Unfortunately, no color samples were included.

Racer C3

Dannyman, I've seen that video a hundred times before and I really love that car. Wish I knew if the paint is original. Thanks for posting the video.

(I suppose I could try contacting the owner via YouTube.)

GREGG-73

Code 980 for 74 was the same as 73. There was no flat, no burnt, no light, no dark, and absolutly no pearl. Yes it did have metallic.

Do you want to paint it back to its original color, or are you shopping hues of orange?

I always found the 73 Orange very nice...see below.







Stay in tune...

beige79

Here are some samples, but I don't think you will be able to tell much from photos. Depends a lot on the photographer.

1974 - Corvette Orange - 80


1975 - 1976 - Flame Orange - 70


1977 - Could not find

Racer C3

I'm shopping for a nice orange and wondered what the 74 orange was like. This photo of a 74 looks like the car a friend of mine had back in the early 80's. For my taste it's too faded looking. My car was not originally orange - so I'm not trying to go back to the original, I'd just like it to be a beautiful orange, and wondering if the original 74 color would fit the bill. Thanks a million to everyone for your thoughts, photos, knowledge, videos, etc.

Racer C3

Gregg-73, that's a gorgeous car. Thanks for posting.

Racer C3

beige 79, I like the color in that first photo. But you're right, lighting conditions and such make cars look different. Thanks so much for posting.

GREGG-73

Dodge has a Orange...I don't know its paint code but you can google away. A neighbor down the street has a Magnum...I think, looks like a late model station wagon to me. Anyway, when the sun hits that car it radiates all the way up and on to the the windows of my home.

If, I ever have another car that I am looking to repaint and not concerned about being the original color...I know what I will be looking for....check it out!!!!!!!!!!

Stay in tune....

Bric

Here's my 76 'Flame Orange'..... Matter of fact on the tank sheet it is listed as 'Flame Red'. Would like to see another 75-76 tank sheet to possibly confirm mine.

Racer C3

That's a beautiful car Bric.

Paul Borowski

...this is an original paint 1974 Code 80 coupe.

...I've also studied that the 1977 Orange was virtually IDENTICAL except that the '77 Orange was "flat" and did not have the fine gold dust metallic in it that the '73/'74 code '80 cars had.

beige79

When I was looking, I did see one site that listed the color as "Flame Red" - others had "Flame Orange." Doesn't really look red to me, but who knows?

Racer C3

Thank you so much Paul. This car doesn't look faded like the one in the photo I posted.

Racer C3

The owner of the car in the video answered me and this is what he said:

The car was delivered in Corvette orange 980, but has been repainted in the same color.
A useful site for you can be - http://www.alarid.com/history/specs/74.htm
Here you can find all the specifications for your car.
Success with your paint job of this fabulous Vette!!

Thanks again for sending the video link Dannyman.