72 Colors and Tire Size
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 121
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From: Outside Houston Texas
72 Colors and Tire Size
Hello all, I'm new to the forum and had a couple of questions. I am restoring a 72 convertible, or should say have been restoring it for about ten years. :lol: During high school I drove a 65 but somehow my Dad "traded" me for this one. It took me years to realize I got the short end of the deal, no motor, primer gray, etc..... Anyway, the car is now ready for paint and tires. Is there a place I can find pictures of the original paint colors? It was originally Elkhart Green, but I'm thinking red would be nice. I just don't want an orangy red, and can't decide if updating to a current color is a good idea or not. I also have 15" rims and was wondering what the standard tire size typically is. Thanks for the help, I know it's a small question and a matter of personal preference, but in the future I'm sure I'll have plenty of serious questions- once it's on the road I know it will be a whole new ball game. I can't wait, just driving it down the driveway after all those years of waiting was an experience in itself. :chevy
Pro
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 512
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
Hi, Welcome.....Tires are a personal preference but for 15" rims I recommend p255 60 15. Also, a 72 Corvette convertible would look good in any shade of RED :cool:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: absecon nj
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (Darcy Bast)
welcome to the forum and good luck with the 72..im doing a 68 for a friend right now and were doing it in torch red this time ,but i like the elkhardt green myself,its different.and the 255/60/15 would be a good choice for overall driving.i believe jvette73 is elkhardt green heres alink to a green one. http://www.northwestautosales.com/72green.HTM
[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 8:41 PM 5/22/2002]
[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 8:44 PM 5/22/2002]
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Always Shiftin'
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Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
Welcome to CorvetteForum!! I think the Mille Miglia red for 72 was a good color!! :cool: But it might be quite RED enough for you! The newer Torch Red is a color a lot of folks are using.
Good Luck with it!!
Good Luck with it!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
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From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (Gordonm)
I am not a fan of green, but Elkhart Green is very cool! Good luck with the resto, and hang out on this board...a lot of questions answered for free! :cheers:
AC
AC
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (A C)
Mille miglia red is a great color! (you should SEE Gordon's car!). It is a 72 color, so your car will "look" right. :lol: I think the original tire size in 72 was a 70 series tire. The modern equivalent would be close to 225/70 15. They are just a little bit taller and a little bit narrower than some of the other sizes suggested, like 245/60. :) MJ
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 121
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From: Outside Houston Texas
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (A C)
Thanks all, I appreciate the help. I'm leaning toward the Mille M Red. Is it a single stage color, or base and clear? I thought about adding some pearl or flake but I was afraid it would turn out pink. :jester I'd hate to be driving a Barbie car. :lol: Very nice cars all, hopefully one day mine will look that good.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: South San Francisco CA
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
I run 265 60 15s on the rear and 235 60 15s on the front of my '69. They are BFG T/As and I've never had clearance problems.
As for color....why not look aroud when you're driving and see what catches your eye. You just might see a 90's something Dodge Ram truck or 70's something Porsche that has the color you like. Looking a chips in a paint store doesn't always yield the results you are looking for. It's better to actually see the color on the road. Once you find the color, find the year and make of vehicle then you can cross reference the big book the paint store uses and you'll have the exact color you want and the exact color you have already seen.
As for color....why not look aroud when you're driving and see what catches your eye. You just might see a 90's something Dodge Ram truck or 70's something Porsche that has the color you like. Looking a chips in a paint store doesn't always yield the results you are looking for. It's better to actually see the color on the road. Once you find the color, find the year and make of vehicle then you can cross reference the big book the paint store uses and you'll have the exact color you want and the exact color you have already seen.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Outside Houston Texas
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (fontking1a)
Thanks L.A, that's probably what I'll have to do, look at some colors up close. The paint chip for Mille Miglia looks pretty flat on paper. The GM truck colors are kind of nice, I just wasn't sure if people would think I was crazy. :crazy:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
I'm probably one of the few individuals on the forum running stock sized tires- 215R70/15's. Got 'em thru TireRack.
No clearance/rubbing/wandering issues at all.
No clearance/rubbing/wandering issues at all.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
If you want to see a color chip chart, go here: http://autocolorlibrary.com/
Select your year, then Chevrolet and click the search. The 1972 Corvette colors are on the bottom on the chart. Admittedly, you can't get the full effect on a computer screen.
Base/clear is not a different paint. It is a different paint system and drives your methods. You can paint the car with any available paint type and clear coat it or not. No doubt that a clear coat is more survivable in every day driving but you can paint in polyurethane and not clear coat or you could paint it in lacquer and use a lacquer or poly clear coat if you so choose.
Factory tire size was an F70x15 which lays between a 215-70x15 and a 225-70x15. Either size will work just fine. I'm using the 225s.
Select your year, then Chevrolet and click the search. The 1972 Corvette colors are on the bottom on the chart. Admittedly, you can't get the full effect on a computer screen.
Base/clear is not a different paint. It is a different paint system and drives your methods. You can paint the car with any available paint type and clear coat it or not. No doubt that a clear coat is more survivable in every day driving but you can paint in polyurethane and not clear coat or you could paint it in lacquer and use a lacquer or poly clear coat if you so choose.
Factory tire size was an F70x15 which lays between a 215-70x15 and a 225-70x15. Either size will work just fine. I'm using the 225s.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
Glad that you decided to join us. I went with the 245 15's so that I could rotate them and not have to worry about rubbing in front.
[Modified by gdh, 4:26 PM 5/23/2002]
[Modified by gdh, 4:26 PM 5/23/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
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From: Canton GA
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
My 72 is now Torch Red. As for tire size mine are too small only 235/60/R15s..but they came with the car. When its time for new ones I plan on going up to 255s unless I can swing the Torque Thrust II 17" wheels I've been wanting.
The bottom line is, great car...and its yours...make it the way you want it. :cheers:
The bottom line is, great car...and its yours...make it the way you want it. :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,439
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From: Hagerstown MD
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (StingRayPonyGirl)
I'd stick with the Elkhart Green... but I'm a blue/green kind of guy. Of course, if you want your car to look like 472,581 others, you could always opt for Torch Red... :smash:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (zymurgist)
I'd stick with the Elkhart Green... but I'm a blue/green kind of guy. Of course, if you want your car to look like 472,581 others, you could always opt for Torch Red... :smash:
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (zymurgist)
if you want your car to look like 472,581 others, you could always opt for Torch Red... :smash:
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (gerry72)
Yep, I beleive the great 70s color "Ontario Orange" was the most popular choice in 72 (what my car was originally). Red wasn't all that popular in 72 apparently.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
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From: Canada
Re: 72 Colors and Tire Size (ZORA_RULES)
Yep, I beleive the great 70s color "Ontario Orange" was the most popular choice in 72 (what my car was originally). Red wasn't all that popular in 72 apparently.
RPO Exterior Interior Soft Top Production
912 Sunfire Yellow BK-S BK/W 1,543
924 Pewter Silver B-BK-R-S BK/W 1,372
945 Bryar Blue BK BK/W 1,617
946 Elkhart Green BK-S BK/W 4,200
972 Classic White B-BK-R-S BK/W 2,763
973 Mille Miglia Red B-R-S BK/W 2,478
979 Targa Blue B-BK BK/W 3,189
987 Ontario Orange BK-S BK/W 4,891
988 Steel Cities Gray BK-R-S BK/W 2,346
989 War Bonnet Yellow BK-S BK/W 2,550
Abbreviations: B=Blue, BK=Black, L=Leather, R=Red, S=Saddle, V=Vinyl, W=White