Recently someone backed into my car. There was a few very small scratches in the back left corner. The other party admitted fault and paid the full estimate of $1255. I took it to a highly recommended body shop, one that has won numerous awards for total restorations of vintage vehicles. I have a 2015, built in early 2015, for the Canadian market.

I understand that over the model years the Gray changed a few times. This is what I found with my research.
2014, Cyber Gray, RPO Code GBV
2015 (my year) and 2016, Shark Gray, RPO Code G1B
2017, some 2018, and some 2019, Watkins Glen Gray, RPO Code G7Q
some 2018 and some 2019 Ceramic Matrix Gray
some 2019, Shadow Gray, RPO Code GJI

My build sheet in my trunk has G1B, consistent with the above chart and what I expected. The shop removed and painted my rear bumper and then informed me that the color did not match to their satisfaction. So they are trying again, on their dime, possibly needing to mix a unique color. They implied that the color information they used was inaccurate.

So does this make sense? Remember that they are redoing it on their dime and I know they know quite well how to paint. Could an early 2015, even though the RPO code says G1B actually be different? Could a Canadian car be different and inconsistent with the RPO code?

 

Ask them how many shades of G1B the paint sample cards have? My guess is they chose the wrong one... or didnt check at all and just ordered G1B from the paint supply house...who also failed to ask "which shade"...

Last time I bought paint for a Jeep, there were 5 shades of the same paint code. Guy at the shop and I spent time deciding which one was correct... Turned out there were TWO shades of the same paint code on the Jeep... We matched to the hood and front fenders but the tub was a different shade. I was spraying aluminum fender flares... Fronts matched, rears didnt...

I wouldnt worry to much about it. Lots of shops woulda just sent it on its way and hoped you didnt notice.

 

There are no shades of a paint code at GM. You may want to ask what brand paint(s) they are using. Has the car been outside where the paint around may have faded slightly? If there has been some fade they should be able spectro the color.

 

There was a book about this a few years ago.

It was called " 50 shades of Gray "

There is no difference in the specific gray color between a Canadian build and a U.S. build car.

Unlike the difference in Canadian beer versus U.S. beer, or as it's known up here as .... flavoured water.

Good thing you have taken your car to a good shop.

They will make it right.

 

I'm not questioning the shop because I don't know them. But paint is not paint. Production paint shops want to work fast to get the car out the door and make room for the next job (just like production mechanical repair shops). But, to think that taking paint out of the can for a '15 car (or even a '19) is gonna match without doing some form of off car paint test on a paint panel as well as computer checking the actual on-car color is a bit odd to me. And now it's going to cost them time, which is money, to get it right. That much, getting it right and telling you about it, is a good thing on them for even bothering to tell you. Good luck. I hope it all turns out well.

 

They are absolutely correct. My 16 Z51 black paint code had 20 some variations. Some very dark, some more milky black and so on. Took my buddy at the shop 9 mixes to get the right variation for touch up paint. Be glad you found a shop that cares so much.

 

Yup to get it right there is always a variation. When I had my C6 torch red fender repainted my guy shot 6 different test panels until it was a dead match. If your blending into the next panel it is not as bad. But if your doing a individual panel it takes some work.

 

I'm just surprised OP's shop didn't do test sprays. I've worked at a collision shop back when I was going to college. I've mixed a lot of paint, almost always ran into at least a handful of variations. We used to pop off the gas door (assuming it was OEM painted) and used that under bright lights in the booth to match our spray samples.

 

On my 2015 Impala, there are multiple shades of the same GM paint code for the dark gray color. Holding the various paint chips up to the car and picking the right one worked for the shop that did a touch up on my car.

 

Compared to the IPA's (and double IPA's) I drink your best as well as our macro brew beer is flavored water.

 

 

Here is an update. The shop brought in his paint rep and after spraying 25 colors (including all the 6 variants of G1B) they could not match it. The shop only uses one manufacturers paint. So with my permission the sales rep took my Z51 spoiler somewhere (like another paint manufacturer) and they plan to match the color this Monday. Still the shop wants to make it right and not charging me anything extra. The shop is definitely not trying to avoid me, they are communicating frequently.

 

good for you OP.. that's got to be the issue. Why not try and use the paint they KNOW is used by hundreds of shops that matches GM OEM?

and why not spray out before doing the whole job on a Corvette ESPECIALLY??

please keep updating us. I find this whole story very interesting (more because i'm bored out of my mind right now and the weather sucks!!)

 

I too have a 2015 Z-51 in Shark Grey. I just purchased paint and clear to customize some parts in my engine bay. There were several shades and even another name called Fusion Grey that came up when I gave GM my vin number...I have been told by some here on the forum that Fusion Grey and Shark Grey are the same..and you have to just get the shade right for a match...I am not blending or painting any panels...(just some under the hood dress ups)...so hopefully I'll be ok! Best of luck...hope this helps out!

 

LOL... who ever told you that? Maybe not from the factory(of course they are only spraying ONE variant), but from after market paint suppliers there sure as hell is... because NONE of them know the original formula, except whoever the OEM supplier is(rumors of either PPG or Dupont though).

I enter into evidence:

​​​​​​

 

Today's update: The shops' paint rep was able to duplicate the color at whatever facility he went to (In Kentucky). I'm told the rear end of the car will be sprayed today and if minimal wet sanding is required it will be ready at the end of the day. If I find out any details such as what manufacturers paint was an acceptable match I'll post that tomorrow.

 

That, IMO, is to short a time period to get everything done. On that time line I would question the cure time. I am sure they will be baking it in an oven, but just seems like a short period of time to get it all painted, baked, and re-assembled...without rushing something and screwing something up again... Just my thoughts on the timeline.

 

Was ready day after best case, after his paint rep duplicated the color at the paint manufacturer. It's a perfect match! Huge shot out to Georgia Mountain Customs in Jasper GA. The emblem on the back as well as the letters (Corvette) had to be replaced. Now I have the original emblem and need to figure out how to display it. Good problem to have.

Stay safe all............

 

Great work

 

This is an example of why we need actual expertise in the people working on our vehicles.

There's a lot of subtlety to this sort of stuff that the ordinary C7 owner off the street has no reason or need to know.