After searching for answers to this question here at this forum and elsewhere I never found anything about the original 1977 black paint being something other than ordinary gloss black.

My newly acquired '77 is very faded on the front and hood but the sides and T-Tops show it has small metal flakes in sunlight. Not the flashy show car kind just enough to see up close. I didn't even notice until washing and waxing the car, helping the appearance a little anyway.

I learned about the reintroduction of Black (code 19L) paint for 1977, lacking that color choice since 1969, yet nothing about any of the paints ever being of the metal flake variety. Or maybe all paints had a tiny bit of that...?

Chances of this car being an old repaint can only be guessed at by me, however I've heard the original paint wasn't always perfect. My car shows what I think would be called orange peel or bubbling and chipping (on upper portions except T-Tops, not sides). There's also some places showing a red paint in the passenger door jamb area and underneath back bumper. Repairs or primer? I can't decide, not knowing much about car body paint.

Can someone confirm original paint was (tiny) metal flake or not?

 

If memory serves, 77 factory black was non-metallic.

 

My low mile original black '77 did not have metallic in it.

 

My black 77 is also non-metallic. My guess is your car was originally red or some other color.

 

have you done a full vin # check

 

Regular old GM Black - Bought my '77 new - still have it - No metal flake -

Frank

 

The VIN check I did from vinalert.com (had paid for 5 a few years ago) only shows the title changed a few times and everything reportable (stolen, salvaged, etc.), which was a list of dozens of things, showed all okay.

I got to thinking about the idea of primer paint again, realizing this is fiberglass and not a metal body car so maybe that's not applicable at all in this case.

After going over the car with camera in hand I made pictures of all the places showing red under the black. Also wanted to try and show what this paint looks like.





Emblems and metal flake, no red found on front end of car as seen upper left of hood edge. Center extremely faded gas tank emblem, upper right is hood emblem.





Red seam where rear bumper meets body, underside of bumper and back window weather stripping.





Upper left shows the passenger door jamb ahead of rear wheel, lower left is driver side back corner T-Top showing both a yellow or orange together with a little red. Right side is top of drivers door where a little red shows in the chipping paint too.

Another curiosity is the gas tank cover emblem, which I had been reading about here in the forums that should be the same as the hood emblem yet different from side emblems. I had to examine it closely, picture doesn't really show, to see it matches the side emblems instead. In other words, the last column of black and white checkers is white, black, white. There is just enough black remaining on it to see in person when looking from different angles.

My sig (if it is visible) tells that this car has an early 1980's differential, told of by someone after they looked at my other pictures, so I don't know what else could be changed from original.

Body plate says 19L paint and 722 (red) interior and it is still riveted on. If it's possible to replace only the back half of the car that would be news to me... everything is for now. Oh, and the back bumper CORVETTE emblem is gone and a tiny bit of red is seen in the mounting holes too.

Thanks for the responses! I figured plain black would be more likely but knowing how metal flake became so common in the 1970's I wasn't sure if they used that at the factory.

 

19L was gloss but non-metallic. Here it is on my '77:

 

Metallic paint was big in the 80s also, lots of one day paint places had every color you could think of in it. Old repaint

Black looks best plain ol black!

 

Brian, that's a fine example of a '77 you've got.

I see it's an early one because of the security key switch on the fender, mine would be at the door. Only recently, very recently, discovered I have the alarm horn on the firewall next to steering column but I doubt it does anything anymore. My car's interior is either falling apart or was pulled apart, just got power window switches put back the way they're supposed to be today.

If you have functional power steering, headlights, etc. that must be a sweet ride.

 

Fully functioning (including the alarm) and for sale. It was a 2nd week of Feb 77 build. I'm embracing my aging bones and going back to my first love and what filled the garage prior to fiberglass: Detroit steel from the 60s. Massive V8s, high compression, 9' rear fenders, etc. I've really enjoyed the 15 years I've owned it but it's time to pass along the enjoyment.

 

Can't blame you, I was at a car show Saturday and was getting envious of those 60's cars after my 50 mile drive without A/C in the 100+ heat.
My attention was mostly drawn to the big bench seat cars but just about any of them looked easier to get in and out than how I've been crouching to get into my car. Been using the door latch striker to help lift myself out and drop back in.

I might get a nicer C3 someday after enough time with my deteriorated one. Best of luck with your sell.

 

'64 Olds 88 'Vert.