Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

[Tom R.]

In revising the 73/74 manual, the exterior section references paint codes and the introduction of L. The L was used and departs from the three-digit paint codes used through 73. Seems I recall the Chevrolet used the alpha codes for lower, upper and middle during the solid axle years as well as with late model C3s. Prior to our revision, and since the manual was first published, the view was the possibility that the L referred to a new type of acrylic lacquer.

So a few questions to update this section of manual revision:

What is known about the use of the alpha codes?

Is there any credence to the view that the L referred to some type of new acrylic lacquer?

[Paul B.]

Re: Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

Tom, owning my Orange '74 coupe seven years before I joined NCRS and having the broadcast sheet found a few days after I bought the car in May of '89, I always thought the "80L" was for lower, as it says right on the original broadcast sheet, halfway down on the right hand side "80L LOWER ORANGE", next line down says "80U UPPER ORANGE". Had an NCRS Judge tell me at the car's first showing the "L" stood for leather(which it does have). Think he marked it "not typical factory production).LMAO.....

[Tom R.]

Re: Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

Paul

Thanks for reminding me of the significance of the GMAD manifest (buildsheet) in documenting build options. After your post, I reviewed my inventory of buildsheets and learned something new. The letter codes continued through the end of St Louis production (1981) but 1978 provided the most interesting use of the alpha codes, now included in the 73/74 manual as reference.

In addition to using L and U for example with 80L (orange lower) and 80U (orange upper) in years 1974-1977, production expanded the use of those in 1978. So B2Z silver anniversary called out 13L, 13U and 07M on the manifest. In 1978, the M and U were used on trim tags while L, M and U were called out on the buildsheet (manifest) to denote the B2Z silver anniversary paint scheme (13U/07M) and Pace Car (19U/47M) paint schemes. The B2Z option on the buildsheet listed 13L (SILVER-LWR) and 13U (SILVER-UPR) while 07M called out the GRAY MIDDLE description.

We see a similar application with the Pace Car and its 19U/47M code. So the M code denoted the unique extra paint scheme that differentiated these 25th-anniversary models from the coupes that was listed on both the trim tag and the manifest.

[Edward M.]

Re: Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

Tom;

As Paul indicated, the L, M and U are LOWER, MIDDLE, and UPPER respectively.

I have those changes in my comments on the latest review of the exterior section, I just haven't sent them to you yet.

1974 was the time frame that GM started with two and three tone paint schemes.

The paint codes for 1974 Corvettes are all of the form xxL, where L is LOWER. Single color vehicles used a paint code like this, but as Paul pointed out about his paperwork, the paint codes for LOWER and UPPER will be the same.

I spent a good bit of time researching this very subject about 15 years ago.

Paul, we would love to have a copy of that broadcast sheet for possible use in the revised 73-74 Judging manual.

Ed McComas

[Paul B.]

Re: Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

Tom;

As Paul indicated, the L, M and U are LOWER, MIDDLE, and UPPER respectively.

I have those changes in my comments on the latest review of the exterior section, I just haven't sent them to you yet.

1974 was the time frame that GM started with two and three tone paint schemes.

The paint codes for 1974 Corvettes are all of the form xxL, where L is LOWER. Single color vehicles used a paint code like this, but as Paul pointed out about his paperwork, the paint codes for LOWER and UPPER will be the same.

I spent a good bit of time researching this very subject about 15 years ago.

Paul, we would love to have a copy of that broadcast sheet for possible use in the revised 73-74 Judging manual.

Ed McComas

Ed, I believe I sent it to Tom several years ago. Can send again if it is needed. By the way, you were on the first team I had the car judged at, at the 1996 Corvettes @ Carlisle Regional that was held there that year. Paul Borowski

[Tom R.]

Re: Paint Code Use of L, M & U by Chevrolet

1974 was the time frame that GM started with two and three tone paint schemes.

So that was across the brands...not limited to Corvette? Was there anything else on this topic that would be of interest to the 73/74 reader?

The paint codes for 1974 Corvettes are all of the form xxL, where L is LOWER. Single color vehicles used a paint code like this, but as Paul pointed out about his paperwork, the paint codes for LOWER and UPPER will be the same.

I spent a good bit of time researching this very subject about 15 years ago.

Did you publish it in the Restorer?

Paul, we would love to have a copy of that broadcast sheet for possible use in the revised 73-74 Judging manual.

Ed McComas

Ed, I believe I sent it to Tom several years ago. Can send again if it is needed. By the way, you were on the first team I had the car judged at, at the 1996 Corvettes @ Carlisle Regional that was held there that year. Paul Borowski

Yep! Got it. In fact I looked it at yesterday to confirm. Since I have it scanned, I could crop and add that section. Compared to the many I've looked at its pretty clean.