Tuxedo Black vs. "Black" or "Jet Black" Paint - '63 Convt.

[Douglas C.]

All

Trying to decide how to paint my '63 convt. (which is probably still a year out). I'm leaning towards using single stage urethane, but was wondering if there is a best option for Tuxedo Black. The car is originally black/red with two tops.

Is there anything special about GM's Tuxedo Black or would a generic black (say Eastwoood or Speedokote) or "jet black" be the same? For what its worth, I understand that jet black is a blacker version of just pure black. Not sure if the cost of a custom mix is worth the difference in price.

Just curious what restorer's are using today for Tuxedo Black paint?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

--Doug

[Duke W.]

Re: Tuxedo Black vs. "Black" or "Jet Black" Paint - '63 Convt.

GM black acrylic lacquer, regardless of color name, was the same formula from 1958 to the end of acrylic lacquer use. For example, black acrylic lacquer formula for my '76 Cosworth Vega is the same as your '63 Corvette. Ditzler sold it as "factory pack", that is, no need for lacquer mixing equipment. It was mixed at the factory. I don't recall the number but maybe someone else will.

Changing to differente paint technology often results in some color shift from the old acrylic lacquer, but if you give the Ditzler, Dupont, or RM, number to a knowledgeable paint supplier, they should be able to provide you with something very close, or since this color was so commonly used for over two decades, they may know what you mean by just saying fifties to seventies GM black exterior acrylic lacquer.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Tuxedo Black vs. "Black" or "Jet Black" Paint - '63 Convt.

...found my quart of PPG (Ditzler) Duracryl black acrylic lacquer for GM cars. The "factory pack" number is DDL 9300.

I'm not sure if PPG still offers acrylic lacquer, but any paint manufacturer should be able to cross this number into current technology paints that will yield as close to the original color as they can offer.

Duke

[Gary B.]

Re: Tuxedo Black vs. "Black" or "Jet Black" Paint - '63 Convt.

For completeness sake, there is a previous thread which indicates there were two formulas for black paint used on Corvettes in the 1960s.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?128979-C2-Black-Lacquer-Paint-DDL-9248-vs-DDL-9300

[Douglas C.]

Re: Tuxedo Black vs. "Black" or "Jet Black" Paint - '63 Convt.

Thanks Duke and Gary for the comments. I'll look into the Urethane equivalent for the factory pack number. It'll be interesting to see what's available in a different paint type. I'm a DIY'er and have been spraying the car with 2K Urethane primer using a 5-stage Fuji turbine with some degree of success, which is why I'm leaning towards sticking with the Urethane. I'm also concerned about he long term durability of modern day lacquer paint.