My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

[Pat M.]

My local painter and I had a lot of trouble finding the correct paint combination to reproduce the greenish-silver paint found on the wheels of 70s. And when I searched the archives, usually what I found was "add (some mystery amount) of medium green to argent silver". Trying that in different amounts never worked for me.
I also tried OEM's rattle cans, but that color didn't look right to me either.
Eventually my painter thought he had the right combo after shooting a test panel. But when he put that formula in rattle cans for me to use, it oddly changed the tone to almost a light blue. So I recently had him shoot my wheels for me himself, and I think the color is perfect, which I wanted to share.
The first picture shows what I believe to be an original wheel. The next picture shows how my wheel came out.
The next pic gives a comparison of a wheel with straight argent silver, by a wheel with the rattle can paint that came out kinda blue, and then the final correct color.
Here's the exact PPG formula my painter used, which is pretty complex and confusing (to me, anyway ) :

Brand Code: 5471 Main Layer
Mixing Scheme: Deltron 2000 (DBC)

SKU Desc. Inc. (part) Cum. (part)

DMD 649 Clear 152.7 152.7
DMD 1687 Med. Alum. 360.4 513.1
PRL 93 Gold Pearl 53.3 566.4
DMD 641 Yellow 21.3 587.7
DMD 691 Black 12.4 600.1
DMD 646 Weak White 4.9 605.0
PRL 91 Green Pearl 4.9 609.9
DMD 1693 Green 3.8 613.7
DBX 1689 Clear 418.5 1032.2

I'm sure there are other (and probably more simple) formulas, but this worked for me.

[Joe L.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

My local painter and I had a lot of trouble finding the correct paint combination to reproduce the greenish-silver paint found on the wheels of 70s. And when I searched the archives, usually what I found was "add (some mystery amount) of medium green to argent silver". Trying that in different amounts never worked for me.
I also tried OEM's rattle cans, but that color didn't look right to me either.
Eventually my painter thought he had the right combo after shooting a test panel. But when he put that formula in rattle cans for me to use, it oddly changed the tone to almost a light blue. So I recently had him shoot my wheels for me himself, and I think the color is perfect, which I wanted to share.
The first picture shows what I believe to be an original wheel. The next picture shows how my wheel came out.
The next pic gives a comparison of a wheel with straight argent silver, by a wheel with the rattle can paint that came out kinda blue, and then the final correct color.
Here's the exact PPG formula my painter used, which is pretty complex and confusing (to me, anyway ) :

Brand Code: 5471 Main Layer
Mixing Scheme: Deltron 2000 (DBC)

SKU Desc. Inc. (part) Cum. (part)

DMD 649 Clear 152.7 152.7
DMD 1687 Med. Alum. 360.4 513.1
PRL 93 Gold Pearl 53.3 566.4
DMD 641 Yellow 21.3 587.7
DMD 691 Black 12.4 600.1
DMD 646 Weak White 4.9 605.0
PRL 91 Green Pearl 4.9 609.9
DMD 1693 Green 3.8 613.7
DBX 1689 Clear 418.5 1032.2

I'm sure there are other (and probably more simple) formulas, but this worked for me.

Pat------

I realize that the subtleties of the "greenish hue" found on 68-70 wheels are difficult to portray accurately in a digital photo. However, the "greenish hue" in your finished wheel (the second photo) appears a little bit "intense" to me. In any event, I'd say it's close enough and it will fade with time and UV exposure.

Attached are photos of wheels I painted several years ago with the Quanta "greenish hue" wheel paint (no longer available, I understand). I think this paint is very close to original based upon comparison with known-original wheels in unfaded condition.

[Pat M.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Hi Joe. You're right, my green hue probably is a bit stronger than original. But, when the trim rings and center caps are on, it tones it down just a tad to my eyes. So, I found if the paint was not this green, I could hardly see any green hue at all on a dressed wheel - which defeated the entire exercise.
Also, the tone is a bit more subtle in person, and from different angles. And finally, as you said, I wanted to leave a little room for natural fading.
It's not absolutely perfect, but it's much closer to other paints I've seen in person, in my opinion.

[Alan S.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Hi Pat,
I'm not at all qualified to comment on the tone and hue (green/red color blind).
I do thank you though, for all your investigation, experimentation and then reporting. I'm pleased to see so many people continuing to put such detailed effort into the 70-72 cars.
It's so interesting to hear what people are finding and doing while they're working on their cars.
Regards,
Alan

[Pat M.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Hi Pat,
I'm not at all qualified to comment on the tone and hue (green/red color blind).
I do thank you though, for all your investigation, experimentation and then reporting. I'm pleased to see so many people continuing to put such detailed effort into the 70-72 cars.
It's so interesting to hear what people are finding and doing while they're working on their cars.
Regards,
Alan

It's my pleasure, Alan. I felt frustrated when I couldn't reproduce this color to my satisfaction, and I was also a little surprised that I couldn't find a detailed formula for me to try to do so.
So, when I did find a formula and method I thought resulted in an accurate color, I knew I had to share it, and have it preserved in the archives, for our members who've always been so generous to me.

[John D.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Joe, The term argent silver appears to be a loosely used term. On the FI oil filler tubes from 57 to 62 I found a rattle can that has a fair amount of green tint to it and the judges and car owners love it. So I use it. But do I think it is correct? NO. Do I think it is the real deal? NO. The shade of green I spray on looks identical to the nice green tinted wheel above.
Plasti-kote GM 7203.
Real deal argent silver does not have any green to it. If it does it is very very subtle. The green tint may be hobbiest created. I don't know.
I bought every spray can of argent silver I have ever heard of. Anytime someones advertise it I buy it and so far none have any green tint to them. John D.

[Jeff P.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Thank you all gentlemen. I will give Pats formula a shot and post results. Jeff

[Dick W.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Joe, The term argent silver appears to be a loosely used term. On the FI oil filler tubes from 57 to 62 I found a rattle can that has a fair amount of green tint to it and the judges and car owners love it. So I use it. But do I think it is correct? NO. Do I think it is the real deal? NO. The shade of green I spray on looks identical to the nice green tinted wheel above.
Plasti-kote GM 7203.
Real deal argent silver does not have any green to it. If it does it is very very subtle. The green tint may be hobbiest created. I don't know.
I bought every spray can of argent silver I have ever heard of. Anytime someones advertise it I buy it and so far none have any green tint to them. John D.

ChePhart, ya better stick to fuel infestation work. The original wheels for the early C-3's had a slight greenish hue.

[Joe L.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

ChePhart, ya better stick to fuel infestation work. The original wheels for the early C-3's had a slight greenish hue.

Dick------


Definitely. The area under the center caps of my original 1969 wheels still showed the slight greenish tint even after 40 years. The more-or-less "unprotected" portion on the rest of the wheel face had faded out, though.

[Tim S.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

I just discovered the original spare to my 70. This has never been on the ground thus no UV damage. The green hue is definite. After cleaning, the appearance is dirtier than the standard Argent. I am going to experiment a little with some left over green paint I had fron the Eastwood Cad system and dust it in. If I come up with something satisfactory to match the original, I'll give an update.

Tim

[Henry S.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

Dick------


Definitely. The area under the center caps of my original 1969 wheels still showed the slight greenish tint even after 40 years. The more-or-less "unprotected" portion on the rest of the wheel face had faded out, though.

Joe,
I know over years the green tint/formula on rallys changed, do you know if 67 and 68 would be the same as you found on your 69? Thought since rallys were introduced in 67 the first couple years they would be the same. Thanks.

[John D.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

ChePhart, ya better stick to fuel infestation work. The original wheels for the early C-3's had a slight greenish hue.

Once again while poor old JD was working quite hard at a Carlisle show he gets slammed by old DW.
Rememberthe last good Corvette was a C2. Meanwhile all those C1 oil filler tubes I dip in green krylon sure do turn on the judges you know.
But they ain't right.!!!

[Cecil L.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

I always thought that Argent Silver was an industrial paint used in many automotive and industrial equipment applications and made by various suppliers thus the variation in tone. The early Cushman motor scoooters used an industrial silver paint on the blocks, wheels and engine covers that had a slight greenish hue, as did 61 409 valve covers, some chevy oil filler tubes and some John Deere tractor parts.

[John H.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

GM Styling had about five different shades of Argent Silver; I remember seeing a panel display in the Color Studio in the late 60's, with "warm silver", "cool silver", and three others, whose names I don't recall. The guys in the Color Studio could tell the subtle differences, but I don't think many other folks could.

[Dick W.]

Re: My Formula for Greenish-Silver Wheel Paint

.
Rememberthe last good Corvette was a C2.

Did they make a Corvette before 1968 ChePhart??