1972 GS Droptop - What is the right color ??

[BuickManiac]

Hello again,

My 1972 GS350 Convertible has a black top on it now. The original owner had it put on a year before I bought it.
I would like to put the original top back on the car.
I have a print out from Sloan Museum and the Code is "MM5"
M = Burnish Copper Exterior
M = Saddle Interior
5 = Sandalwood Top???

On my bill of sale in the box that says "TOP". It has the letters "IT".

Which color below would be close to what I need.
Or should I try and find another supplier for the right color.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Bert
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I went to the Yearone website and the Tops that are available are;

[flynbuick]

Sales Code 5 convert. top = Dark Green

And Sales code M color in 1972 = Burnished copper.

Therefore you cowl tag should say Pnt 63.

[bignastyGS]

In the chassis manual...Sales code M is #63 Burnished Copper Sales code 5 is for a convertible is Covert (or a sorta neutral color top) I will tell you this...In 72 there were only 99 verts with a covert top...That is from the Sloan Daily car reports.

[flynbuick]

Pat perhaps th top code changed over time. I know in 70 a 5 was Dark green.

[BuickManiac]

Hi Jim,

I'm the second owner and had the car repainted when I bought it.
The body trim plate code 63 - Burnish Copper
On the sheet I received from Sloan.

B = Stratomist Blu
C = Arctic White
D = Crystal Blue
F = Seamist Green
H = Heritage Green
I = Hunter Green
J = Sandalwood
M = Burnished Copper
Q = Cortez Gold
R = Fire Red
T = Cascade Blue
U = Antique Gold
V = Silver Mist
Y = Sunburst Yellow
Z = Flame Orange

Also on my Original Sale Invoice it has code # 63 in the Color box.
I hope this information helps.
Thanks, Bert

[BuickManiac]

In the chassis manual...Sales code M is #63 Burnished Copper Sales code 5 is for a convertible is Covert (or a sorta neutral color top) I will tell you this...In 72 there were only 99 verts with a covert top...That is from the Sloan Daily car reports.

Hi Pat,

Thank you for the GREAT information.
As I have never seen another Buick with my color combination.
From the three samples I posted.
What would be the closest color?
Beige??
Thanks again,
Bert

[bignastyGS]

To tell you thre truth Bert I have only seen 1 car with a covert top but it was a Hardtop.I would suggest sending Duane Heckman a pm and show him your choices.He goes by Duane on here.It has been so long since I have seen it that I would not want to take a guess as to the correct color as it would only be a guess.I have the 72 Sloan daily car reports for hardtops and verts and can tell you how many cars were built with each option if you need to know that.
Pat

[Duane]

Bert,
All I can tell you is a covert top was a light beige color, I never had any original samples of it, and can't help with your color match choices. Maybe someone here has a piece they can send you.
Duane

[BuickManiac]

Bert,
All I can tell you is a covert top was a light beige color, I never had any original samples of it, and can't help with your color match choices. Maybe someone here has a piece they can send you.
Duane

Pat & Duane,
You guys are awesome!!! :TU:

A few years ago before internet wasn't as popular. I got Yearone to send me some samples. I have them in a box somewhere in my garage. I will look for them tonight when I get home from work.
I tried for years to get someone to tell me what the color really was for my conv. I now have a place to start.
If you hear of anyone that was that color combination. Please let me know.
I will let you guys know what I come up with.
Many Thanks!!
Bert

[TimR]

I will tell you this...In 72 there were only 99 verts with a covert top...That is from the Sloan Daily car reports.

Is that right??? Wow, my 72 had the covert top as well....paint code 65 T. There wasn't much left of my top and its 30+ years old already but of the three samples you posted the beige is the closest match.

And Bert, of all the 72 GS convertibles built, there were 113 that were burnished copper.

Crazy stuff...

later
Tim

[r72gs]

My '72 Color and Trim dealer book has a sample of code 5 and it lists it as Sandlewood. In the body and top color selector. It's a bit darker than the interior sandlewood.

One of my '72's is Burnished Copper, Black top and white interior. Sounds funky but doen't look too bad.

[BuickManiac]

And Bert, of all the 72 GS convertibles built, there were 113 that were burnished copper.

Crazy stuff...

later
Tim

Hi Tim,

FLAME ORANGE!! :TU:
Never seen that color as a Droptop. It will look SWEET when you get it finished.
Is the top on yours the same color as mine should be??
Thank you for the information on how many 1972 Burnished Copper Buicks were made.
How and where do you get the numbers on how many cars were made with what options or colors??
I would love be able to have that info. I have almost every Buick Books available for 1972 Buicks.
Many thanks again,

Bert

[BUQUICK]

My '72 Color and Trim dealer book has a sample of code 5 and it lists it as Sandlewood. In the body and top color selector. It's a bit darker than the interior sandlewood.


Here is a scan of the page from the '72 Color and Trim dealer book. I'm sure the scan will look different on everyone's computer monitors but it at least gives you an idea that it is a tan-beige color as everyone above has described already.

TimR, I also have a '72 Buick that is 65T (Sandlewood paint with Covert vinyl top), mine has Saddle interior.

Interesting note: the color and trim book I have was written in by the dealer when things were updated. You will notice the note in the vinyl top section where they actually glued a sample of dark brown vinyl over the picture of the Tan vinyl and made a note that Tan code 6 was replaced by Brown on 12/20/71. Also the "Exterior Color Combinations Chart" has an "X" over it with a hand written note saying "See inside front page for current combinations, 12-20-71" and on the cover is and updated combination chart with a handwritten note that says 12-20-71, and then there is yet another slightly different updated combination chart that says "revised 1/72". The 2nd update (dated 01/72) is slightly different than the one dated 12-20-71 (it added the Blue and Silver vinyl tops). It also has the Service bulletin with it describing what model would be available with the blue and silver tops. I will scan and post this in another thread so I don't hijack this thread an more than I already have.

[BuickManiac]

Here is a scan of the page from the '72 Color and Trim dealer book. I'm sure the scan will look different on everyone's computer monitors but it at least gives you an idea that it is a tan-beige color as everyone above has described already.

TimR, I also have a '72 Buick that is 65T (Sandlewood paint with Covert vinyl top), mine has Saddle interior.

Hi Gary,

Thank you for taking the time to scan thet page for me.
It does look like a tan-beige color.

Do you have a picture of your '72 Buick?
I would love to see what it looks like.
My email address is buickgs350@sympatico.ca
Thanks again,

Bert
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GSCA - Member #1977

1972 GS350 Conv.
1970 Rivieria GS - Silver
1970 Rivieria - Biege

Past Buicks:
1969 Skylark - My first
1968 GS400 - Modified 455 - Best time 1/4 mile 12.9 @ 102 mph.

[TimR]

Hi Gary, I would love a few pictures of your car as well if you don't mind. ritc1@shaw.ca (this site e-mail links don't seem to be working)

My interior color was saddle as well but I changed it to the off white that 72 had. Not a big fan of saddle...Yeah, yeah I know, but I figure with the time and money and love I'm putting into this car, I am allowed to do that. Easy enough to change back anyway if I ever decide to.

Bert, the color information was shared by Marco who runs the Stage 1 registry. Info is from Sloan. I made a chart that is on my webpage further down. Kinda surprising on the colors actually...

http://members.shaw.ca/orangecrush/body.html

later
Tim

[BuickManiac]

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your website again. I had you listed in my favorites. Then my computer crashed and never found your site again.
We actually met a few years ago. (Phone and internet) I was following your project at the time you were taking the Buick apart.

I saw the section on total of Buicks in Burnished Copper = 113

You wrote:
"Also, GM stated that this car is one of sixty-eight (68!) GS convertibles sold in Canada in 1972."

Was that 68 with Flame Orange or total Convertibles??

Sorry to be a bother.

I live and breathe GS and Buicks in general. An addiction only known by yourself and many others on this page.

Thanks again,
Bert
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:3gears: To be there first is to past someone without been seen!! :TU:

[TimR]

Yup I remember, I think you were looking for that rear defrost piece, weren't you?? Did you ever find it??

The 68 are GS convertibles imported into Canada for 1972, no breakdown for engines or colors. 68 ragtops, period. These would be cars brought in from GM and then seld new at the dealerships across the country.

No bother at all....

later
Tim

[TimR]

TimR, I also have a '72 Buick that is 65T (Sandlewood paint with Covert vinyl top), mine has Saddle interior.


hey Gary, I was just going over this info again and your samples when it struck me, your 65 T car is sandalwood paint?? 65 on the data plate is flame orange....

Or am I misreading something??

Later
Tim

[BUQUICK]

I'm not old but apparently either me eyes are bad or I must be losing my mind... You are right... my 3 '72 Buicks are "50 T", "48 48" & "63 U", not a
"65 T" in the bunch. I need to just keep my mouth shut :Dou: or do a better job of reading posts before I reply. Sorry for the confusion.

[TimR]

Nah, we all knew what you meant. It took us 2 months to see it, anyway!!!LOL

Lots of good info, don't you dare stop posting!!!

later
Tim