I'm still green when it comes to bodywork; I'm not sure how or where you get colour-matched paint for classic cars. Eventually, I would like to repaint the whole car, but for now, I'm doing body repairs in sections to avoid getting overwhelmed. How would I go about finding a match for my harvest gold paint and is it possible to get those paints in aerosol cans?
You might be able to find a PPG distributor in your area who has a scanner. Before the internet, I took my car to a PPG dist. who scanned the inside of my glove compartment door to mix up a quart of dash paint. He even gave me the mix code. Fifteen years later I took that quart to another distributor who shook the quart and put it in aerosol cans for me so I could paint my steering column. The paint was a spot on match to the dash.
Your local body shop paint supplier should be able to mix your paint. Either use the paint code on the body tag or have them scan your paint with the color spectrometer. TCP Global is a great source, too. TCP Global owns the Auto Color Library and can mix modern paint to the same colors as the original. I think they can put in spray can, too. You would be better off getting a HVLP gun and small compressor for a better job.
It's been some years, but I used www.automotivetouchup.com for my aerosol spray cans. Make sure you get single stage, or you'll have to buy spray clear, too. I also use TCP Global for some of my paint. Sometimes they are too far from the original color, though. I like to go to my local PPG dealer and they can mix me up any color I need for our Buicks.
Thanks for all the helpful advice. I have a relatively small compressor but plan on getting one that can handle air tools and paint guns no problem. I might call around locally and find someone who can match the paint.
Make sure to get a compressor with a 2 stage pump. Those types of pumps have the capacity to keep up with a spray gun.
