[hotrodrx]

We are getting close to putting some paint on my 67 conv. project. I am leaning toward Montreux Blue. Yesterday, I spent some time at the paint jobber researching and found that this color was discontinued and referred to a newer year color. Does anyone have the formula for Montreux Blue? Also, the formula for Tyrol Blue. I'm probably going to use PPG. He can make up what I need, but I want to start with the original color if possible. Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill

[paint guy]

It is entirely possible that the new color that supercedes the Montroux blue is almost exactly the same, or so close that would be barely discernable. When colors are computer-matched, there is something called a "Delta-E" factor, which is really an expression of color differences broken down to a numerical average. (Light-dark, red-green, blue-yellow,etc.) If the Delta-E comes out at .5 or less, this is considered an "automotive-match", and if the differences in the two colors is less than that, the older formula may have been deleted in favor of the new. Also, the pigments used 30-40 years ago to make the old blue may (and probably) not be available anymore, hence the reason for the updated color. Point is, the old formula may not even be published anymore, and even if it was, it couldn't be made exactly as it was back then because those raw materials are not available anymore. Just to put it in perspective, if you painted a car with the original Montroux Blue, and parked it along side a car painted with the updated color, and the Delta-E was less than .5 or so, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. As another point of reference, when you get paint from the hardware store and they squirt in the tint into each gallon, I doubt if that method comes out any closer that a Delta-E of 2 or so. (the lower the number, the closer the match.) Hope this helps. Good luck with your project.

[hotrodrx]

I sincerely appreciate the clarification. Being a little shade deficient doesn't help and looking under fluorescent lighting doesn't help either. I am going to get several colors mixed up and spray them on the underside and rotate it upside down and make my decision. I really like that basic color but want it deep and metallic if this makes any sense at all. Once again, thanks. Bill

[lrosen]

My car was sprayed in Sherwin Williams. The painters used my original paint chip sheet and my body matches the chip pretty much dead on. But that doesn't mean it would mach an original paint car. Even if you found a car with it's original paint, it would no longer match the original color after so many years.

Without another car the same color to park side-by-side, who would be able to tell the slight difference?

I get plenty of compliments on my color:

[hotrodrx]

That turns heads in my opinion. Does it have some metallic in it?

[GT182]

Hotrod, here are the paint color numbers from the 64-72 GTO Restoration guide for Montreux Blue. These might help a paint shop get a closer match.
I'm sure they can add all the metallic you want.

Body Plate Code D

Pontiac-Tempest paint color numbers:

DuPont: 4815-L

Ditzler: 13349

Rinshed-Mason: A-1899