Potomac Gray Paint

[1955CJ-5]

Does anyone have a modern paint number for the PPG-30604 "Potomac Gray"??

 We tried a Spectramaster code that was provided by RyanM but thought it was a little too yellow....

Thanks!

Randy.

[1955CJ-5]

So I just finally went to the paint store and compared current PPG chips to the 51 Willys Potomac Gray and picked a gray that I like.....took a pint to the painter and he will try it and see what we get... ....

[ZekeD]

Go for it!   Hope it is exactly what you need.   If so, please post the info, as I too want a grey navy jeep.

Zeke

[Ryan_M]

I recently remembered I have an original fender out in the shed. During my rebuild, it was deemed too rough to repair so I replaced it with a donor fender and promptly forgot about it.

A few days ago I scraped back the top layer of paint to expose some original Potomac Gray. I tried matching it up to my Jeep now and it's tough to tell how close it is. The new color does seems more yellow in some lighting conditions and dead-on in others. The clearcoat on the new paint job is deceiving as the old paint is more flat.

I wish I had been more involved with my paint guy to test colors etc but I pretty much trusted him to get it right (one of many mistakes I made in that arena...).

Not sure if my original colored fender will help you at all. I don't know if I could take it to a paint store, have them try to color match, and send you the paint code or maybe even scrape some of the paint off and send to you?

I'm still kind of curious myself as some day I would like to eventually get the right color if I don't have it already. Let me know if I can help if you haven't committed to a something already.

[1955CJ-5]

Thanks Ryan, I really appreciate you offer....

I think the only way to get a really good match would be with an example of the original paint, and someone with an excellent eye for color who is willing to take the time to mix and remix until the color matches. I did that once with a local paint shop and it took them all day and it was expensive, and it still wasn't perfect, but it was close.

Even the folks at the paint store refer to their color match camera (a Prophet II) as a hit or miss, and lately they say it's been missing more than hitting....

But I think I've found what I am going to use. PPG urethane, easily duplicated, and flattened to a satin finish.....

But we'll see how it sprays out tomorrow...

And for what it's worth, I restored a 59 MG and trusted the painter to match "Old English White"..well, he got pretty close and it looks very good...but, I too wish I had been more involved....

[Matto]

Here's a link to a Willys paint chart on Ebay. I bought one for my 54 3B and had Nasson match the color. It blended in very well with the original paint still on the firewall. I never did get my dang paint chart back though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1946-1947-1948-1949-1950-1951-WILLYS-JEEP-CJ-2A-3A-TRUCKS-PAINT-CHIPS-DITZLER-/271284684189?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item3f29d3c59d&vxp=mtr

[1955CJ-5]

Thanks Matto...the paint store has the chips, it's just that the mix codes are no longer valid..they could do a custom mix and match the chip, but each gallon would have to be matched separately and they may not match each other....I'll go in the morning and see what the options are....

[macrisel]

When they mix the paint for you, ask them to write the "recipe" on the side of the can.  Any good shop should be willing to list the individual colors and volume of each that make up the mix.  That way, you would have the list for future use.

Even better, though more expensive, is to buy all your paint at the same time....at least your basecoat.  If you are planning on painting the entire jeep (inside, outside and underneath everything) I would get at least two gallons of basecoat.  It will all be mixed at the same time so everything will match and you will have plenty left over for either touchups or a partial repaint if you get into a fender bender later.  Be careful and seal the can well, store it in a dry place where it won't freeze and you can keep the extra for quite some time.

To find a good paint supplier, go to several good, privately owned body shops or hot rod shops and see who they use.  They should be able to point you in the right direction.

[1955CJ-5]

Thanks Mark,

I went to the paint store again this morning...looked at lots of chips, and found a Ford gray from 1972...a special order color...that matches the Potomac gray chip almost exactly.

We discussed quantity, and two gallons is the number everyone recommends, so thanks for the verification!

And it's funny that you should mention the formula....it's not on the sample can but I'll be sure to ask about it next time...

He wants to paint tomorrow, the tub is prepped, taped and ready so I need to make a decision!!

Randy

[ZekeD]

good on you!    we all are rooting for you on this one.

Zd

[1955CJ-5]

Well, now that I've seen a close match to Potomac Gray, I'm not sure if I like it!!

The two Potomac gray mixes in the upper right and left. The bottom is the PPG Light gray.....

Woe is me....

[SteveW]

That was the hardest decision I have made on my jeep was the paint color. I was set on Pickett Gray and did all the research I could on getting it right but just didn't want it to be that color when it came right down to it. What color I wanted was a very hard choice and I usually don't have that problem. I finally made my pick and it is done. Not an original color but it's my jeep and that is the end of it.

[1955CJ-5]

That was the hardest decision I have made on my jeep was the paint color. I was set on Pickett Gray and did all the research I could on getting it right but just didn't want it to be that color when it came right down to it. What color I wanted was a very hard choice and I usually don't have that problem. I finally made my pick and it is done. Not an original color but it's my jeep and that is the end of it.

I'm thinking that this will turn out the same way.....

It was Luzon Red from the factory....the only thing for sure is that I don't want red.....

[F Bill]

Now you have me wondering which gray my 47 is.. I am a fan of gray but I have to admit sometimes I wonder why.

Once in a while I think "that looks like a buffed out primer job".  Other times, I think grey is a classy color.

[1955CJ-5]

Maybe that is why the Potomac gray really isn't all that gray, at least the samples I have don't seem that gray. The potomac seems to have a lot of greens and yellows. If I lay the card against a white background, it looks like a light gray, if I put it next to the darker ppg gray card, it looks a little green-gray.

It might look really nice on the jeep....

But once it's there , it's there for good...