50 Shades of…….RED?

[Superbee Sean]

So it’s getting close to “pick the color” time on my 68 Super Bee restoration……. I think I’m gonna go back with the original color of Red. No fender tag on this car, so the only true indicators of the original paint are in places like the door jams and windshield channels. It appears that this car was NOT PP-1 Red. It is Much lighter / brighter than the PP1 red, which is a dark red. This is like the #33-1 Bright Red / Charger Red or Corporate Red (which all look the same to me). Windshield channels and door jams don’t lie…..been out of the sun and weather since new. My question is……was this color available for the Coronet / Super Bee in 68? The car is on the SB register, it’s a true Bee. I just have never seen this color on any other 68 Super Bee’s…….I have seen a few in the PP1 Red and that is wayyy darker than what I have. Appreciate anyone sharing their insight……

 

[WileE]

It could be bright red or corporate red, a car could be ordered in an alternate shade back then. Too bad you don't have the fender tag, have you searched for the broadcast sheet ? It may be a unique ordered car, possibly. ( then again, it could just be another one of those factory OOPS ! jobs )

 

[YY1]

Kind of looks like PP1 red to me.

1968 Dodge

 

[Superbee Sean]

Kind of looks like PP1 red to me.

1968 Dodge

The picture doesn’t do it justice (and the lighting in my garage) doesn’t really show how much lighter it is. Trust me…..wayyy lighter than the PP1 Red.

 

[Superbee Sean]

It could be bright red or corporate red, a car could be ordered in an alternate shade back then. Too bad you don't have the fender tag, have you searched for the broadcast sheet ? It may be a unique ordered car, possibly. ( then again, it could just be another one of those factory OOPS ! jobs )

The broadcast sheet I found (under the springs of the back seat) was for a 68 Road Runner….ugh!!!

 

[WileE]

What plant was the car built in ?

 

[69Coronetrt]

So it’s getting close to “pick the color” time on my 68 Super Bee restoration……. I think I’m gonna go back with the original color of Red. No fender tag on this car, so the only true indicators of the original paint are in places like the door jams and windshield channels. It appears that this car was NOT PP-1 Red. It is Much lighter / brighter than the PP1 red, which is a dark red. This is like the #33-1 Bright Red / Charger Red or Corporate Red (which all look the same to me). Windshield channels and door jams don’t lie…..been out of the sun and weather since new. My question is……was this color available for the Coronet / Super Bee in 68? The car is on the SB register, it’s a true Bee. I just have never seen this color on any other 68 Super Bee’s…….I have seen a few in the PP1 Red and that is wayyy darker than what I have. Appreciate anyone sharing their insight……

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Maybe....

Let's work through it.

Since 33-1 was a mid year release, if your car was built before the release, it could not be 33-1. You don't have a tag for the SPD but we can get relatively close to an estimated SPD by your VIN. If you don't want to post the VIN in the open, send it via PM. If your car was built, say, August - February, we know it could not have come with 33-1 as that color wasn't released yet.

I can't find any documentation that 33-1 was ever released for Coronets nor do I have any 33-1 Coronets on file. Does't mean it wasn't. I just can't find any documentation that shows it was.

I'm also not saying your car wasn't pained that color but if it was built say, April - July in 33-1, it would have had to be a 999 special pant order. While plausible and possible, the odds are still low. Given that the only plant that built Chargers and Coronets for MY 1969 was St. Louis, that means that plant would have had a reason to have 33-1 on site. The Lynch Road or LA plants would not have a compelling reason to even have the color on site other than for special paint cars. This concept does not eliminate the possibility of the car being painted but it is a factor in lowering the odds.

Since you do not have a fender tag or broadcast sheet, it will be difficult to explain or document what color the car was painted regardless of the color.

 

[R413]

Were 68 super bees introduced later in the year, not at the start?

1968 first digit of the SO number will tell you what plant car was from, so will the VIN so see if those match and no VIN swap was done. Kind of a good check for 1969 cars.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

This is just a pet peeve of mine, and I haven't had enough coffee yet. 1968 and earlier paint codes are just one character. Eg. P or 3 etc.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Wen't 68 super bees introduced later in the year, not at the start?

1968 first digit of the SO number will tell you what plant car was from, so will the VIN so see if those match and no VIN swap was done. Kind of a good check for 1969 cars.

Good point. I forgot to consider that.

How does the first digit of the SO tell you the plant?

 

[Superbee Sean]

What plant was the car built in ?

Lynch Road

 

[Superbee Sean]

What plant was the car built in ?

“A” code in the VIN……..Lynch Road

 

[Superbee Sean]

Maybe....

Let's work through it.

Since 33-1 was a mid year release, if your car was built before the release, it could not be 33-1. You don't have a tag for the SPD but we can get relatively close to an estimated SPD by your VIN. If you don't want to post the VIN in the open, send it via PM. If your car was built, say, August - February, we know it could not have come with 33-1 as that color wasn't released yet.

I can't find any documentation that 33-1 was ever released for Coronets nor do I have any 33-1 Coronets on file. Does't mean it wasn't. I just can't find any documentation that shows it was.

I'm also not saying your car wasn't pained that color but if it was built say, April - July in 33-1, it would have had to be a 999 special pant order. While plausible and possible, the odds are still low. Given that the only plant that built Chargers and Coronets for MY 1969 was St. Louis, that means that plant would have had a reason to have 33-1 on site. The Lynch Road or LA plants would not have a compelling reason to even have the color on site other than for special paint cars. This concept does not eliminate the possibility of the car being painted but it is a factor in lowering the odds.

Since you do not have a fender tag or broadcast sheet, it will be difficult to explain or document what color the car was painted regardless of the color.

A lot of great info there sir!! I will reply on this one later tonight!! Awesome and thanks!!

 

[Speedbird]

In my experience if you just go and "ask" for the paint in the factory code you want it will not be the same shade as your car was.
The only way to try and duplicate it with today's formulations is a sample match of the car's original in unfaded paint .(Red is one of the worst to fade)
That MAY work depending what paint line you use
So pick your poison.

 

[eldubb440]

just pick one of the greens and let'er rip

 

[R413]

Good point. I forgot to consider that.

How does the first digit of the SO tell you the plant?

The 9 character number stamped in the body has:
Plant
Year
Body type
Then the 6 digit so number

Not the six digit number on the fender tag

 

[MarkLevi]

The 9 character number stamped in the body has:
Plant
Year
Body type
Then the 6 digit so number

Not the six digit number on the fender tag VIN tag

I believe this is what you meant? S.O. (not VIN) is on fender tag in '68

 

[Runcharger]

I don't know what that colour was called but my friend Frank's 68 R.R. was that colour as well. I know that's no help. I would just match paint samples of modern formulas to the door jam.

 

[WileE]

What plant was the car built in ?

Since 33-1 was a mid year release, if your car was built before the release, it could not be 33-1. If your car was built, say, August - February, we know it could not have come with 33-1 as that color wasn't released yet.

I can't find any documentation that 33-1 was ever released for Coronets nor do I have any 33-1 Coronets on file. Does't mean it wasn't. I just can't find any documentation that shows it was.

I'm also not saying your car wasn't pained that color but if it was built say, April - July in 33-1, it would have had to be a 999 special pant order. While plausible and possible, the odds are still low. Given that the only plant that built Chargers and Coronets for MY 1969 was St. Louis, that means that plant would have had a reason to have 33-1 on site. The Lynch Road or LA plants would not have a compelling reason to even have the color on site other than for special paint cars. This concept does not eliminate the possibility of the car being painted but it is a factor in lowering the odds.

Since you do not have a fender tag or broadcast sheet, it will be difficult to explain or document what color the car was painted regardless of the color.

Lynch Road

Pieces of a puzzle.

 

[R413]

I believe this is what you meant? S.O. (not VIN) is on fender tag in '68

Yes it is, and on the body stamps there are 3 characters in front of the 6 digit SO number