50 Shades of…….RED?

[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.

 

[Photon440]

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.

The Super Bee was introduced at the 1968 Detroit Auto Show, which was held mid November.

 

[Superbee Sean]

So my car, from my research, and help from the Super Bee Registry, was built in early July…..VIN WM218A319705. SO #A8W277552……which doesn’t add up in that paint didn’t become available til late that year. It is such a contrast from the PP1 red. I have replaced every common rust filled part that all b bodies have. From all floorboards to 3 out of 4 rails, every crossmember, inner & outer we’d, trunk floors, extensions, both quarters, rockers and inner front fender, shock tower (DS). This has been the one and only rebuild of this car. The paint seems very much original to me, given the state of the car since I have been at this. Even the window posts are still solid and has very clean original paint on them. Want to put her back to original, and PP1 (2 digits as per 1968 color charts, 1st digit roof, 2nd digit body). As John Candy would say….6 bucks and my right nut, that is NOT PP1 Red, it’s Charger Red or Corporate Red, and it’s original…..

 

[R/T Boy 67]

That is about as late in the model year as you're going to get.

 

[Superbee Sean]

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.

Roger, that’s why I am going by the colors that were hidden from the sun and the elements. In all the window channels it is a bright (light) red, way lighter than the PP1 Red, which is a much darker red than what I see…..

 

[Superbee Sean]

That is about as late in the model year as you're going to get.

……..so the Corporate Red was released by then?

 

[Superbee Sean]

S

The Super Bee was introduced at the 1968 Detroit Auto Show, which was held mid November.

o these cars were the knee jerk reaction from Dodge, to counter the Road Runner. Only 7000 give or take were made due to the late introduction. So July was late?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Code 3 is a 1968 model year colour but it is listed as charger red in my book. I don't know anything about corporate red.

 

[WileE]

S

o these cars were the knee jerk reaction from Dodge, to counter the Road Runner. Only 7000 give or take were made due to the late introduction. So July was late?

Yes, that's the end of the production model year run. So, possibly it could be the other 2 reds, although not usually available at that plant. But, never say never in the Mopar world.

 

[MarPar]

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Echo.

 

[Superbee Sean]

Yes, that's the end of the production model year run. So, possibly it could be the other 2 reds, although not usually available at that plant. But, never say never in the Mopar world.

Very odd, right? I was in the Military too long…..I believe what I see, as opposed to what they tell me I see. Ugh!!

 

[Superbee Sean]

Code 3 is a 1968 model year colour but it is listed as charger red in my book. I don't know anything about corporate red.

I’m not nuts, right? There is a big difference between the PP1 red and the other Reds……the PP1 is a dark red(almost maroon)…..I can’t tell the difference between the charger / bright or Corporate red….those all are much lighter that the PP1 red. That’s what I have……a light bright red.

 

[RT68440]

You need to find a PP1 car in person and see what the shade looks like. It’s hard to go just by an old color chip. Here’s a 68’ Coronet that is PP1. It looks pretty bright, assuming that it is indeed PP1. Being a restored HEMI car I would think that it was restored to the fender tag.

 

[Superbee Sean]

You need to find a PP1 car in person and see what the shade looks like. It’s hard to go just by an old color chip. Here’s a 68’ Coronet that is PP1. It looks pretty bright, assuming that it is indeed PP1. Being a restored HEMI car I would think that it was restored to the fender tag.

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Thank you……now I am very confused……. That looks like what I have. The PPG color chart for 1968 is DARK……that car is not dark. I have seen a 68 in PP1 red at Carlisle (only real 68 Bee there (2022 and 2023)……and he swears it is PP1 red and it’s dark (very beautiful car)!! Dark like the color chart……that car looks like Corporate Red or Bright Red, not the PP1 Red. It’s beautiful and that’s the color I believe I have……and want to have. But man oh man…..that doesn’t match the PPG color chart for PP1…..ugh! Thanks for those pics though!!!

 

[RT68440]

Maybe have a little paint mixed of each color and do a small spray out and see which is closer. I agree, there are some pictures of PP1 online that look dark, especially inside and some out in the sun that are bright...it seems to be a tricky color

 

[Kern Dog]

I know a guy that must have sourced his interior parts from numerous companies because everything was a different shade of blue. Dash, headliner, carpet, seats, seat belts, everything. My wife called the car Fifty shades of blue.

 

[69Coronetrt]

So my car, from my research, and help from the Super Bee Registry, was built in early July…..VIN WM218A319705. SO #A8W277552……which doesn’t add up in that paint didn’t become available til late that year.

WM21HA8319705 would have an SPD of about 616 ish (mid June). 1968 LR VINS and SPDs go to at least 346XX and 717. Only tracking one type of make, model or plant limits the number of data points. The more wider the scope, the more data points and stable data.

33-1 was released for the Charger in February The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1968 Dodge PIBs The earliest example I have on file has a March SPD.

Your visual inspections and comparison are noble, interesting and academic as, in the end, there will be no way to document or prove in any manner what color the car was originally painted. Any claim of 33-1 without a tag, BS or window sticker will be a claim out of the ordinary and be viewed as another "car show anecdotal story". It very well could be another shade of red and coded 999 for paint...but that can't be proven with documentation.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Thank you……now I am very confused……. That looks like what I have. The PPG color chart for 1968 is DARK……that car is not dark. I have seen a 68 in PP1 red at Carlisle (only real 68 Bee there (2022 and 2023)……and he swears it is PP1 red and it’s dark (very beautiful car)!! Dark like the color chart……that car looks like Corporate Red or Bright Red, not the PP1 Red. It’s beautiful and that’s the color I believe I have……and want to have. But man oh man…..that doesn’t match the PPG color chart for PP1…..ugh! Thanks for those pics though!!!

What are you calling Corporate red? 331? PP1 or ????

 

[Superbee Sean]

WM21HA8319705 would have an SPD of about 616 ish (mid June). 1968 LR VINS and SPDs go to at least 346XX and 717. Only tracking one type of make, model or plant limits the number of data points. The more wider the scope, the more data points and stable data.

33-1 was released for the Charger in February The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1968 Dodge PIBs The earliest example I have on file has a March SPD.

Your visual inspections and comparison are noble, interesting and academic as, in the end, there will be no way to document or prove in any manner what color the car was originally painted. Any claim of 33-1 without a tag, BS or window sticker will be a claim out of the ordinary and be viewed as another "car show anecdotal story". It very well could be another shade of red and coded 999 for paint...but that can't be proven with documentation.

Awesome, and now I have to correct myself…..mid June is the right date. Express paint makes the 68 Dodge colors in a spray can, and guess I’ll order both Reds and do a spray out. Learned a lot from this thread…..funny how certain factory’s only had certain colors? Thank you to all for their input on this!!!