Paint match Grigio Argento 20265 A Italver

Check Tom's forum for my response.

 

What model? Chassis number?

Marcel Massini

 

Completed 3 June 1963.
New to FBA Franco-Britannic Autos SA in Paris (Levallois).
79 GTE's were originally painted in Grigio Argento 20265 A Italver.

Marcel Massini

 

Italver was bought by PPG. You might check and see what paint colors are available in the 106 E series which are Argento and Grigio in various shades of silver gray. Might be an equivalent in there. Have you asked PPG?

 

PPG has a super color book. Worth a look. NOT a Website, a real (paper) book.

Also strongly recommend to contact Brian Hoyt of Perfect Reflections in Hayward, CA/USA, excellent source for such colors.

Marcel Massini

 

Chris - I had good luck contacting Cremonini Carrozzeria in Modena about my color question. They have old records for the Italver colors. They also mix and sell these correct blends.

A

 

Your profile isn't filled out and therefore I could not know that you are from Germany or else in Europe.
I strongly recommend to consult Roberto Bertaccini of CREMONINI in Lesignana (near Modena), Pietro Cremonini's is the very best paint shop for Ferraris in Europe.

Marcel Massini

 

If I may suggest, please do not use a paint with clear coat finish. Use single layer metallic paint on the car. I think on a 250 GTE it should be cellulose metal paint that should be applied to conform authenticity. People will usually tell you it is not longer possible to find these paints but this is not true. Manufacturers want to push their modern paints and most painters do not know how to apply this paints (that dry extremely quickly and require special conditions), that's why. When I see all these cars with there glossy clear coat finish, that really hurts my eyes and also that it is not correct from historical perspective too. One layer silver paints will diffuse light in a totally different way and you can see it straight away if you're used to it. They tend to fade with time but it is not a problem because that was the case also at the time. Just my humble advice. Best.

 

Ferrari used acrylic paints in the 50s already. Some basic pigments ceased to exist decades ago because they were highly toxic. This is why some shades of grey in particular are impossible reproduce today. Painters will tell you they can make a perfect match for any sample. How do they do it? Easy: they lie.

If you looks at some very expensive restorations it will take 2 seconds to see that the paint has nothing to do with original paint color. Is it a bad thing? Depends on what you like; I think the most important thing is that the new paint supports the illusion of originality.

If the color is about correct, it is not very important if the actual shade is a little too light or dark as how you see it always depends on the light. You will always have more light on top surfaces, and less light on the side, so it will be utterly difficult to say what is correct and what is not. But if you use wrong color, or put too much metal into it will look incorrect in which ever way you look at it.

 

Yes, if they say they can get the same result as original they completely lie. For example Glasurit will tell you they can reproduce the same paint, but it is not true and an expert eye will notice it right away. I call that Chinese imitations. There are still a few painters that use original acrylic paints with the original basic pigments. This is because they use very old remaining stocks. But they are increasingly difficult to source (when they can be sourced) and as a result it will soon be totally impossible to use the old paints. But they are not more than 4 or 5 in Europe as far as I know and they will certainly not tell publicly because in most countries it is illegal. In northern Europe (incl. Germany) as far as I know, no one will do it, especially metallic paints.

But I totally agree with you: everyone as its own tastes and people can of course like different things. Personally I am just a maniac of authenticity. To avoid this problem, I collect original paint cars. Increasingly difficult and expensive but the quest is worth it!

 

Is this color and code "Grigio Argento 20265 A Italver" the same they used on the 66 330 GT cars?