Help with 1976 Paint Codes

[SpudBoy]

OK - perhaps a bit of a stupid question, or maybe not ... I have a 1976 Bronco with Paint Code "2", and I have found conflicting info as to what that "color" actually is. The Marti report calls it "Cayan Red"; other paint chip charts describe code 2 as "Tangerine". I even found one reference that used BOTH terms, together. I have found paint charts that shows a chip called Cayan Red however in different shades, some definitely "redder" and others what I would call definitely orange, i. e. tangerine. I have attached two chip chart pix, the first shows Cayan Red as what I would call "orange" with a reddish tinge, the second calling the chip Tangerine, which is definitely a lighter orange shade. I have seen others that are clearly red rather than orange. FYI, I checked the paint code chart thread posted here previously, so no specific help there beyond what I already know. The third image is the vehicle in question. I don't know about anyone else, but even allowing for 48 years of sun exposure, I would call this tangerine rather than a "red" color. Pretty much every 1976/77 Bronco I have found images of described similarly is the same orange/tangerine shade. Any thoughts/help/hysterical laughter, etc.??? Any help would be appreciated. I am trying to short cut the whole touch up paint trick without resorting to a custom match from an actual paint chip off the beast ...

 

[gnsteam]

Hi Spudboy, welcome to the site. I was in your shoes just a few months back. I have a 76 Cayan Red Special Decor. Here are the two paint charts that I had for reference. I chose the Tangerine on the PPG chart. Here are a few pictures of my Bronco in different light conditions.

 

[LUBr LuvR]

Beautiful Bronco! You best bet will most likely be a custom match. No two Broncos paint will age the same, and most likely had sight variances even when new. Paint has changed a lot in 48 years as well!

 

[SpudBoy]

gnsteam - Thanks for the input. The PPG panel ("Tangerine") seems to very closely match the color also shown for 1976 Code 2 ("Cayan Red") on the CJ Pony Parts site, however that shade seems (to my eye) as being a slightly deeper and more reddish orange than the "orange sherbert" that my vehicle appears to me. Part of that might be put off to fading, however the shade of portions of the interior paint that should have been largely UV protected by virtue of hiding in the dark still seem to be more like what I would call "tangerine" matching the R-M chart chip. I guess I will have to take some pix of the beast in sunlight and post them for opinions. My best options might still be to go the old paint chip matching route in any case, assuming that there has been some paint degradation since 1976. You would not think that it would be so tough - frankly you would assume an industry wide standard paint registry number system would make sense, but what do I know.

P. S. Just asking - does your moniker stand for "GN" as in Great Northern Steam?

 

[Stu7054]

Please post more pictures in different lighting. I am looking to paint my project the color orange that yours is currently so I am really interested in this post. It looks more like Medium Orange to me from the 1976 Truck chart.
I am looking for a true orange like your rig. So many of the colors have too much red.

 

[gnsteam]

gnsteam - Thanks for the input. The PPG panel ("Tangerine") seems to very closely match the color also shown for 1976 Code 2 ("Cayan Red") on the CJ Pony Parts site, however that shade seems (to my eye) as being a slightly deeper and more reddish orange than the "orange sherbert" that my vehicle appears to me. Part of that might be put off to fading, however the shade of portions of the interior paint that should have been largely UV protected by virtue of hiding in the dark still seem to be more like what I would call "tangerine" matching the R-M chart chip. I guess I will have to take some pix of the beast in sunlight and post them for opinions. My best options might still be to go the old paint chip matching route in any case, assuming that there has been some paint degradation since 1976. You would not think that it would be so tough - frankly you would assume an industry wide standard paint registry number system would make sense, but what do I know.

P. S. Just asking - does your moniker stand for "GN" as in Great Northern Steam?

I had to use interior surfaces as well to compare the color charts. My Bronco was very sun faded. And I found the Tangerine chip matched the best. I couldn't be happier with the choice. Although it's not my favorite Bronco color. I chose to keep it as close to original as possible while doing a retomod rebuild.

Yes, GN is for Great Northern Steam. I am a life long model railroader. Following the Great Northern Railway, and modeling in N, 1" inch Live Stream and a little in HO scale. However I did step away from the hobby (for now) to put my resources into rebuilding my Bronco. Up until two years ago I was very active in the 1" scale Live steam community. Nearing retirement I decided to leave the hobby and sell my Great Northern Railway, "O" class O-8 Mikado, #3386. I also sold all the rolling stock and the caboose. Then I use the proceeds to jump start my Bronco rebuild. Here is a picture of my O-8 Mikado. It was a coal fired, real working steam locomotive.

 

[SpudBoy]

First image is under typical shop florescent light; second is in natural low angle Winter sunshine, third is a closeup under the same conditions. Even with it being the same rig, the actual "shade" comes out a bit different to the eye. The outdoor images give the paint more of the "reddish" tinge shown in Cayan Red drift cards, but not as much as with gnsteams pix. My opinion is that this may be due to the sunlight being so bright and low angle, it spoofed my camera's sensor, producing an over exposure (darkens the color). I have noticed this effect in the past from shooting various pieces of equipment in late Fall to early Spring sunshine. In the garage under natural light, it still looks orange/tangerine to me. That may be ~50 years of Western Sun exposure, who knows. As LUBr LuvR points out (thanks for the props by the way), no 2 OEM Broncos were 100% identical, the way Detroit shot paint 50 years ago. If it was Summertime, with more direct overhead light, it would probably look different again. So the dance continues ...

 

[SpudBoy]

I had to use interior surfaces as well to compare the color charts. My Bronco was very sun faded. And I found the Tangerine chip matched the best. I couldn't be happier with the choice. Although it's not my favorite Bronco color. I chose to keep it as close to original as possible while doing a retomod rebuild.

Yes, GN is for Great Northern Steam. I am a life long model railroader. Following the Great Northern Railway, and modeling in N, 1" inch Live Stream and a little in HO scale. However I did step away from the hobby (for now) to put my resources into rebuilding my Bronco. Up until two years ago I was very active in the 1" scale Live steam community. Nearing retirement I decided to leave the hobby and sell my Great Northern Railway, "O" class O-8 Mikado, #3386. I also sold all the rolling stock and the caboose. Then I use the proceeds to jump start my Bronco rebuild. Here is a picture of my O-8 Mikado. It was a coal fired, real working steam locomotive.

As they say, "I thought as much ...". I am an old prototype "foamer"- or I should say mostly former as all my favorite roads have disappeared under the hegemony of the Union Pacific. Makes it a bit more boring when everything is in Armour Yellow ... But I digress. I think the paint chip approach is best, at least for a match for original interior color for touchup. My concern is with 50 years of weathering, that might be too dark for the exterior - but I will not know until I try I guess. Pick a color and repaint if necessary.

 

[SpudBoy]

Please post more pictures in different lighting. I am looking to paint my project the color orange that yours is currently so I am really interested in this post. It looks more like Medium Orange to me from the 1976 Truck chart.
I am looking for a true orange like your rig. So many of the colors have too much red.

Stu - These are some extra pix for you besides the others I already posted to this thread ... hope they help

 

[gnsteam]

As they say, "I thought as much ...". I am an old prototype "foamer"- or I should say mostly former as all my favorite roads have disappeared under the hegemony of the Union Pacific. Makes it a bit more boring when everything is in Armour Yellow ... But I digress. I think the paint chip approach is best, at least for a match for original interior color for touchup. My concern is with 50 years of weathering, that might be too dark for the exterior - but I will not know until I try I guess. Pick a color and repaint if necessary.

I agree, the Great Northern is gone. But at least the BNSF has keep some of it's heritage alive, with the present paint scheme. If I haven't mentioned it yet. Great looking 76. Your paint is in so much better condition than mine was.

 

[SpudBoy]

I agree, the Great Northern is gone. But at least the BNSF has keep some of it's heritage alive, with the present paint scheme. If I haven't mentioned it yet. Great looking 76. Your paint is in so much better condition than mine was.

Thank you - paint condition is a bit of a surprise perhaps as the vehicle was originally sold through a Wyoming dealership (which amazingly enough is still in business). I would have thought elevation with higher UV exposure plus Rocky Mountain winters would have done more damage. I need to contact the old dealership as well as Wyoming DOT and see if there is any possibility of tracing the cars history - no help from the seller in that regard. Luckily it will be garaged in future against the worst of Idaho's winters. Something to be said for the old Detroit paint, which is tougher than the modern environmentally safe stuff.

 

[gnsteam]

Thank you - paint condition is a bit of a surprise perhaps as the vehicle was originally sold through a Wyoming dealership (which amazingly enough is still in business). I would have thought elevation with higher UV exposure plus Rocky Mountain winters would have done more damage. I need to contact the old dealership as well as Wyoming DOT and see if there is any possibility of tracing the cars history - no help from the seller in that regard. Luckily it will be garaged in future against the worst of Idaho's winters. Something to be said for the old Detroit paint, which is tougher than the modern environmentally safe stuff.

My Bronco originated in Colorado Springs. Then in Omaha NE, around 1992. I purchased it from Omaha in 2011 and has been garage kept from that point. My guess is the first year of it's life was spent outside most of the time. So your theory of higher elevation may have been a factor.