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Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:19 PM
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Paint Code

Which numbers in my vin are the paint code for my ‘71 Cutlass S car.

Thanks.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by James71Cutlass
Which numbers in my vin are the paint code for my ‘71 Cutlass S car.

Thanks.
There are no paint codes in a VIN. You'll need to provide the cowl tag information numbers located below the windshield on the driver's side in the engine compartment - just below the dash.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:25 PM
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This is a representative (example) cowl tag (I stole from another member's post). Look for this tag and post a picture (best).



Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:25 PM
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VIN does not tell you paint color. Paint code is under the hood on the body tag. Pop the hood. Top right corner. Second line down on the right. Two digit number. One for upper body color and one for lower body color.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:27 PM
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Additionally, if you'd like to attempt this yourself, this site is now back up and running.

http://datatagdecoder.com/
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
This is a representative (example) cowl tag (I stole from another member's post). Look for this tag and post a picture (best).


This is on an older car. Yours will be on top by the wiper arm. Ish.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:32 PM
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Tough spot to take a picture. Here’s what I could take.




Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:33 PM
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Here is my cowl tag from a 1971 CS.



Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:34 PM
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24 24 is your paint color.





Last edited by no1oldsfan; Sep 17, 2021 at 03:38 PM.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:35 PM
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Thanks everyone for your help.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by James71Cutlass
Tough spot to take a picture. Here’s what I could take.
That image won't help anyone decide. Take an image in focus.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:36 PM
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So according to this my paint is Nordic blue.

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcod...ar=1971&con=yo
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:36 PM
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Ooops....oldsfan got it. good deal.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
That image won't help anyone decide. Take an image in focus.
lol it’s in the garage and I was holding a flashlight with the other hand.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:37 PM
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No worries. Heck, I couldn't see it. Oldsfan got it though.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:40 PM
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Funny how we all were posting at the same time. Cheers to helping Oldsmobile people. 🍻
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:42 PM
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Hell yes....he found the cowl tag and the paint code.



Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:44 PM
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That cowl tag looks like it has seen a couple coats of paint.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
Hell yes....he found the cowl tag and the paint code.


Thanks again. Glad I posted. I thought the code was in the vin number so I thought it was a different type of blue. Nordic blue seems a lot close to what the car looks like now even though it was painted about 20 years ago.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by no1oldsfan
That cowl tag looks like it has seen a couple coats of paint.
It does. Not too sure why they just wouldn’t take the time and tape it off.
Old Sep 17, 2021 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by James71Cutlass
Not too sure why they just wouldn’t take the time and tape it off.
Knuckleheads comes to mind.
Old Sep 21, 2021 | 05:17 PM
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Is there another number that goes with the 24 paint code? Or should I just go in and ask for Nordic blue. I see there are a bunch of signer paints that year that are 24. I called a parts store that does spray bombs and gave them olds paint code 24 for a 1971 Olds. Picked it up today and it said Cascade blue met. Didn’t think much of it(which was a mistake. Get it home and it’s darker. I needed Nordic blue or the gm name Ascot blue.
Old Sep 21, 2021 | 09:42 PM
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all the GM divisions used paint code 24 in 1971 ..... they are all the same color just different names

BUICK - Cascade blue metallic
CADILLAC - Zodiac blue metallic
CHEVROLET - Ascot blue metallic
OLDSMOBILE - Nordic blue metallic
PONTIAC - Adriatic blue metallic

the label probably shows "cascade blue" because BUICK is first alphabetically

the problem with color match is a decades old problem
* how accurate is the existing 20 year old repaint on the car? faded?
* different manufacturer's will not all be the same shade/color
* the original paint & formula is obsolete
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 05:41 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by hurst68olds
all the GM divisions used paint code 24 in 1971 ..... they are all the same color just different names

BUICK - Cascade blue metallic
CADILLAC - Zodiac blue metallic
CHEVROLET - Ascot blue metallic
OLDSMOBILE - Nordic blue metallic
PONTIAC - Adriatic blue metallic

the label probably shows "cascade blue" because BUICK is first alphabetically

the problem with color match is a decades old problem
* how accurate is the existing 20 year old repaint on the car? faded?
* different manufacturer's will not all be the same shade/color
* the original paint & formula is obsolete
Thanks for the information. Didn't realize they were all the same. The paint I bought yesterday is a lot darker. My paint is a bit faded but this spray bomb is pretty different. But as you listed, lots of different factors that could be causing it.

I've looked on google and from the pictures I see Cascade does seem a little darker then Nordic.
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 11:05 AM
  #25  
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Take the car to the paint store and have them do a computer scan of the paint. That will take any fading and weathering into account and match what's on the car.

If car has been repainted, entirely possible the paint wasn't matched correctly at that time esp if it was a victim of the 1980s Imron craze. There was limited color availability with Imron back then and "kinda close" was about as close as you'd get.
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