Paint code help needed

[mnicoop63]

I brought my MK1 Austin Cooper to the paint shop today and want to have the boot, under the bonnet and the inside sprayed so I can begin some of the assembly. The car was originally Tartan Red with black roof and I want to have it painted the original color. Through research I have found that there are two tartan red colors. If memory serves me correctly one is for years 58-69 and the other is 61-69. Today when they tried to find the paint code they couldn't under Austin mini or Cooper. I told them to look and see if it came up as a BMC color and that the only paint code I could find was RD9 and I am not sure if it's the correct one. Well after a minute or two, Tartan Red came up as a Rover color and there were two so I assume that these are the two I had seen online. The years were the same as above. The problem is I don't know which one it is and it seems that maybe only one of them is available. They were a little stumped but the owner said he wasn't too worried and that he would call and see if Xalta (no idea how to spell it) had any information. It sounded like a lot if not all the paint manufacturers didn't have anything about it. I don't know the first thing about paint colors, codes or recipes etc.

Does anyone know what the correct Tartan Red color is for my mini? It was built June 12th 1962 and that falls into both year ranges for the two colors they found. Both came up on the screen with a little red square of each color and there is, to me a noticeable difference. I think I remember reading that one of the reds was not available because the paint code was lost or something? or left blank in the original books?

What are people doing when they want to paint there early mini tartan red? What paint manufacturers offer Tartan Red? Bottom line is what do I do here? My mini turns 58 in a couple days and I don't want to put the wrong color on it.

Any help on paint codes, what paint brands offer it etc. would be very very helpful. I don't to get this wrong.

Thank you,

Brian

[Dearg1275]

Brian,

Are you are respraying the whole car and not just the interior? If it has original paint on any of the removable panels you can tale a panel ( preferably with an inside surface like a door pocket) to an automotive paints factor. They should have a spectrometer that will analyse the colour and give the closest match. This isn’t always a BMC colour. They will also be able to formulate the recipe to bring if very close to what is on the car. You will have to accept that the paint will have changed down the years particularly as reds are less stable that other colours.

The factory paint mixes were not uniform anyway and varied slightly from batch to batch. The art of motor refinished S was to be able to tint what was supplied to match what was on the car ( and its state of weathering ).

What is available also depends on the paint system you want to use.

I had paint matched to a panel for my Tartan red ‘65 Mk1 S by HMG Paints. They hold that formulation and can reproduce it if that is any help to you. It is a 2K paint and I found it quite nice to work with.

PMed you also.

[AndyPen]

RD9 is the code as you say, but I too had some fun matching up the colour.

I ended up getting a can from Moss or Frosts, sorry I can't recall, and compared it to the car. One was very close indeed so I gave them the can to match from - was very happy with the result

[Andrew1967]

Hi Brian,

2k or cellulose ?

Speak to Ken Burdekin of Ken & Lynn paints - top quality paint, we've been using them for many years.

https://www.carrestorationpaints.co.uk

Ken has been in the business for a very long time and knows all the different paint colour variations, including Tartan RD9.

[mk1]

There are a number of modern paint codes for RD9 listed on the main site.

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... codes.html

PPG - 71062 & 71416

Which shade you need is anyones guess, but if I was to have one, it is most likely to be RD9-2 Tartan Red 2. If you are matching to original paint then you will have to do that, match it.

Red is a bugger to match & always has been.

[mnicoop63]

Brian,

Are you are respraying the whole car and not just the interior? If it has original paint on any of the removable panels you can tale a panel ( preferably with an inside surface like a door pocket) to an automotive paints factor. They should have a spectrometer that will analyse the colour and give the closest match. This isn’t always a BMC colour. They will also be able to formulate the recipe to bring if very close to what is on the car. You will have to accept that the paint will have changed down the years particularly as reds are less stable that other colours.

Not knowing that finding the original Tartan red color I stripped the entire car down to metal. Literally everywhere. I then sprayed it with a 2k epoxy primer sealer. I will look at your PM and hopefully figure something out. Thank you.

Brian

[mnicoop63]

RD9 is the code as you say, but I too had some fun matching up the colour.

I ended up getting a can from Moss or Frosts, sorry I can't recall, and compared it to the car. One was very close indeed so I gave them the can to match from - was very happy with the result

I will look at both Moss and Frosts. I've never heard of Frosts but will search it out.

Thank you,

Brian

[mnicoop63]

Hi Brian,

2k or cellulose ?

Speak to Ken Burdekin of Ken & Lynn paints - top quality paint, we've been using them for many years.

https://www.carrestorationpaints.co.uk

Ken has been in the business for a very long time and knows all the different paint colour variations, including Tartan RD9.

I am in the United States but will research the site and perhaps contact them.

Thank you,

Brian

[mnicoop63]

There are a number of modern paint codes for RD9 listed on the main site.

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... codes.html

PPG - 71062 & 71416

Which shade you need is anyones guess, but if I was to have one, it is most likely to be RD9-2 Tartan Red 2. If you are matching to original paint then you will have to do that, match it.

Red is a bugger to match & always has been.

Mark I assume both PPG numbers are the same or are they different shades? RD9-2 isn't on the list so I assume that is the one that is the one with no paint code/information? Somebody in a facebook group said they used RD1 and referenced Leyland/Morris. But I really don't understand what they mean by Referenced Leyland/Morris. I don't know if that means they tweeked the color or not.

Thank you,

Brian

[mk1]

They are different, the codes for the 2 different shades of tartan Red (RD9).

Yes it is, its listed under "Red Colours" that's why I posted the link above.

tartan.jpg

[mk1]

I have coloured the original grid in to make it easier to find the colours you are looking for.

[Andrew1967]

Hi Brian,

2k or cellulose ?

Speak to Ken Burdekin of Ken & Lynn paints - top quality paint, we've been using them for many years.

https://www.carrestorationpaints.co.uk

Ken has been in the business for a very long time and knows all the different paint colour variations, including Tartan RD9.

I am in the United States but will research the site and perhaps contact them.

Thank you,

Brian

Didnt realise that Brian.

Still worth a call.

Ken knows about the two shades and the change over dates, this was an issue when Dad recently restored a 68 MG Midget and had been 20 years previously when restoring a 67 Midget but Ken sorted it out for us.

[mnicoop63]

I have coloured the original grid in to make it easier to find the colours you are looking for.

Mark I appreciate the help. I did look at the link but I didn't realize the two numbers represented each shade.

Thanks again,

Brian