Special Paint Colors

[54blackhornet]

At the time these trucks where new, one of the bigest things that set them apart from one another was the color ! Either ordered by the dealership or the original owner, the color was a big decision to make. New truck managers wanted to sell them quickly so a "safe" color was usualy selected. That is why we so many basic colors IE: Blue, green, red, silver,white. But if the customer was paticular about having his or her truck a little different GM was willing to pull out the list of "Special Paint Colors" available at the time. If your truck has a special paint color listed on the SPID or build sheet under the seat, let see them. Better if you have a list of the special colors available for any year between 67-72 please post them also. My 71 C-20 is special color ZP3 but i have not been able to identify the name GM called it. I contacted a board member who has a Canadian GMC painted a similar color but it has a different Special Paint code than mine. These Special Paint color trucks are quite unique and should be documented, trucks with unique mechanical options are talked about all the time, but special color trucks are never mentioned. If you try to buy a classic Corvette, Porsche or Ferrari and it has a special order paint color it will always cost you a lot more for it's uniqueness. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth

[68gmsee]

You have a pic of the what your truck looks like from the outside? I wonder if someone here has an old paint code book that may shed some light on this.

In those days one could order just about any option made for these trucks from GM or the dealer but I wasn't aware of these non standard colors. When I see colors on these trucks that were not the standard colors I always assume it was a later paint job.

[lakeroadster]

Did you have your truck painted to match your dogs' eyes?

[special-K]

A special paint order isn't necessarily from any list or catalog. A company or municipality could have a color they've used for years and would have had GM use it for their order. Like the green used on National(?) rental trucks. I've seen a select few special paints offered on Canadian built trucks. I owned a '69 Stepside C/20 with special paint. It was a light gray and the wheels (all 5) were dark red. I believe the tires were original and when I dismounted one it had chalk markings on the inner rim. The funny thing is the truck was never lettered or had any company markings. It was a base truck with standard 6,Powerglide,gauges,am,and stabilizer bar. Not exactly ordered to be anything that special,like a company truck.
There is also the fleet color program with 5 or 6 colors that have been and may always be offered. Other truck companies offer the same or very close colors. Some of these colors found their way into the list of production colors in some years.Like Tangiers Orange from production is actually Omaha Orange which is what Allied Van Lines,Asplundt,Yellow Freight,and other companies use. Mayflower uses all fleet colors (4) on their trucks.

[PanelDeland]

There's a thread titled Most unusual paint colors,rarest paint colors or something like that.It's probably one of the most comprehensive discussions on the topic available.

Here's a link http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=301319

[54blackhornet]

Thanks for the replies on the "Special Paint" colors available from Chevrolet & GMC, No I did not repaint my truck to match my dogs eyes ! It was ordered new by The Burlington Northern Railroad, the option # is ZP3 I do not know what the name of the green is called. GM did not offer color to "sample" which was offered by many foreign Mfg's like Merecdes Benz and Porsche, who allowed you to present a sample chip of a color the buyer had chosen. They would then match the color and paint the car that color. I was the sales manager for a Porsche dealership in New England back in the 80's and we ordered a lot of color to sample cars back then. GM "Special Paint" colors where available to all who knew about them. Some might know them as commercial colors because most who ordered them where companies that had colors accociated with them, Coca Cola & Pepsi have special colors they have used for years on their trucks, Texaco, Shell also have colors they always used when ordering. The green on my truck is close to the color the state of Oregon used on Forest Service rigs for years but is a just a little different shade from my "Green". A board member ib Canada has a special paint GMC and does have a list published in the 70's by GMC, Does any one have a list for Chevrolets in the US they could post...

[54blackhornet]

I will post a better picture of the special color 71 C-20 I have when I can get an opportunity, as you can see we are having a bad winter in Eastern Oregon !

[project 67 sub]

my 67 burb was gold w/white top originally. dont remember if the 67 glovebox door i took off of it was the original for it or not, but it said it had special paint. i will dig it out later and check it out for you.