The Lost Color: Can You Match Paint From 50 Years Ago?
How to recreate a decades-old color when factory codes fall short, using paint history, physical samples, color readings, and test spray-outs.
D&S Paint Center · The Podcast
PAINT TALK.
REAL CRAFT.
Color matching, classic-car restoration, custom finishes, and practical advice from the people who work with paint every day.
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For the curious painter
Good paint work starts with good questions.
The D&S Paint Center Podcast gets into the real decisions behind a finish—from finding a color without a paint code to understanding why metallics and pearls shift in the light.
Short, useful conversations for professionals, restorers, and anyone who wants to know more about the craft.
7 episodes
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Can You Match Paint Without a Paint Code?
What to bring, how color tools help, and why physical samples, test sprays, and blending matter when there is no factory code.
The Impossible Match: How to Match Pearl & Three-Stage Automotive Paint
Why pearl and three-stage finishes shift with angle, and how base, midcoat, clear, lighting, and repeated test panels affect the final match.
Why Metallic Paint Changes With Angle — Flakes, Clearcoat, and Matching Tips
How metallic flakes, their orientation, and clearcoat change a color’s appearance, with practical testing tips for a more consistent match.
Matching Paint on a 1967 Mustang: Finding the Right Color, Prep, and Spray Techniques
A classic Mustang color search covering original codes, surface preparation, primer choices, spray technique, and checking a test panel in real light.
The Mystery of Faded Paint: Why Colors Drift and How to Fix Them
Why sun and age change paint color, and how spray-outs, color readings, blending, and proper preparation help reproduce a faded finish.
Why Your Factory Paint Code Often Fails to Match — And What to Do About It
Why factory codes may not reflect a vehicle’s current color after fading and aging, plus how samples and test sprays help prevent a mismatched repair.