542 WHITE & MEDIUM BLUE ??? pics please.

[cherokeejohn]

The SPID on my 72 Custom/10 says 542 WHITE & MEDIUM BLUE. it is currently light blue/baby blue with a white top. I can see that it has been repainted before, possibly a couple times, and finally the PO blotched all over it at every spot/ding/scratch/or dent on the truck with some spray bombs in a light blue. So currently it is just about all shades of a light blue available. I'm looking for a pic of the original color and or color scheme. So if you have a 542 on your SPID listing, please post a pic for me. My truck will be undergoing a resto. in about a month and I'm undecided on going back to original, or just going all white. Keep in mind , this is my Daily Driver and around the homestead use truck so she's no garage queen. It still does what a Chevy truck was built to do. thanks.

[Blue/72]

Here is my 1972 Custom/10, this is factory dark blue and white but I believe it is very to the medium blue. Just to give you an idea of what the dark vs medium blue would look like

[cherokeejohn]

Thanks for the pic Blue/72, your truck looks great. Now looking at your pic is a good example of why I'm confused about mine. I'll post a pic with this reply. there's quite a bit of area on my truck that when wet or wax/polish is applied it looks like that color-ish. My paint is so badly oxidized it's almost impossible to judge, and I was a auto painter/body tech for 16 years before my accident. I put up some shots of different areas of the truck, some are original looking but i don't know if it had an "all over"( meaning interior and exterior ) paint job or not. I tried contacting the PO who was the original purchaser when new, but he has apparently passed away this past fall ( may he rest-in-piece ). When I went and bought the truck from him we conversed for several hours and became friends. He was very happy to know that I was going to restore it and still use it. He was a true Old Virginia farmer from the Shenandoah valley area "about 5-6 hour drive from me" and he bought it new and used it everyday on his 450 acre farm until 2002 when it was parked in a barn. Then I came along and am rebuilding it as i go. I have been sending him pics along the way and conversing via emails. I just recently learned of his passing

[special-K]

Thanks for giving me an excuse for posting her again. Wish I could have kept that rare bird. That's original paint from two trucks. I think that color on your truck is called Blotchy Blue. Blotchy paint was the rage before the herd discovered patina

[LockDoc]

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Here is my "510" Medium Blue '72

[Troynutts]

[attach]1493913[/attach

[Troynutts]

Sorry still trying to figure out this site. All the pics are loading upside down but there right side up on my pc

[special-K]

I've had that problem before. It's random and I never had that issue till windows 8.

[Mapearso]

Medium Blue is Code 510. Pics below.

I am going deluxe two tone , medium blue and white on my truck

Build thread is here --

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=652481&page=3

[special-K]

Those are solid color codes, 2-tone in the same color had a different code/same paint

[Coley]

Here is my Medium Blue/White Highlander.

Coley

[joecaruso]

heres my med blue and white 70'. It was repainted last winter.

[hdff]

Just for comparison my truck is dark blue, started out as medium blue. Here the AC is pulled off the fire wall exposing the original paint medium blue.

[SS Tim]

Funny none of the replies posted are showing an actual code 542 factory paint. So here is one, a low mileage original paint 71. As mentioned the 71-72 542 code describes a 510 Medium Blue truck with a 521 White roof in the Conventional Two-Tone scheme.

[special-K]

I think we took his original post to be less technical. Just a simple request for examples of the correct Medium Blue his truck was originally. Codes vary, shade stays the same.

[hdff]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Funny none of the replies posted are showing an actual code 542 factory paint. So here is one, a low mileage original paint 71. As mentioned the 71-72 542 code describes a 510 Medium Blue truck with a 521 White roof in the Conventional Two-Tone scheme.

tim, could you put up the paint code chart for '71 dark blue please? I had it but have misplaced it.
thanks

[SS Tim]

The 71-72 Dark Blue is code 523.

[hdff]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

The 71-72 Dark Blue is code 523.

thanks but could you post the chart above except for dark blue with the color combinations. thanks

[SS Tim]

No actually I can't since I have not made one yet. The chart was done as a test for an outside project that is on hold.

[cherokeejohn]

Thank you SSTim!, Great job on that chart. I was an auto painter mostly, and body tech for many years before my bike accident. that is a good example of a actual paint chart from manufacturer. The truck in your post with the chart, is my truck almost to a T, mines a LWB and i have a chrome front bumper. Special K, you are very right about the same shade, diff codes tho. Mine has 30 different shades spread across from bumper to bumper, LOL. I have determined for mine I am probably just gonna primer/seal it in white for the time being. If I ever find a 4WD model in my price range then I will put a fresh semi-original paint job on her, but for now I'm using as a daily truck so It just isn't logical to do it at this time. On a positive note; the elect. fuel pump did the trick, I been driving and working her daily since, going strong too!

[Mrturner1]

Originally Posted by special-K

Thanks for giving me an excuse for posting her again. Wish I could have kept that rare bird. That's original paint from two trucks. I think that color on your truck is called Blotchy Blue. Blotchy paint was the rage before the herd discovered patina

Every time I see this truck it makes me want to build a 4x4, such an awesome rig

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by cherokeejohn

Thank you SSTim!, Great job on that chart. I was an auto painter mostly, and body tech for many years before my bike accident. that is a good example of a actual paint chart from manufacturer...

... I have determined for mine I am probably just gonna primer/seal it in white for the time being...then I will put a fresh semi-original paint job on her, but for now I'm using as a daily truck so It just isn't logical...

Thanks for the complement!
The Chart Project started out as a way to help people visualize how GM used several different codes yet the primary body color was the same for all offerings.
Might just have to do a few more and tweek the finished presentation for some of the more common colors (after my favorites of course).

Now on your truck please help me, how is blowing a color change white over the truck more logical than a uniform 510 Meium Blue? While I haven't priced paint much lately there can't be a huge delta between the two. I see so many white overpaints the look beat it seems like a correct blue single stage would look much better longer. Either as a solid or two-toned.

[hdff]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

No actually I can't since I have not made one yet. The chart was done as a test for an outside project that is on hold.

ok thanks Tim, I thought I remembered you posting one for me a couple of years ago with dark blue as the solid and the SPID numbers for the paint combos. must have been someone else i'll keep lookin and see if I saved it somewhere

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by hdff

ok thanks Tim, I thought I remembered you posting one for me a couple of years ago with dark blue as the solid and the SPID numbers for the paint combos. must have been someone else i'll keep lookin and see if I saved it somewhere

Might have done a write up but not an actual finished color chart like the 510 based. Anyway just to keep this thread from being hijacked further and confusing to people actually trying to see 542 paint code trucks, here are the basics for a 71-72 523 Dark Blue body color.

523 Solid Dark Blue
572 Conventional Two-Tone 523 body color 521 secondary W/DB
592 Special Two-Tone 523 body color 521 secondary W/DB/W
482 Deluxe Two-Tone 523 body color 521 secondary W/DB/W/DB
559 Custom Two-Tone 523 body color 510 secondary MB/DB

[cherokeejohn]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Thanks for the complement!
The Chart Project started out as a way to help people visualize how GM used several different codes yet the primary body color was the same for all offerings.
Might just have to do a few more and tweek the finished presentation for some of the more common colors (after my favorites of course).

Now on your truck please help me, how is blowing a color change white over the truck more logical than a uniform 510 Meium Blue? While I haven't priced paint much lately there can't be a huge delta between the two. I see so many white overpaints the look beat it seems like a correct blue single stage would look much better longer. Either as a solid or two-toned.

To be completely honest, I have all intentions of re-doing my truck back to its original paint scheme, and probably in lacquer base single stage. It's easier to do repairs, blends, and for authenticity. This will be once I am ready and able to do a full restoration. I have a surplus of bright white primer/sealer. I worked as a contractor/painter for fleet services, Baltimore Gas & Electric for about 7 years. Everything from tool boxes,Utility equip, to small vehicles, giant Utility trucks, everything was bright white. With the exception of black for undercarriages and decals & stripes. very monotonous. Currently, I am in a very tight financial spot, so i can't afford the paint. but with having a surplus of primer/sealer, at least I can get rid of the multi blues and surface rust. Once my disability get finalized I will put a garage on my property down south along with power and I will start my restoration properly and make her look brand new again.