Info needed: Ford Instrument Cluster- Correct Gold Colour

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

Thanks. I am on Fordbarn.com too but it can be a needle in a haystack search like on most forums.

My main thing is to find an Australian source if possible. Even if available, a $10 can of paint could cost $50 if posted to Australia from almost anywhere in the world. That is even assuming they will post it as many suppliers do not ship to here. Obviously Bob found a good colour match in Australia a few years back when he was restoring instrument panels for others.

I took a $8 gamble and bought a can of Satin Gold aerosol paint from Bunnings. (I lost)
It is a bit brighter gold colour as previously mentioned.
the Satin Gold colour chip I sprayed is in the speedo aperture for comparison with the original colour. It looks a lot closer in colour in the photo than in real life.


Cheers,

[David Herbert]

Possibly the thing to do is to look at modern car colours when you are out and about. Most cars are available in some sort of gold/metallic brown colour and there might well be one that is suitable.

David

[Jacques Reed]

Hi David,

Yes, that may be my best way of getting a close match of colour.

My late Father-in-law had a 1997 Toyota Camry in a light gold colour which from memory was a bit lighter shade than the instrument cluster plate.

With all the metallic colours of cars available, there there is bound to be one with a close match. Might be worth my while to ask a local panel beater for a suggestion as they would have a lot of knowledge, and a good eye for car colours.

Will post my results for all when/if I get a good match.

Cheers,

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Jaques,

Possibly not much help to you in Oz, but I used:

Ace hardware Brite Gold Metallic spray can
Testors Dark Red barcode 0-75611-11040 (red stripes)
Rustoleum Gloss white spray can (for the back & interior)

Best regards

Mike

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for that info. Can get the last two in Oz anyway. have the Testor's red already and a good spray epoxy white for the back.

I "let my fingers do the walking" as they used to say in the Yellow Pages ad.

Went to Carsales.com and searched for gold coloured cars only. Over 60 types of gold colours were listed.

I was able to eliminate a lot of colours (and save me from looking suspicious while lurking around carparks!)

A couple of recent Ford colours, Acid Rush, and Victory Gold and Toyota Aurora Gold may be contenders. Surprisingly I found a 1975 Ford colour, Tropic Gold might fit the bill but doubt if DupliColor still make it.

I then remembered I helped sell an elderly friend's 1975 Fairlane back in 2006 and it was painted Tropic Gold. A search through my archives and I found photos I took to put in the ad for him. See attached. Might be just a bit too reddish gold however.

Getting warmer.

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Mike,

Your reply got me thinking. Rust-Oleum is sold her in Australia and as it is American they may supply ACE Hardware with their home brand. I know one paint supplier here in Australia supplies a number of companies with their own branded paints.

Perhaps I am drawing a long bow but looking at the Pure Gold image attached it could be a contender.

Will check it out next trip to Bunnings.

Cheers,

[Mike Cecil]

Rustoleum is the same as Ace Hardware's Brite Gold, near as anyway.

I've used both on the fence & gate caps and fancy bits (it's a very swish fence & gate!) and you cannot tell the difference when dry, and cannot tell which parts were painted with which paint even after several months. Cleaned out the local Ace hardware of gold paint, hence the different brands used.

Rustoleum is very good paint: I use their rusty metal red primer a lot, followed by their grey (gray) metal primer.

The spray can image has the really nice hand grip, too: much nicer to use than a standard push-the -button spray pack.

Mike