I have had several requests regarding Pastel Blue paint. I have been very fortunate to have purchased, some years ago, a '53 that retains its original Pastel Blue paint, which has been lovingly preserved for now almost 70 years. In 1953 Jaguar had just changed from the lacquer paints to synthetic enamels. These, of course were “single" stage paints. For exterior surfaces, there was a good primer applied and then more than one coat of the top coat. All modern car finishes, of course, are done with a “two" stage finish; primer, base coat, clear top coat. Modern paint suppliers generally formulate for two stage paints, but you can get single stage paints if you poke at it hard enough. A picture of the original can of touch-up paint that came with the car is the first photo.
My car has a license plate bracket that has never been on the car and never exposed to the effects of weather. The paint on this bracket is richer and shinier than the paint that is on the car, which, of course has weathered to some extent. The bottom picture shows the license plate bracket on the bonnet of the car. You can see some of the difference, but it is a little more noticeable in person.
I had the local paint shop scan the bracket and mix up some paint to match. Photos of the paint car are attached. Note that the Dupont ChromaBase is designed as a two stage point, with a clear coat to be applied overtop. For anyone restoring a car, I would recommend using a modern paint. They are so much better than the single stage enamels of the day.
Thanks for the response and info. Someone on the forum sent me a message last night that the website “XKDATA” has a car on there (680906) which has the right color. The car happens to be at a dealership in Beverly Hills so I am going to see if I can get a paint guy to match it.
I would grab a bunch of paint sample cards from Home Depot or your favorite house paint place and take them along. Pick the closest, then ask your car paint source to match it.
As per XKdata, the car is at Schmitt Cars in St Louis. Yesterday I emailed a hopeful request for the paint code, should the records they have show it, or, the name of the California restorer. No response as of this morning (Saturday).
Steve, sorry for the late response but have been out of the country on business. The car of the color I am looking for was painted in 1081. The guy who owned the car when I drove it bought it from the original owner and told me the shop that painted it closed in the 90’s so that path is closed. I was able to find the guy who ended up buying the car after I made the stupid mistake of not buying it. The guy was from England and had the car shipped there so again, the idea of having the paint matched is gone. I contacted him and he agreed to either get the paint matched and send me a sample or find a part that has the paint on it and send THAT to me. He said he was moving the seat back for more leg room and found a piece with the same color as the body so he cut it off and sent it to me. I sure looks like the original Pastel Blue (J867) paint and looks more gray than I remember the car. He said it does in fact match the body paint so I will have a can made and spray the engine compartment to see how it looks. I had already sprayed the car a light blue that I thought was close but once done, not even close! So I am in the process of sanding it down again for repaint with the color from England. It better be right cause I’m not doing it again.
