Roverdrive Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Morning I am having a right nightmare with painting these doors! After the saga of the clear coat reacting with the colour and having to repaint it seems the colour is wrong! I was led to believe that the colour was Epsom green but it is a lot lighter. I had a tin of Galway green which I painted the side frame with a few years ago and it seems a closer match but again I was led to believe that colour was not available on the 1997 model year. Please see picture. Does anyone know the correct colour? I would welcome your thoughts Mike Derrick Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 List of colours here http://cat.lrparts.ru/?category=117852 might be Tonga green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 (edited) Very difficult to get anywhere near a colour match with an old panel, especially metalic. Colour changes over time with exposure to UV light, there are variations in how the paint is mixed (not unusual for the mixer to get it wrong), the size of metalic flake used, the colour & shade of primer will affect the hue, so will the number & depth of coats and with metalic paint the angle the paint is sprayed at (flat v vertical). It does look like Epsom Green but difficult to see from that one pic. Assuming you're using proper paint rather than a spray can, you need a good grey primer, three coats of epsom base and as soon as it has flashed off, two coats clearcoat. Your best bet is to get the colour matched if your paint supplier has a spectrometer Edited April 13, 2020 by Eightpot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 Gents Thanks for the suggestions. in the sunlight it looks a lot worse but given the state of the original door I can’t really complain I am indeed painting with rattle cans Eightpot and was lying the doors flat. You got me! I found an old tin of Galway Green and did a corner of the door and it is a much better match considering the 23 year old paint. I had a look on the Rimmer Brothers web site and the Galway is listed in the section for older vehicles so looks like I was given duff info in the first place. Western I had not considered Tonga green. Was that a common colour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Is there a paint code on the can? Should be LRC961. Even for a can that's not even close to Epsom Green. Did you have the can mixed by a paint shop? If so take it back and show them the door, they should mix you another can. Also you need to use grey primer, not white or yellow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneandtwo Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 That’s not Tonga, which only came out later than 97. The original door overspray looks like Epsom, which was most popular colour for that era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 (edited) Loads of green colours been used over the years, these might help you. I can tell you that it is not: Willow, Eastnor, Coniston, Giverney or Trident. Initially there were only 2 metallic colours available on Defenders and only on 110 CSW at that. So it might be County green, which was a very dark green, the only other option available at the time was a very dark metallic red https://www.defender-landrover.co.uk/p/paint-codes.html https://rimmerbros.com/images/Land_Rover_Paint_Charts/LR_Paint_Key_Defender83.pdf Edited April 14, 2020 by neil110 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 The main car definitely looks like Epsom Green to me. I've got some early 300tdi 90 side panels in the workshop which I can get a picture of when I'm next in there if that's any help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 I'm not sure how common Tonga green was or how long it was in use for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted April 15, 2020 Author Share Posted April 15, 2020 23 hours ago, Eightpot said: Is there a paint code on the can? Should be LRC961. Even for a can that's not even close to Epsom Green. Did you have the can mixed by a paint shop? If so take it back and show them the door, they should mix you another can. Also you need to use grey primer, not white or yellow. Eightpot it was mixed by a paint shop unfortunately not close to me so even with the current circumstances not practical to visit. I have however cut a panel out of the old door to send to him! I did use a grey primer under the green. The door as supplied came in a black primer. I can confirm the number as being LRC 961 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneandtwo Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 19 hours ago, western said: I'm not sure how common Tonga green was or how ong it was in use for. Ive currently got two td5 Tonga green 90s and an Epsom green 300tdi 90. 99% sure that is Epsom with a dodgy paint mix in the can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 Thank you for all your input. Dodgy Epsom appears to be the colour. As soon as I can contact the paint shop I’ll be having a word. At least I have two doors that no longer flap in a breeze! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 (edited) it has seen better days but my suggestion is that the colour of this 1997 truck is County green. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-Land-Rover-Defender-County-Station-Wagon-110-300tdi-spare-wing/124156385247?hash=item1ce84c17df:g:OTMAAOSw7kFehPSL Edited April 17, 2020 by neil110 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 1 hour ago, neil110 said: it has seen better days but my suggestion is that the colour of this 1997 truck is County green. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-Land-Rover-Defender-County-Station-Wagon-110-300tdi-spare-wing/124156385247?hash=item1ce84c17df:g:OTMAAOSw7kFehPSL That is Epsom green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Don’t they have the colour in the vin number ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dailysleaze Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Microcat will show the original paint code for the vin but it's not represented in the vin itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 there is no corolation between paint code & VIN, for some unknown reason LR never stamped the paint codes, a main dealer might be able to look up the code, but it might cost you for their time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Judging by the rear tub and side panels, I’d be extremely surprised if it isn’t Epsom. But there do seem to be different shades of Epsom green - my 95 RRC has a slightly lighter and yellower tone, even in the bits that don’t get sunlight, than what comes out of a can, and is less blue toned than Epsom Defenders it has been parked next to (no, it’s not Ardennes green, which is much lighter and beiger). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roverdrive Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 Thank you for all the replies. I have nailed the vehicle colour as Epsom Green. Would you believe the local motor factor had two tins of said colour on the shelf, and as the triangular panel behind the door had terminal rot I tried a quick and dirty patch test. The result is well within 20 odd years of sunlight fading the original. I am still in contact with Paintman who has been really helpful. He has sent out another batch of paint with a black undercoat this time, so will try that on the doors when I get home and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 My 90 is Epsom green and I’ve some areas to touch up - I’m not so confident on where to get the paint now ! 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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