'72-'74 Challenger

[burdar]

I guess the only thing else that I can say is this...I've seen the light argent sprayed on the tail panel of the 72-74 Challengers and it looks bad.  It looks way too light.  I am close to matching the color from an origonal 72 Challenger and the 72-74 NOS housings that I posted.  I held up my sample to the origonal stuff and it was very close.  The metal flake was not quite as big but the color was very close. 

I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

The good thing about it is that if it isn't right and a better solution comes along...it won't be that hard to change. 

[Bullitt-]

Well if we work together I'm sure a solution will be found... Of course I'm working more on 30+ year old memories than anything else but I did notice this back-in-the-day.  Seems that the '72s did not have as heavy a flake as my '73, & the '74s were black.   I wonder if even in a given year that different products may have been used... Honestly based on what I have seen lately on the on my car (reference picture I posted) & my memory the flakes were HUGE.. Maybe a mixture of Huge & not so huge were used. I can remember when washing the car these flakes coming off in the rag.  By '77 I had sanded them off & painted the tail black.

[burdar]

Your right...the problem is that we are looking at 30 year old paint and trying to figure out what it used to look like.  Paint fades...so do 30 year old memories.

I should post some links to all the heated threads on Moparts involving argent paint.  I don't think there is ever going to be a clear cut answer.  The best we can do is look at NOS stock and try to replicate that as close as possible.  I'm sure that even NOS parts are shelf worn and don't look exactly the way they did the day they were sprayed.     

I really want to see your car someday Bullitt.  Not only because our cars are cousins but because it's nice to see someone who cares to get the details right on the newer Challengers.  Most people don't think a single Challenger was built after the 71 modle year.

This is a pic of a survivor 70 Cuda.  The picture is of the shaker bubble being held up to the grill.  There was some discusion on weather the shakers matched the grills or not.

[Bullitt-]

I wouldn't argue with anyone over these things...I'm just trying to learn & share my limited knowledge.  As far as doing a "correct" resto I'm not going overboard, but many things will be, was good enough the way it was.  I'm just not going to screw something up that can't be made right if it ever needs to be.    I'll say again I think if your looking at Argent or Silver based paints your not going to get it...Maybe a silver or dark base but there was no color added that I can tell to the top coat that the metal flake is in.
   You stated earlier that you were having problems getting the grill silver right...Do you have a really good example?... I have a '72 silver grill that has not seen the light of day since about '81 I can get you a picture or maybe get it scanned for a custom mix. 

[burdar]

I don't think I ever said anything about silver for a grill on my car.  Mine...just like yours has a black grill.

What I was refering to was that there was a discussion on another site weather the shaker bubble and the grill on the Cuda's was the same color from the factory.  Some said they were and others said there were obvious differences in color.

I don't know how close I'll get to 100% correct on the tailpanel.  All I can do is try and match the NOS pieces I have seen.  Like I said before...I'd love to see what you can come up with as far as a metal flake.  If it ends up looking better than what I have...I think it would be an easy change.  

[69bronzeT5]

Hey guys.......spotted a red '72-'74 Challenger at a car lot today. Had a white vinyl top. First thought was of this car. So I went to check the place where the pictures were taken and the car is gone. Only one thing that could mean....the car at the car lot if the one I found! It's for sale now. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

[Super Blue 72]

   Not many red Challengers with a white top around I would imagine...

[69bronzeT5]

It was a one owner car before the dealer got it. All original, complete paint job about 4 years ago. It's a 318 2bbl auto car. Buckets and console. They want $15,800obo. It's a '73. Think it's worth that? I have 3 pictures but they're too big to upload so I'll Photobucket them tomorrow.

[wingnut-27]

Yo Bronze!  It was $12,500 CDN last week on craigslist up island...Campbell River area,I think... I remember seeing it now. They probably got it for 10K cash...  But $15K is kinda pricey for a 318 car,especially in this current economy... Cheers!  Jeff in Victoria BC.

[Bullitt-]

Experiment that seems to work pretty well. top half black base bottom grey
Spray Glitter by Flora Craft found at Walmart...In person it looks very much like the pic of the tail light just a little shinier, the pic adds more texture and has a blue hue

[Bullitt-]

Snapped a couple more while the sun was out... 1st in full sun 2nd in shade from about 4'