Question: Is there a paint Code located on the car?

[Wendell Pope]

I own a '99 Magnetic Red coupe and have been the only owner. I leased the car (new) for several years and purchased it when the lease was up. But after all these years, I'm wondering if the car came from the plant as Magnetic Red,or was it painted by the dealer? Is there a paint code located on the car somewhere? Or is there any way to determine the color as it left the factory? I no longer have the window sticker but the original lease document specifies Magnetic Red. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[timfitz63]

The paint code should be on the RPO decal. I think the location of the RPO decal varied somewhat on the C5 during its production run; on my '98 its plastered to the bottom of one of the removable storage bin covers in the rear cargo area, but on my '04 its in the glove box... It's white, about the size of a large index card, and filled with a bunch of 3-digit-long gibberish that probably won't make sense to you at first.

Anyway, somewhere on that decal will be the alpha-numeric paint code (along with all the other codes for the major options installed on the vehicle; here's a list for the '99 model year). The paint codes are usually comprised of two numbers followed by a letter, usually "U" (e.g., Aztec Gold Metallic = 58U; Millennium Yellow = 79U). Looks like Magnetic Red Metallic was "86U."

If you're looking to match up the paint (repair, touch-up, etc.), here's a table that cross-references it with the codes for the paint manufacturers. Unfortunately, it looks like there were slightly different formulations for your color, so it may be a bit of "trial and error" to match yours...

Good luck!

 

[Wendell Pope]

Paint Code Location

Thanks, Tim. With your help I found the RPO decal on the glove box door in my '99. Sure enough, the paint code is the last of the 3-digit codes and it is 86U (Magnetic Red). Now I have to find out why my NY State title says the car is black. Thanks again.

I own a '99 Magnetic Red coupe and have been the only owner. I leased the car (new) for several years and purchased it when the lease was up. But after all these years, I'm wondering if the car came from the plant as Magnetic Red,or was it painted by the dealer? Is there a paint code located on the car somewhere? Or is there any way to determine the color as it left the factory? I no longer have the window sticker but the original lease document specifies Magnetic Red. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[timfitz63]

Thanks, Tim. With your help I found the RPO decal on the glove box door in my '99. Sure enough, the paint code is the last of the 3-digit codes and it is 86U (Magnetic Red). Now I have to find out why my NY State title says the car is black. Thanks again.

No worries! Yeah, that is odd (listed as black on the title), but it's most likely a clerical error.

One other way you can cross-reference the factory equipment, including color, is to go to this web site and enter your VIN. It will produce a comprehensive list of everything with which your vehicle left the factory, including the paint color that it was -- which should corroborate the RPO decal. At least that way you've got two separate sources for the information...

 

[Wendell Pope]

Paint Code Location

Thaks again, Tim. The site did corroborate the paint code as well as all the other equipment. Great site, BTW.

No worries! Yeah, that is odd (listed as black on the title), but it's most likely a clerical error.

One other way you can cross-reference the factory equipment, including color, is to go to this web site and enter your VIN. It will produce a comprehensive list of everything with which your vehicle left the factory, including the paint color that it was -- which should corroborate the RPO decal. At least that way you've got two separate sources for the information...

 

[XLR8]

Wendell, if you would like a copy of the build sheet and reproduction window sticker for your C5, you can order them from the National Corvette Museum:
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/services/buildsheet.asp

I ordered them for my 98 right after I purchased it and had them laminated. It makes a nice piece of history for my Corvette and something I can pass on when I decide to sell and upgrade.

Jane Ann

 

[Wendell Pope]

Paint Code Location

Thanks. I didn't know that. Good idea.

Wendell, if you would like a copy of the build sheet and reproduction window sticker for your C5, you can order them from the National Corvette Museum:
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/services/buildsheet.asp

I ordered them for my 98 right after I purchased it and had them laminated. It makes a nice piece of history for my Corvette and something I can pass on when I decide to sell and upgrade.

Jane Ann

 

[XLR8]

Thanks. I didn't know that. Good idea.

You're welcome!