999 Paint Codes Explained

[smokinjo]

Hey Guys I found this on another site. No way to verify it but here it is all the same

Joe

Special Order 999 Paint Codes

Special Order "999" paint codes were codes assigned for a vehicle for paint colors that were not officially available for that model vehicle for a given year. When a car line was planned and introduced, a number of colors were designated as being available for that car. Dealer information and paint chips were distributed, assembly lines were readied with paint mixes and instructions for the paint departments for the identified set of paint codes.

The way a 999 car was order was that any one with a fleet account (dealerships, or large purchasing agents) could order any Ditzler color for any vehicle for some additional small fee ($75-100). When the 999 order was placed, some notation as to which actual color was written on the order. The factory would have sent the car down the assembly line with papers that also reflected that special paint color.

While the parameters of the 999 special order paint mean that there were probalby some unique orders that mades a "one off", for some years, there were common 999 orders. 1968-1969 999 Orange cars would be one of these commonly order special colors. There were probably a few hundred 999 Orange cars built in 1968 and 1969. For 1968 and the beginning of 1969, these were Omaha Orange which is the same orange used to paint early 1964 race hemi's (Ditzler code DRA60436). At some point in the 1969 model year, the special order 999 Omaha Orange became the EK2 Vitamin C Orange which would be standard color for 1970. The is per a 4/7/69 TSB stating that begining approx. Feb 1, 1969, EK2 "Vitamin C" Orange would be available for Belvedere models.

Some hobbiest inaccurately state that all "999" cars were Orange, while order inaccurately state that a "999" code on a car would give the owner license to reapint the car any color and still maintain that the car is "original" or "numbers matching" (paint numbers at least). Its not accurate to say a 999 car could be any color you want. If the color was available that model and that year, it wouldn't have a 999 code for that color. So, a 1970 GTX 999 car could not be painted of the available 1970 GTX colors and be correct. FM3 Panther Pink, EB5 Medium Blue, FC7 Plum Crazy, FE5 Medium Red, FF4 Light Green Metallic, (etc) would all be incorrect paint colors for a 1970 999 GTX.

Speaking of 1970 GTX 999 cars, I found references to some 1970 GTS's with 999 paint codes being a "EA4" Silver Metallic ( see this "999 code 1970 GTX" page (off-site) or Petty Blue. One reader has contacted me since this article was first published with information of his 1970 A4 999 Roadrunner complete with a build sheet that has "A4" written on it, and 999 on the fender tag.

999 paints codes were not limited to colors that were not, or had never been made available for a particular model, It could also be a special order for a color that had been available, but was no longer offered. A good example of this are the 1971 Panther Pink / Moulin Rouge cars. All 1970 FM3 Panther Pink / Moulin Rouge cars were coded "FM3", the color was dropped for 1971. some 1971 cars were built as Panther Pink cars ( special ordered ) and were coded as 999 paint cars. (also documented is a 1971 Panther Pink Charger coded "148" ??).

In closing, I'll point out that 999 was a special order paint code used from at least 1961 through at least 1978. The 999 codes are common, or at least somewhat common, on fleet sales, like police departments, and park services, and were not limited to "Muscle Cars". Four door 318 cars have been documented as carrying the 999 code.

Here is a brief list of some example 999 paint code cars reported to have existed:

* 1961 Chrysler 300G coupe, Dark Green.
* 1965 Barracuda, Yellow.
* 1966 Barracudas, Pink.
* 1968 Road Runners Omaha Orange, maybe as maybe as 100 from the Los Angeles plant alone.
* 1968 Dart, Orange.
* 1969 Barracudas & Daytona (1) & Charger 500 (1) Omaha Orange.
* 1969 Super Bee Bahama Yellow (Butterscotch).
* 1969 cars with Rallye Green. (perhaps,, only seen references to its existence, but I have seen any reference cars..)
* 1969 Coronet wagon, color unknown.
* 1969 Petty Blue.
* 1970 Charger, A4 Silver. "Special order" on the bottom of the build sheet and "silver" written in marker behind the seat.
* 1970 Roadrunner, A4 Silver paint and written on buildsheet.
* 1970 Plymouths, Petty Blue, included a 4dr 318 car.
* 1976 Chrysler New Yorker Bright Yellow.
* 1976 Dart, unknown color.


Quelle AutoHobbyDigest

[Baldwinvette77]

Cool, a shame most of those cars are probably no longer among the living 

[Dodge Don]

Most of the 70 Chargers with 999 have turned out to be A4 Silver however we have seen cars designated with Y33 Fleet Sales that had the 999 paint code and the thought is they were painted in the ordering company colors or some unique scheme.

[hatersaurusrex]

Does the actual paint used show anywhere on the build sheet?

[Alaskan_TA]

Nope.

I saw the hand written order form from a dealership for a '69 & it had 'burnt orange' written in.

Broadcast sheet paint code for '70 up would be 999 regardless of the color used.

[TONY]

wonder why

* 1969 Super Bee Bahama Yellow (Butterscotch).

would be on the list?

wasn't that a mid year color option?

[69CoronetRT]

wonder why

* 1969 Super Bee Bahama Yellow (Butterscotch).

would be on the list?

wasn't that a mid year color option?

Plus...it's coded 96.

The article just kinda rambles with some truth some kinda truth and some "huh?"

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I almost bought a Code 999 Cordova (dark red) Charger R/T