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Old 10-25-2023, 12:52 PM
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GM white

I'm trying to decide on a color to paint my '89 IROC since I hate the dark red color it was originally, and since it's not a special model that have to be concerned about originality with. I've been thinking about painting it GM 40 white like was used in the late 80's on these cars since I want something lighter that was used on 3rd gen Camaros about the same year as mine. I got a little of this color and it looks like its a bit of a dirty white with yellow or yellow oxide added to it, but not nearly as dirty as say Ford Wimbledon white. I did a sprayout panel and it generally looks white in most light, but sometimes looks a little dingy. Is this how this color is supposed to look?

Was this color offered with different colored decals and wheels based on what interior color was used on the car, or was this dependent on what year it was made?


Old 10-25-2023, 06:17 PM
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Re: GM white

"but sometimes looks a little dingy"

Yup, thats how mine is!



I wish it had a super white appearance... Someone in my area has a freshly painted bird with a nice clean white color... looks great. Maybe you could go with Toyota Super white? The type with clear coat (not the single stage junk) the thing is nice and bright.
Old 10-25-2023, 07:43 PM
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Re: GM white

18 years ago I repainted a 1987 Camaro using Chrysler PW7 paint code for vehicles 1988-2006. It was called "Bright Northstar White". Brightest white paint I ever saw on a car. Right after paint it actually hurt to look at it in full sunlight. I used base/clear but it was always kept outside so that painful bright white didn't last forever. It was always a very nice clean white and still looked good when I sold the car 5 years later. I liked the color so much I kept the can label to paint another that color someday.


Last edited by Aaron R.; 10-25-2023 at 07:49 PM.
Old 10-25-2023, 08:07 PM
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Re: GM white

SPI Southern Polyurethanes has a white base coat that is a pure white with no colors added if you want to do a search for it. I spray a lot of their white epoxy which is also a pure white and there is a very noticeable difference between it and the GM white.

This is the white epoxy primer on my 69 so not real glossy but gives you an idea of the color.


Old 10-25-2023, 08:29 PM
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Re: GM white

One of our body/paint people should be able to answer this better, but there was more than one white used on the ThirdGen. For example, in 1991, Arctic White (10) was introduced on the Camaro side along with the previous White (40) color and it was available per the trim level.
Old 10-25-2023, 11:05 PM
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Re: GM white

Originally Posted by modracer
SPI Southern Polyurethanes has a white base coat that is a pure white with no colors added if you want to do a search for it. I spray a lot of their white epoxy which is also a pure white and there is a very noticeable difference between it and the GM white.

This is the white epoxy primer on my 69 so not real glossy but gives you an idea of the color.
Yes, SPI calls their white "clean white". I use to use their stuff but they started overpricing it several years ago so I quit using it.
Old 10-25-2023, 11:19 PM
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Re: GM white

Originally Posted by JT
One of our body/paint people should be able to answer this better, but there was more than one white used on the ThirdGen. For example, in 1991, Arctic White (10) was introduced on the Camaro side along with the previous White (40) color and it was available per the trim level.
According to Paint Ref GM used three whites on 3rd gen F-bodies: #11 white (1971-1985),#40 white (1986-1990), and finally #10 arctic white (1991-2002). Each new white introduced was cleaner (brighter) than the last white. It's kind of interesting that whites were carried over from one generation of F-body to the next.
Old 10-26-2023, 02:12 PM
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Re: GM white

I think white is one of the best 3rd gen colors. Had a '90 Formula in white. Still my all-time favorite car that I've owned.
Old 10-26-2023, 06:04 PM
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Re: GM white

Originally Posted by ksr
I think white is one of the best 3rd gen colors. Had a '90 Formula in white. Still my all-time favorite car that I've owned.
Was it the GM 40 original white or had someone repainted it a brighter white? I wonder how many cars in that color ended up getting repainted a brighter white because the owners didn't like the dingy look of the #40.

Another option I'm looking at is 1985 bright blue. That's a good rich blue without being really intense like a lot of the other blues that were available on 3rd gens.
Old 10-26-2023, 07:41 PM
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Re: GM white

Probably most got repainted because of the peeling paint issues GM had in the late and early 90s
Old 10-27-2023, 08:22 AM
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Re: GM white

Originally Posted by taguy16
Was it the GM 40 original white or had someone repainted it a brighter white? I wonder how many cars in that color ended up getting repainted a brighter white because the owners didn't like the dingy look of the #40.

Another option I'm looking at is 1985 bright blue. That's a good rich blue without being really intense like a lot of the other blues that were available on 3rd gens.

I was the original owner. 1990-1998. No paint peeling issues, but the car wasn't that old when I sold it. But it had 167K miles on it.
Old 10-29-2023, 06:30 PM
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Re: GM white

I do like my 88 iroc in 40 white...with red and black graphics... It's sharp.... I keep my cars clean and polished at all times... Sooo... Always show ready... But that's me... I think it's a nice bright white... Not creamy....
Old 10-29-2023, 11:00 PM
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Re: GM white

The only late 80's IROC in white I have seen is located about four blocks from where I live. Unfortunately it looks like it has been sitting outdoors for years on end because its paint is in very bad shape, especially on the left side and top where it has been hit by the south sunlight, so it's hard to get a good idea of what the color looks like. The paint on top of it has been partially oxidized off and the metal is starting to rust it's so bad. Really makes me mad when people do this to a nice car like this.
Old 10-30-2023, 08:11 AM
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Re: GM white

I actually LIKE the dingy white colors on cars! But all white cars look good, especially when nice and clean! ...and that 85 blue! Love that too!
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