Will the *REAL* 1965 Buick engine green please stand up?

[elagache]

Dear fanatics of the 1965 Buick GS . . . . .

You guys are real hard-core about originality.  Alas, I have a story of engine paint that either will make you mad or sad.  My trusty 1965 Buick Special wagon had her original engine (and thus paint color) until 1979.  At that time the car had 98,000 miles and it sure looked like there was a leak of coolant into the cylinders.  Most folks would have junked the car, but we loved our "Biquette" so we had the engine rebuilt.  Dad wanted the engine painted Buick green, but what came back was . . . Chevy blue . . 

Fast forward to 2001 and I was working in San Diego and occasionally driving home to the San Francisco Bay Area.  This time Biquette was burning oil and she has over 125,000 miles on her rebuilt engine.  My Dad had died by then so it was up to me to get this engine rebuilt correctly and so once more I strongly demanded that the engine be painted 1965 Buick green.  What came back was . . . . once more . . . . Chevy blue . . 

Forward another decade and the "well built" rebuild of 2001 was showing "valve issuez."  This time I got a Buick guy: Jim Weise to build me an engine.  At least it was painted green, but honestly, it seemed like Jim ended up going a little light on the green pigment.

I've seen everything from a very clear green to a very dark green called 1965 Buick engine green. 

Can you believe it?  I can't really remember what Biquette's engine looked like before 1979 - I was only 18 at the time!

So, since this forum should have the most original of originality freaks . . . does anybody really know what was the actual 1965 Buick engine green?  Is there a well-preserved sample somewhere, or are we all trying to judge from faded memories and faded paint?

Curious minds want to know! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[RVA65GS]

Not the actual 1965 Buick engine green, but Detroit Diesel green is close.

-Joe

[Brian]

I have always used the buick engine green paint that CARS inc sells.  I think Year One also buys it from them and re-sells it.  I have seen some originals and it is dead on in color. 

[Mark Ascher]

I used Bill Hirsch.

Mark

[66nailhead]

I've used bill hirsch also on my engines and so has my dad on his 65's. Very durable and looks factory. He even sells it in spray cans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[elagache]

Dear Joe, Brian, Mark, Dan, and mid-60s engine color experts,

Thanks for the replies.  So I take it that the consensus is that the darker shades of green that you'll find say in the CARs formulation is closer to the original than say the formulation that TA-Performance sells - correct?  It is most definitely not here or there, but I find the TA-Performance shade more appealing to me aesthetically.  Is that a by-gone memory going back to before 1979? - I sure don't know.  One thing is for sure, I cannot be trusted to be a good judge of green paint - I'm at least somewhat color-blind in the greens! 

Thanks again! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[wheelz]

Old posting but I need to find out... WHERE? or HOW? does one contact this Bill Hirsch dood?

[Mark Ascher]

See screen shot.

Mark

[Loren At 65GS]

I've used paint from CARS.

Color is correct also. Just to let you know there are a couple of sources.

   Loren

[elagache]

Dear Wheelz, Mark, Loren, and Nailhead green purists, . . . 

Funny that this thread come back to life.  The engine for my trusty wagon is at TA-Performance right now and I've told Mike to repaint it in their own formulation of Nailhead green.  You guys have convinced me that it is too light a shade, but somehow I really like the TA-Performance color better.  I wonder if it reminds me of how my trusty wagon looked in the late 1970s.  Perhaps the paint had faded a bit and that's what I remember. 

Oh well, . . . . in case you guys hadn't noticed . . . . I can be stubborn at times! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[wheelz]

THANQ for posting the Hirsch link Mark!! 

Wheelz, Tampa Bay

[bobbybuick]

I love this stuff you can spray or brush looks great i think it is close KBS motor coater
stock untouched valve covers