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Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:27 pm

i am rebuilding a 69 bus, lower paint will be L51P (cyan/ light blue beetle color).
i am in doubt about the top color, L90D or L680 cumulus white or l289 blue white? which is better? i like a modern feel of the color, but with vw colors.

L51P is already aplied in many areas... so i cannot change

thanks

Tue Sep 23, 2003 2:09 pm

When the top was white it was almost invariably L90 Pastel White.

Personally, I find the color a little drab looking because it's slightly greyish. It's stock which I tend to prefer but if you've ever seen a bus with original L90D in great condition you might agree with me.

When I went to repaint my bus I struggled for a long time to find a color that I would be happy with. After doing some research it turns out L90D is fading from the computer paint formula databases because it was only popular for a short time. When I say fading I mean your choice of this color will limit you to certain paint systems, almost always single stage.

L90E Alpine White, on the other hand, is a white that has endured in the databases because it was a popular Porsche color as well as being used to paint BMWs to this day. It's been updated over the years but basically the same to the eye. I find it a colder white that doesn't suit the roundness of a bus.

Deciding to keep it stock looking yet update the appearance slightly I took a trip down to the VW dealer and located a new 2003 color called Campanella White which is being used to paint New Beetles. LR9A. I ended up painting my bus this color and it turned out great like a 2003 New Beetle.

Tue Sep 23, 2003 7:41 pm

I have always been fond of L87 pearl white. It isn't the correct color though for the pop-top.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/103290.jpg

Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:28 pm

I used pastel white for the top on an orange van, and was very pleased with the look. A very creamy, pale yellowish white. I got a ppg base clear formulation. The ppg code is 2247.