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Jack Frisch Samba Member

Joined: August 12, 2003 Posts: 756 Location: Northhampton, MA
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:46 pm Post subject: The Correct Headlight Paint |
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For 58/59 Beetles.
I restored my headlights yesterday and found a perfect match for the color that needed to be repainted on the inside of the lights.
My headlight assemblies are original and have never been painted, so the color thats there was correct
That color is a aluminum color.
I matched it on the first try using:
Rustoleum's "Aluminum 7715" spray paint
Make sure the can has Aluminum 7715 on its barcode sticker.
You will be very happy with this paint.
Moderator note:
Also see this rebuild procedure:
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wired/wired_02_01/wired_02_01.htm
Another post:
hitest wrote: |
there is a spray can paint that very closely matches the light gray color: Ford Gray- available in the TRACTOR paint section of Ace Hardware and Tractor Supply stores (farm stores). It's very light and looks great. |
_________________ 1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car |
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bill may Samba Member

Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 14160 Location: san diego,ca
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KantDriveFast Samba Member

Joined: January 08, 2005 Posts: 4293 Location: Caldwell, Id.
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:09 am Post subject: |
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I recently restored my OG headlight assys, and I found "aluminum" to be far brighter or too metallic than the orig color. Seems like it should match the inside of the bumper blades? |
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dstefun Samba Member

Joined: February 20, 2002 Posts: 3338 Location: Sacratomato
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sovereignsamba Banned
Joined: March 06, 2004 Posts: 2845
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with Bill, the smoke grey is a lot closer, I've used both colours. I also have about 15 headlight assemblies sitting right next to me ranging from 53-66 & they are all in OG paint & the colour does vary a little bit. Did you match the colour on the inside, or the outside or the assembly? Did you compensate for fading at all? |
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Juan Samba Member

Joined: September 01, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Miami, FL
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:30 am Post subject: |
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bill may wrote: |
or rustoleum smoke grey is real close to original also rather than the aluminum and is correct for bumper brackets on beetles made in the 60's. fat chicks use black. |
rustoleum smoke grey for bumper brackets. thanks for this piece of info. the ones on my 65 were painted black and it looks very nice and all, but at this point those damn brackets are the only thing keeping the exterior from being like 100% correct sucks that i'll have to take the freaking bumper assemblies off just to paint the brackets. oh well. thanks though, i'm definitely gonna keep that in mind. and please don't stop posting! |
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DrDarby Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2004 Posts: 6540 Location: Northern Illinois
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: |
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Headlight buckets were originally a light gray semi-flat black. They were this color as to NOT reflect light upward causing glare and distortion on the lens.
I have seen plenty painted silver and even kind of like it over the dull gray, however.. to be proper they are dull gray. _________________ Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL |
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67 Florida Deluxe Samba Purist

Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 7987 Location: Gainesville and Tampa, Florida
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Juan wrote: |
bill may wrote: |
or rustoleum smoke grey is real close to original also rather than the aluminum and is correct for bumper brackets on beetles made in the 60's. fat chicks use black. |
rustoleum smoke grey for bumper brackets. thanks for this piece of info. the ones on my 65 were painted black and it looks very nice and all, but at this point those damn brackets are the only thing keeping the exterior from being like 100% correct sucks that i'll have to take the freaking bumper assemblies off just to paint the brackets. oh well. thanks though, i'm definitely gonna keep that in mind. and please don't stop posting! |
Juan, let me know how the brackets turn out (how closely they match the photo). I need to redo mine at some point, too, but I'll let you do the "testing" first ! -kent _________________ -Kent (BaT "daleallen")
OG member of the '67 Posse
A few of my toys, past and present
'56 Oval, '66 KG Conv't, '67 21-Window, '67 Bug, '79 SuperVert, '55 Pre-A Continental |
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67 Florida Deluxe Samba Purist

Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 7987 Location: Gainesville and Tampa, Florida
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Juan Samba Member

Joined: September 01, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Miami, FL
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
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67 Florida Deluxe wrote: |
Juan wrote: |
bill may wrote: |
or rustoleum smoke grey is real close to original also rather than the aluminum and is correct for bumper brackets on beetles made in the 60's. fat chicks use black. |
rustoleum smoke grey for bumper brackets. thanks for this piece of info. the ones on my 65 were painted black and it looks very nice and all, but at this point those damn brackets are the only thing keeping the exterior from being like 100% correct sucks that i'll have to take the freaking bumper assemblies off just to paint the brackets. oh well. thanks though, i'm definitely gonna keep that in mind. and please don't stop posting! |
Juan, let me know how the brackets turn out (how closely they match the photo). I need to redo mine at some point, too, but I'll let you do the "testing" first ! -kent |
I just took a look at a color chart on the rustoleum site, and the smoke gray does appear pretty dark. the monitor is never a good reference point, though, we know that. I'll go to home depot and test it first --on their shelves! not on my bumper brackets !  |
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www.L5VW.com Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Salem, Oregon
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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wolfsburgwest L91 spray cans seem pretty good for bumper brackets |
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GüteAndTite Early Convertible G�ru

Joined: June 16, 2005 Posts: 2144 Location: Low So Cal
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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this thread is a hoot.
headlights up to mid 59 were silver inside the bucket, black outside
mid 59 to 60 silver inside and out
61-63 light grey inside and out HELLA outside black on BOSCH
64-67 light grey inside and out HELLA and BOSCH
so silver or light grey depending on your year.
so there are differences in whats CORRECT!
but to be honest- nobody seems to get it right so paint it what ever fucking color you want _________________ Official 58-60 "Early Big Window" Convertible Thread & Registry
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=426481
F&S Saxomat Automatic Clutch System Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=462533
61-67 Delanair Air conditioning Thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=457944&highlight=air+conditioning
PUNCTUATION CHANGES THE WORLD: "I need to help my uncle, Jack, off a horse" is way better than, "I need to help my uncle jack off a horse" |
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Robertjm Samba Member

Joined: May 22, 2011 Posts: 261 Location: San Francisco Bay Area
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: Rustoleum Stone Gray vs. 67 original color |
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After reading a whole bunch of threads I went out and bought some Rustoleum American Accents Stone Grey (satin) paint to repaint the headlight buckets on my 1967 Double Cab. Color is pretty close in my book, especially when you taken into account the dirt and grime on the unpainted bucket.
Below are two photos, one with the buckets next to each other and the other one has just the focusing ring on top of the unpainted bucket.
Like I said, I'm happy. Hopefully, these examples will make it easier for some people too.
Robert _________________ 1967 VW Double Cab Pickup
2003 Mercedes ML-500
1995 Saab 900SE Turbo Convertible (Crossed over into Valhalla April 2014)
1972 VW Squareback (Autobahn in the Sky - July 1987) |
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EverettB  Administrator

Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 70937 Location: Phoenix 602
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3481 Location: Vulcania
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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bill may wrote: |
or rustoleum smoke grey is real close to original also rather than the aluminum and is correct for bumper brackets on beetles made in the 60's. fat chicks use black. |
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Bill, your forgetting Standards and 1200A use steel gray ( L-328 ) for those bumper brackets / door handles inside & out / hood Handles / deck lid pull / hub caps / bumpers / horn grille and sometimes body side molding if ordered- and yes I have seen standards with painted body side molding from the factory in L-328.
Canadian standards called 1200 Customs use L-328 for bumper brackets / inside door handles / rear deck lid pull. Their painted rear bumper brackets are two piece instead of three like the deluxe 113, but use chrome blades, and chrome towel rack over riders to pass bumper height required in Canada and for that matter U.S.A.
here is a picture of steel gray https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/519384.jpg
D. |
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Chickensoup Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 5394 Location: Good Hope, GA
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: The Correct Headlight Paint |
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anyone got pictures of buckets that arent painted the factory color? im thinking of doing a green the same color as my car will be but im unsure on how it will look.
thanks _________________ -'85 c10 5.3 LS, cam, heads, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'01 e46 325ci *tree modded
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP |
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EverettB  Administrator

Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 70937 Location: Phoenix 602
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Chickensoup Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 5394 Location: Good Hope, GA
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: The Correct Headlight Paint |
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I appreciate it cuz.
Good Lord that Double Cab is Sexy!
i like the look. if i end up not liking them later i can always go back to stock. _________________ -'85 c10 5.3 LS, cam, heads, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'01 e46 325ci *tree modded
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP |
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KTPhil  Samba Member

Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 35318 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:11 am Post subject: Re: The Correct Headlight Paint |
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This offends the purists (like me, admittedly), but I painted the metal inside my headlight buckets on my '65 white.
I wired the parking light to stay on with the headlights, too.
The idea was to make the headlamp bucket still maximally visible, should a headlight burn out. I didn't want a head-on because someone thought I was a motorcycle.
This adds nothing to the stock question above, but is a reasonable safety improvement that could be later reversed, if desired. |
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don.ville  Samba YardMan

Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 2885 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: The Correct Headlight Paint |
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Seems the same color name looks different based on
it it is the American Accents or the Painters Touch
_________________
67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
04 Jetta TDI Page (SOLD)
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD)
29 Ford Model A Rat Rod (SOLD)
2015 Audi A8L TDI Quattro
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