This is Le Mans BlueAR348

 

Lemans Blue 348

 

they both are... the second one has got a richer appearance due to light, different camera, adjustments in camera etc. You cannot make any comparison only on digital pictures on the www. If you want to be sure abouit the color, let the painter spray a sample for you, or have him order one from the paintfactory.

 

Thanks for the reply however ..
No it is NOT down to the light, camera. white balance...
In real life I have seen the difference between the two blues..

Like other forums, I could send many pictures, and examples of why this is NOT Le Mans..

Same lighting, same white balance, same model, same angle.

First 105 my colour
Second 105 LeMans

 

Ok.. what I was really after was someone who may have an Alfa of that Sky Blue Colour and had the paint code.

Again..Please don't tell me they are the same colours..I have enough evidence to the contrary..
This has gone beyond a committee meeting..

This lighter blue colour appeared on 70's Italian police cars, many 105 sedans/GTVs, and early 116 Alfetta Sedans and GT/GTVs.

I can get my panel shop to match it but curious as to the paint code. I'm now guessing its rarity is even more so now, with very little true information.
I appreciate most Alfas are not light blue, so information is limited.

PS I am a professional photographer and do have a little clue about colour/white balance etc..

What I was really after was someone who may have an Alfa of that Sky Blue Colour and had the paint code. Thank you

 

ok, maybe paint mixing errors, difference in recipe between paint factorys..

 

Imho there are only these optoins:

car is painted with other color , not Le mans blue
Car is painted LM blue but mixing error

let the painter make a sample for you on the code his paint brand has on Le Mans Blue. As far as I know there is no other Alfa color that is this close to Le Mans Blue
there are some other topics on this color. And when I do a google search I get many diferent shades it seems..

 

Thanks VEEP for your consideration.. but IMHO I think you are incorrect..

That said ..I'm still looking for someone with the correct paint code.

 

On 2L cars, the paint code sticker is inside on the trunk lid. If that is missing, you can take a part down to the paint store and they can color scan it, using a colorimeter. The machine will give you an exact match whether it is Chevy, Ford, Anglia, etc.

You can find a source for paint colors on this webpage: Alfa Paint Codes

You might have a custom spray from the factory.

 

Glasurit was factory paint supplier, my car was painted Glasurit Lemans Blue 348. Notes different shades in different light.

 

Interesting what you & others say & not surprising to me. I recently went through this kind of exercise looking for Blu Helvetia (Swiss blue),
which was later re-named Blu Francia :French blue. The number of Alfa blues I found across different paint manufacturers was quite staggering & I had NO idea there were so many across the years. I would say around 6 different blues in that mid to light range which people might call Le Mans blue. Also the same I.D. code number can appear quite different from paint maker to maker, & or the mix recipes for a particular code are so different, the results cannot ever come out the same across makers anyway.
In the end we ignored the different code mixes from Max Meyer, Glasurit, Lesonal etc, and mixed to a color sample from inside the fuel flap.
So, I would say if you don't have the paint makers label & code sticker, you probably don't have much chance of getting it right. Better to match from a sample. But I do understand that you car is already painted & you just want to know the color, so my best guess is it's a mix version of another paint maker other than the original paint inside your boot, or an anomaly of the modern paint tints which DO NOT seem to come up correct to the original color sample anyway. A certain amount of extra adjusting seems necessary with modern paints.
regards,
Vince.

 

Than you for your well considered response..

As much as my car is 95% painted it now needs some detail painting..hence the post..yes I can get it colour matched by eye or machine BUT, I was also wondering if I could find that magic number that I could quote to get it mixed off the shelf.. ...Apparently not...I think examples that have been repainted have been done so by eye, or scan..I just wanted to get an aerosol tin and/or 500ml mixed up via a paint code for minor airbrushing and small area repairs..

My car being an ancient 116 GTV has had a replacement tail gate/hatch and as such any paint tags are gone.. Plus the original WAS Le Mans Blue (darker le mans blue in boot cavity), but previous owner decided to go much lighter Polizia/Early Alfetta/105/Montreal/Rare GTV blue..

Hence my problem.. my first hand experience to see the difference between my cars boot and body, and yet have seen many examples of the lighter blue on 70's Alfas

Anyway, thanks again for for your response..

 

Here’s a link to the full visual palette (keep scrolling down) Have a look at Le mans AR-348 vs. blu medio AR-350. Otherwise would it not be probable the particular car has had a “Le Mans” respray but the color not matched properly? In any case this is the full palette so if it’s not in there, it’s not a factory color.
https://victorparts.com/media/wysiwyg/pdf_files/colorcodes_pdf/AlfaCampionarioColori.pdf

 

Had a good look its not there...however...I don't think this is the full story..

Yes, not the factory colour.. but i know that already..

But..

I have seen it on many other alfas in picture and in the metal.
I have seen other Alfettas in this lighter sky blue.
So as much as it might not be a THE factory colour (which in fact I agree with you) it is A factory colour for not just any Alfa but also for the Alfetta..

Whats this code people??

I'm not interested in slide rule boffins, just some one who might know the code..

I parked up next to a 105 recently at a show...Exact same colour...Did not get to talk to the owner unfortunately..

Do people not have eyes??..There is an absolute distinction in these two "Le mans blues"...You could see the difference in pitch dark with your eyes gouged out..The Old Polizia blue car shade which is the most common example of the colour seems to have no code..

Again I'll just get some paint mixed up at my panel shop, no hassles, but this won't add to the brains-trust with how this distinction played out for future information..

I'll search the cars VIN to check its original spec.. but I know it will come back as Le Mans AR348..

Car owners will always do crazy thing..but I actually have always preferred the "Azzurro" to the Le Mans. Thats what drew me to buying my 116.



I also have found myself with a 79 Alfetta sedan, previous owners of this one had also decided ironically to alter the car's colour from the original gorgeous metallic blue to a later shade of brighter Alfa metallic blue..They spent quite a bit of coin doing this but in this instance, I think it was a mistake..

Actually I think what happened was that the car had a rear end nudge and the insurance painted the whole car because the rest of the car was faded metallic blue.. Owners had a choice of colour within reason and they went for a newer fresher blue to match the GCL boot lid put on..

Anyway..I digress ...The point I make is about colour change choices..wise or otherwise

 

https://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/gt-1963-1977/686906-71-gtv-re-assembly-after-paint-french-blue.html blue francia? so maybe not Le Mans?

 

I think both are the same.

Sent from my F8332 using Tapatalk

 

Ok I'll post what I can see as obvious differences even if they are digital images taken in vastly different environs.

All images are listed as Le Mans Blue..
First pair same model same angle same lighting ..same white balance. clearly not the same colour

Second pair: first car matches AR348..second does not..

Third pair my car and another 116 GTV compared to R348..In the same light my paint is identical to the overseas example..and not anywhere close to the AR348

I have many more examples.. but I think I'll let the matter rest..Thank you lovely enthusiasts..I appreciate you r passion..

 

So I got my paint mixed today.

Perfect match..
Thanks everyone for their various inputs....

 

Very valuable thread as my 1974 GTV is going to be painted soon. It was originally LeMans blue, and I do not like the slight violet or lavender tint it has in some lighting conditions.

It looks like the second, darker photo in this thread. I asked the shop to check and he said the paint code does include some redish tint. I’ve had him mix and spray a few test pieces which have more white and less red tint. It’s close to the first pic in the thread but a bit violet in some lighting conditions.

Please post your painted car and details on your paint formulation.

 

HI, I'm sorry to say but this is my car, and it is AR348 Le mans blue, I resprayed it so I know the colour code. There were three shades and I believe I used the mid tone.

 

1972 Alfa Romeo Color Chart -- Reference Materials

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Colours on most cars in this period changed a little over the years used. This one is Le Mans Blue 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV