Primer color for '71

What color primer was used under Hemi Orange ? It is for my '71 440 Charger RT

I know the the 71 bird that was orange was red oxide. That would be my best bet.

That is what I was thinking. I happened to run into both gray and red oxide while sanding out some areas. That got me to thinking....which one is correct ?

I know that the previous owner got clubbed in the back, and that's where I have found the gray. Front fenders and doors are red oxide.

Paint today is very different from back then so if your looking for a color match to the original and correct color, I would definitely go with whatever sealer they recommend under that color at the paint supplier to achieve the correct hue. The paints used now are very transparent compared to the paints with leads and other chemicals back in the day. I spent a month playing with 8 different yellows and different value shade sealers until I got the correct color and hue I was looking for. Also, use natural light to match the color as it will appear very different under garage lighting. Also, do a few spray outs to see how it looks before shooting a panel.

That is good advice 91r/t. Thanks !

Skytrooper said:

What color primer was used under Hemi Orange ? It is for my '71 440 Charger RT

Click to expand...

Chrysler used a couple of different systems, depending on the factory it came from. That said, most Mopars this vintage used this process:
After the cleaning and Bonderizing {metal prep acid] baths and rinsing, the bare metal car body, complete with hood, fenders, doors and trunk lid, quarter extensions, and in some cars the valances, was dipped in dark grey latex primer [up to about the heater hose holes]. This is the dip line you see along the interior firewall, in the doors etc. It was dipped nose first, then level, then tail down, to coat the ends of the fenders and quarters, so you will see an angle in the dip line at these points. [areas above this dip line were bare metal, with some hand applied green zinc primer in certain hidden areas like the cowl corners, applied before the fenders were attached].
Then, this was washed off of the exterior, and baked dry. This is why you see bubbly stuff in the floor ribs and low points.
The exterior of the car was then sprayed with red oxide epoxy primer, followed by grey-green epoxy primer and baked. The jambs and floors got some of the red and grey green, but not as much. This is why you see the paint peeling on the hood and trunk undersides, because depending on the fellow with the paint gun in his hand, the inners often got body colour sprayed right over the bare metal.
The exterior was then wet sanded, and if any problem areas showed up, sometimes more red oxide and grey were again sprayed and sanded. I have seen these multiple coated areas often at the lead joints or at metal finished areas that may have had some flaws hammered and smoothed with a grinder.
Then the body colour was applied and baked.
So in a nut shell, on the exterior you probably will see red oxide, grey green, and then the body colour. If you get into the lower jams and floors, you will see the dark grey- almost black primer, with light coats of the red oxide and grey green and then the body colour.