Correct color for Turbo air box?

[frached]

Hello, does anybody have the exact OEM color for Turbo air boxes? Out of my two cars I have two different shades of gray paint. Any insight is appreciated.

[Preyupy]

My air box was in great shape when I got it so I just polished it up and had it scanned.  I have paint but I don't have a formula based on anything other than a Job number from our local paint supply.  I'm sure mine was never painted before I got it. 

 

It would not surprise me if there are different colors throughout the run.  Their were different shades on the airboxes used in other cars over the years 

[Einspritz]

Or black, as I purchased a NOS from I don't know where eons ago.

 

Perhaps that changed as the production dates changed, so more research on that of course.

[Preyupy]

2 hours ago, Einspritz said:

Or black, as I purchased a NOS from I don't know where eons ago.

 

Perhaps that changed as the production dates changed, so more research on that of course.

Exactly my thought.  The correct color is whatever was in the gun on the day it was built.  

[Lengrep]

Mine is black. ??‍♂️

[Einspritz]

1 hour ago, Preyupy said:

The correct color is whatever was in the gun on the day it was built.

 

Being the '70s and all, is a Peter Max vibe in Motorsport colors out of the realm of possibility?

[Anthony]

I have never seen a black one, they are sort of mix of anthracite / grey. I can confirm on 2 original cars they are different shades. 

I think sometimes we get wrapped around the axle on what is right and what is correct, these cars were never built to collect, and on a very short production run they iterated as they went. 

 

[Conserv]

On 8/3/2021 at 4:06 PM, Preyupy said:

Exactly my thought.  The correct color is whatever was in the gun on the day it was built.  

+1

 

BMW did not sweat details such as paint color on underhood or chassis components. And… replacement parts were often a different color altogether. We, today, are far, far fussier than BMW was!

 

Just don’t make the airbox glossy or dead flat. The various colors used for these hidden elements were generally semi-gloss to satin in sheen.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[wkohler]

Mine is a semi-gloss kinda dark greyish color.  I'm sure it's original since it still has the purolator decal and everything on it. 

Sorry this is the best photo I have.  It's currently in the trunk and hard to get to right now.

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by wkohler