I currently have listed multiple color codes and color names from various manufacturers and suppliers (see prior page). As far as I know all of these colors are identical, until someone claims otherwise (with some basis for the claim). I am happy to add any number of color codes or names from other sources, as long as it is assumed that they are all the same original color. If anyone submits a color code or name or manufacturer for publication that is a noticeably different color, and claims it is correct, they will have a lot of explaining to do to prove their case against all of the historically accepted colors.

The following colors with codes from the paint manufacturers should have mixing codes publicly available through most auto paint specialty stores:

Ditzler 2593 (Argent Silver)
 "  DAR-2593 (acrylic enamel)
 "  DDL-2593 (acrylic lacquer)
Ford Silver - DAR-2593 (Argent Silver)
Ford Silver - PPG - DCC2593 polyurethane (Argent Silver)
Hammered Silver - Ditzler DAR 2593
Metallichrome Aluminium - ICI no: P0-2358 (original Dunlop wheel paint)
Silver - Ditzler Delstar® - Code #16

The rest of the paints listed on the prior page would be proprietary to a particular supplier and will likely not have the mixing code publicly available:

Even the proprietary colors are most likely a perfect or very close match to the original Dunlop wheel color. It should not be necessary for anyone to worry about a mixing code for the Dunlop wheel paint. This color is so well known and so commonly replicated since the 50's or maybe earlier) that the color is generically called "Silver Wheel Paint". Any paint manufacturer would be nuts to produce a different shade of silver and try to pass it off as original Silver Wheel Paint color. Human eyes have been trained for decades to spot the correct color and easily discern even minor differences for incorrect colors.

It bothers me a little that some modern paint types may be the correct color but can give a different impression by way of surface finish and reflective properties. The 2-pack and clear coats and baked on powder coat paints will like appear more glossy than the original paint, and there may be no cure for that problem. Does anyone make a satin finish powder coat paint? Appearance wise it may be like the difference between satin black chassis paint (semi-gloss black) and gloss black. There may be valid technical reasons for using 2-pack or clear coat or powder coat with different appearance (even being the correct color). In the end it is a matter of personal choice.

It is long known that concours winning cars are not necessarily all original in this respect, as concours show is a process of making the appearance of the car the best it can be, which will often violate originality. This is similar to polishing the copper heater water return pipe to a bright finish when the factory never did that. I have never seen a concours car given reduced points due to gloss black chassis paint, polished metal parts, chrome plated wire wheels (period correct accessory) or slight differences in appearance of paint surfaces when done in original colors.

The issue of Argent Silver (a North American color name) not being available through a Ford Dealer is no big deal. It is likely the Ford Motor Company stopped supporting that color a long time ago, same as they eventually stop supplying parts for older car models. But the color Argent Silver is still commonly known in the auto industry as a whole, and any automotive paint store should have the mixing code for it, possibly in a variety of paint types.

Bottom line is, I don't know what all the fuss is about. If you want original silver wheel paint color just go buy the stuff pretty much anywhere you like from any supplier in any type of paint. No one would ever haul out a spectrum analyzer to try to find a difference between two identical appearing colors. If someone paints their wheels a different shade of silver than all the rest, that's their problem if they subsequently try to argue against the vast majority of car owners with wheels all the same color.

If there is any argument in all this for correct appearance it has to be that wheel paint should be a dull appearance single stage enamel with no clear coat and no baked powder paint. That may or may not sound reasonable, but for sure anyone who used 2-pack, clear coat, or powder coat paint will wage religious war to the contrary. As I said, concours show is not about originality, more of a beauty contest. This web page is a tip on the finer details of surface finish and reflective properties of various paint types, intended to wake up the senses to the fact that various paint types may have various appearances not exactly as original, even when it is the correct color.