I have to clean up some surface rust on my Volvo's rocker panel. The area below the trim strip on my car is gray. It also looks a little faded. Does anyone know what the original color or code was? Also can I find decent paint at PepBoys, or should I go to a specialty shop? Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help.

Joseph
1993 Volvo 240
1967 MGB
2004 Subaru Forester

 

Unfortunately the only thing that I know is that the original color was black. Hopefully someone else with more information will post.

 

I'd bet black truck bed "rhino-liner" would work great. its always looked like black paint over some kind of undercoat to me.

for the matte black trim thats *not* heavy undercoat, I've had really good luck with SEM Trim Black (in an aerosol can), like on the blacked out chrome strips around the windows and stuff. clean surface really well, scrape off any old paint thats even a little loose, mask well with blue painters tape and hit it with two coats a few mins apart per the can instructions, and it looks like new again. this would work on the tops of the doors of the later model 240s, too.

 

This is such an old thread......but I want add that the '93 (240 and surely other years) has a GRAY rocker panel. If I determine or find the color identified elsewhere I'll post it.

 

I'd say FLAT BLACK, not that the original poster from 2012 is holding his breath...

 

As of October 2021 SEM Bumper Coater paint chart is available on-line for $3.25 from R&E Automotive Paint and Supply. When it arrives I'll post here the color name and number that most nearly matches the gray rocker panels on my 1993 245. When not being used as my daily driver the car has been garaged at work and at home since new. The exterior colors are very true to their original factory colors.