I have a 1969 GS 350, in Champaigne Mist Poly paint. In 1969 mid wasy through the model year Buick decided to chainge the way that they coded colors and vinyl tops. This lasted for only a few months, and of course the car that I am restoring just happens to be one of these cars. The paint code which was changed from letter to numeric is 63=Champainge Mist, the upper body color for the vinyl top is the letter F. Does anyone have any idea what color this was? It could have been, Buckskin, Black, White, Dark Fawn or Dark Green. I doubt it was Green, Black or White, but as for Dark Fawn or Buckskin I dont know. The car came with buckskin interior so I would think that the top would be different. Any help wouild be nice!!! TX

Code F for the top indicates Dark Fawn color. It was also called top color 8.

This wasn't the only year where the paint and top codes went by two different symbols for the same color. One was called a sales code; the other was called a service code. Never have been able to figure out the reason for the dual system.

Todd,
Do you have any Buick literature that shows this? Or do you know where I can get it? I'm trying to have all my documentation in order as I restore the car. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Again!!!

Here is the Buick Gran Sport Page where I found the information http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~ddcronkh/1969.html
The info there is compiled, not original documentation (though it appears correct). F is the service code for the top color; 8 is the sales code.

I went through the following Buick sources without having success: 69 Shop manual, 69 Body by Fisher manual, 69 trim chart, Buick parts list from 83, 69 sales brochure.

The other sources I could suggest would be paint chip charts from Ditzler/DuPont/Rinshed-Mason, Buick parts manuals printed soon after 1969, or the 69 Buick service bulletins. The paint chip chart from the dealer will likely show only the sales code, not the service code.

If all else fails, the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich. can do research and probably confirm it. Likely there will be fee of $35. or so.