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RX7 Brilliant Black PX and PZ Difference?

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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 01:01 PM
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RX7 Brilliant Black PX and PZ Difference?

Hello!

I know this question has been asked multiple times and there are a lot of threads on it but I''m still asking whats the difference between the two brillant black colors that Mazda offered for RX7. PX and PZ.

My car originally was PX from the factory but now it has a 25G Paint job and I'm planning to go back to factory color.

Also pictures of both would be helpfull.

Thanks,
Fahad
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 01:07 PM
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In the US at least I'm only aware of the PZ color code for brilliant black.

You can probably Google around on that paint code, Mazda rarely uses a color just for one car or something, you can probably find pictures of the paint. Or, work with a paint shop, they may be able to look up the code, look up the "mix" that goes into it, and tell you what the difference is. One may have more "sparkle", be a little darker, etc.

You can typically have paint shops spray speed shapes or something with different colors to test as well.

Dale
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 01:08 PM
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Found this -

Mazda Color Codes - PZ model/year code PZ Cross-Reference

Looks like it's pretty much the same paint code. They may have named it differently in different markets, who knows.

Dale
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by DaleClark
Found this -

Mazda Color Codes - PZ model/year code PZ Cross-Reference

Looks like it's pretty much the same paint code. They may have named it differently in different markets, who knows.

Dale
What I was reading on different threads they say PZ has clearcoat and PX does not. Also my car is JDM and jdms had both px and pz.

If PX does not have clearcoat what is applied over base coat thats what I'm confused in...
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 04:00 PM
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Paints can be single stage where it's just one shiny coat of paint. Most spray paint cans at the store are like this, think about it.

If you pay for a quality paint job, it's worth paying for clear coat. Single stage is kind of a cheaper way to do it. Clearcoat gives more surface on top to buff/wet sand out for a really quality finish.

I think in the US some colors on the FD, like Vintage Red, were single stage from the factory. I'm sure there's a more detailed reason why.

Dale
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 04:21 PM
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My 93 BB is also PZ but had a clear coat on it. The clear failed a few years back so I had it repainted.
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Old Jul 12, 2017 | 04:31 PM
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My 03/92 FD R1 BB PZ had a clear coat.
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 05:30 AM
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My euro PZ 94 does not have clearcoat
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 07:13 AM
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Can someone please post photos of both paint jobs?
Is there any difference other then clear?
Which looks better?
My car originally had PX.
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 07:33 AM
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Mine:



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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Zepticon
Mine:



nice!
what color is this? PZ or PX.
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 08:21 AM
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If you read the post above the one you asked for pictures in it says PZ
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Zepticon
If you read the post above the one you asked for pictures in it says PZ
Sorry missed that. So how come your PZ does not have clear?
Also how do you tell if the color does have clear or doesn't?
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Old Jul 13, 2017 | 11:19 AM
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I'm probably wrong, but this got me thinking.
Remember in the late 80's/early 90's the EPA was clamping down hard on things like automotive paint. That's why a lot of cars from the early 90s have peeling clearcoat...because the industry was still figuring out how to make the paint pass EPA standards and stay on the car. Notice how a lot of white S5s have peeling paint? I think white might have been one of the harder colors to make work.

Maybe one code is a newer formula of the same color than the other. An upgrade from the peeling stuff..?
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Old Sep 1, 2020 | 09:41 PM
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bringing this back since I found it searching for BB paint codes, and i may have found an answer to help someone in the future.

this is from a miata forum

1992 MAZDA MIATA

3L - Silver Stone Metallic Clearcoat (also coded as 4G)
6W - Perky Blue Metallic Clearcoat
DU - Mariner Blue
HZ - Sunburst Yellow (extra-cost; only 1519 HZ cars built)
PX - Brilliant Black
PZ - Brilliant Black Clearcoat

SU - Classic Red
UC - Crystal White

It would seem one is clearcoat and one isnt.

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Old Sep 4, 2020 | 03:25 PM
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^^ Good to know.

With regards to the old request: Personally I would not make a judgement between two similar paint colors based on what I see on a computer screen, especially black lol
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Old Sep 4, 2020 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by fzkhan7
Sorry missed that. So how come your PZ does not have clear?
Also how do you tell if the color does have clear or doesn't?
I noticed i forgot to answer this: Its pretty easy, if you polish it, the pad will turn black if it is single stage without clearcoat, since you remove black color pigments. If its clearcoat, it does not pick up color.
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Old Sep 4, 2020 | 07:57 PM
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I'm wondering if the difference might be the "high-reflex" paint used on the touring package cars vs. the other models? I can tell you the Vintage Red on my base car is not clear coated as I've polished off plenty of red (too much in a few spots) over the years
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Old Sep 5, 2020 | 11:35 PM
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Vintage Red was a 3 stage paint job from Mazda when applied correctly it looks really nice. I am not sure if a clear coat was added to the finish.
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Old Sep 6, 2020 | 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 2-Rotor
Vintage Red was a 3 stage paint job from Mazda when applied correctly it looks really nice. I am not sure if a clear coat was added to the finish.
True, but that was only if your car was painted with what they called the "high-reflex" process, as included with the touring package. I believe the 3 stages are base color, a tinted mid coat followed by clear. As I said, my base, Vintage Red car (paint code NU) is definitely not clear coated.
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Old Sep 6, 2020 | 08:23 PM
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I have the Vintage Red NT - no clearcoat on mine either.
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Old Sep 7, 2020 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by jsesq
I have the Vintage Red NT - no clearcoat on mine either.
Vintage Red NU is 3 Stage.
Base Coat is whitish then a Mid Coat Red then CC
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Old Sep 7, 2020 | 09:02 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Originally Posted by RX7gp
True, but that was only if your car was painted with what they called the "high-reflex" process, as included with the touring package. I believe the 3 stages are base color, a tinted mid coat followed by clear. As I said, my base, Vintage Red car (paint code NU) is definitely not clear coated.
that is right, the regular Brilliant Black is PZ, the High Reflex is PX and then the Brilliant Black with Clear is A3F (99+)

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Old Sep 7, 2020 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by fzkhan7
Vintage Red NU is 3 Stage.
Base Coat is whitish then a Mid Coat Red then CC
Well, not in the US. I just double-checked and my car is NU. As a base car it is definitely not 3 stage
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Old Sep 8, 2020 | 11:43 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Originally Posted by fzkhan7
Vintage Red NU is 3 Stage.
Base Coat is whitish then a Mid Coat Red then CC
Originally Posted by RX7gp
Well, not in the US. I just double-checked and my car is NU. As a base car it is definitely not 3 stage
RTFM...

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