Strange how 79U doesn’t show up in the 2008 paint code list.
Now WA517Q is the 2008 Merlot , I’ve seen one wagon and one AA5 painted this colour , both 2008’s

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/paintdet...?gmcode=WA517Q

 

I narrowed it down here. If it's an 08, you have one choice for Red... 74U. It always is 2 digits and ends in U.

2008 GM Color Codes - HHR Paint Cross-Reference

 

Don, I know they were still switching to water-based at some plants into the early 90s. I was working with Paint Engineering. I would put completion at 1994-95ish. Still not applicable to HHRs, anyway.

 

If that is Victory Red, either the phone/camera had some really weird color correction going on or the light was really funky.

It sure LOOKS like the code is 74 or something, definitely starting with 7, but it doesn't look like Super Red.

I think it looks exactly like this one and is actually Cardinal Red, which came out in '09.

2009 Cardinal Red Metallic Chevrolet HHR LT #7469875 | GTCarLot.com - Car Color Galleries

 

As I posted , 79 Merlot Jewel , was a paint option for all GM vehicles in 2008,9,10.

As posted here , there was excitement in the air for the new colours

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...s-2008-a-7598/

 

That's the same link I had in post 3#

 

I know, and that 19C Cashmere is for the interior colour

 

I should have said "started changing in 1981" CARB outlawed lacquer so the California plants had to change to water based enamel. And as usuall, the California whackos made everybody change.