Very Impressive Detective work .... but it still leaves me as a "Juror" Not Convinced.

I know "Mocha Steel Metallic" when I see it, and that OP picture shows that color IMHO.

Now with the Vin# any GM dealer can run a "Build Sheet" that will reveal the true color code put on at the Factory.

After purchasing 10 HHR's over the last 7 years I have seen Many Dealer adds with false and misleading information.
Some of it Laughable.

Silverfox

 

I got no dog in this. FMG, you've said before that you had very few choices when ordering your 2010. Choices you could have had a year prior. Dark Gray was an HHR color in 2009, maybe someone was able to order it that way. Probably not, but...

SF, if it is indeed a respray, it certainly could be the Mocha Steel. I've looked at the "pic only" threads here dedicated to the 2 colors. From pics alone(and only 2 for this car) it's really hard to tell the difference between the 2.

Agree with you about bad info in dealer ads! It would be interesting to see the original code, if anybody can get that from the VIN.

 

I agree RJ. Just stating some things I've learned over the years. The 2009's did have more choices but that color still didn't show up as having been put on any SS at the factory(based on the 2009 chart I showed in post #5)
There were several colors in 08,09 that were on the regular LS and LT's that you could not get on the SS. White was one color available every year. Just never on the SS.

Until someone gets an actual look at the car in person, we'll just keep discussing it.
My personal opinion is it's a repaint, color change. Lots of times people will change colors because of accident damage to the car and it needing a complete
respray.
Again, I'm just guessing here. But, I used to work in a body shop and we did several car color changes after having done major body work.

 

Or.. a Prior Owner had "Big Bucks" and just wanted a Specific color. The picture looks a lot like Factory paint job to me but Good Re-Painters can match the quality appearance with todays paints and equipment.

As I mentioned in my earlier post there were Conditions under which I had a bit of a challenge to tell my Mocha HHR was not more gray.

Camera's and Light Conditions plus transferring the picture to a Website could make a difference in the True Color.

I have had a 2010 and a 2011 Cyber Gray Metallic and both were closer to Black, but the 2009 I believe was a considerably lighter Metallic Gray not Silver.

Silverfox

 

Model: 1AU46-2009 HHR SS TURBOCHARGED
Build Date: 26/05/2009
Build Plant: S


This particular HHR was painted:

17U - SILVER ICE METALLIC

If any error, you would only be able to verify by checking RPOs on the car. Build detail GM shows:

17U - SILVER ICE METALLIC
19I - BLACK INTERIOR TRIM
1SZ - OPTION PKG DISCOUNT
AJ6 - PWR SEAT ADJUST-DRIVER, 8 WAY
AS5 - PERFORMANCE SEATING - DRIVER & FRONT PASSENGER
ASF - SIDE AIRBAGS, FRONT/REAR
AXP - MPV VIN IDENT POSITION
C2Y - GVW RATING 4,240 LBS
CF5 - POWER SUNROOF
D81 - SPOILER, AERO WING
EF7 - USA
FE9 - 50-STATE EMISSIONS
G63 - LUGGAGE CARRIER ROOF RAILS
JJD - I/P SUBASSEMBLY NOT INSTALLED
JL9 - ANTILOCK BRAKES, FRT/RR
MN5 - 4 SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION, HMD
NP5 - LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL
NW9 - TRACTION CONTROL
QOI - TIRE, P225/45R18-91W AL3 BW
SAL - RAMOS ARIZPE, MEXICO PLANT CODE
T96 - FOG LAMPS
UE1 - 1 YR ONSTAR SERVICE SAFE & SOUND PLAN
UPF - BLUETOOTH FOR PHONE
UUI - AM/FM STEREO, CD PLAYER W/AUX INPUT & USB PORT
VK3 - FRONT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET
VY7 - LEATHER WRAPPED SHIFT KNOB

19C - EBONY
1SS - SS PACKAGE
47A - DOUBLE SMOKE ACCENT STRIPE
AP3 - REMOTE STARTER SYSTEM
ASA - DRVR/FRT PASS AIR BAG
AT8 - RESTRAINT CHILD PROVISIONS
B36 - CARGO MAT, CARPETED, REAR
C67 - AIR CONDITIONING
D48 - PWR OUTSIDE MIRRORS-BODY COLOR
DD8 - LIGHT SENSITIVE ISRV MIRROR
FE5 - SUSPENSION RIDE SYSTEM
FR9 - AXLE RATIO 3.29
IPC - INTERIOR TRIM DESIGN - AR9
JL4 - STABILITRAK
LNF - ENGINE,2.0L DOHC DI TURBO
MX0 - TRANSMISSION, 4 SPD AUTOMATIC WITH REMOTE VEHICLE START
NT7 - FEDERAL EMISSION SYSTEM TIER 2
PZ4 - 18" X 7.5" WHEEL
R9N - PROCESSING CODE - SEAT
SLM - STOCK ORDERS
U2K - XM SATELLITE RADIO - SERVICE FEE EXTRA. 1ST 3MONTHS INCL.
UJ6 - TIRE PRESS INDICATOR LOW
UQ3 - AUDIO SYSTEM HIGH PERFORMANCE WITH 7 PIONEER SPEAKERS
V73 - STATEMENT OF VEHICLE CERT.-U.S. /CANADA
VT7 - OWNERS MANUAL ENGLISH

 

Well that’s settled, thank you McB_HHR!

Now what else do we have to ponder??

 

SAVED BY THE BELL ....

I found myself out of Ammunition.

Silverfox

 

So.... I ruined the party? lol. What would be more fun is if the record was wrong and the RPO sticker showed differently.

 

..... and it could still be a repaint. :)

 

No way, you didn't ruin anything! Appreciate the help!

So the original was Silverstone/Silver Ice/Switchblade Silver. But Silver, not Gray. So a repaint.