Paint code 027 · LM3A · 80K · 84A · G1 · Solid
Porsche Guards Red
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Guards Red is a solid Porsche exterior color, paint codes 027, LM3A, 80K, 84A and G1. Porsche has offered it on the 911, 718 Boxster & Cayman, classic Porsches and Cayenne from 1974 to today as a standard color. To confirm a specific car left the factory in Guards Red, check the paint code on its build sheet.
Guards Red at a glance
| Paint code(s) | 027, LM3A, 80K, 84A, G1 |
|---|---|
| Finish | Solid — Non-metallic solid red; one of Porsche's longest-running standard colours. Porsche's German name is Indischrot, sometimes rendered in English as Indian Red. |
| Color family | Red Porsche Colors |
| Model lines | 911, 718 Boxster & Cayman, classic Porsches and Cayenne |
| Also written | Guardsred, Indischrot (German), Indian Red |
Porsche Guards Red years and models
| Model | Model years | Availability | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 911 (G-series) | 1974–1989 | Standard color | [10] |
| 911 (964) | 1990–1994 | Standard color | [10] |
| 911 (993) | 1995–1998 | Standard color | [10][5] |
| 911 (996) | 1998–2004 | Standard color | [10][6] |
| 911 (997) | 2005–2012 | Standard color | [10][6] |
| 911 (991) | 2012–2019 | Standard color | [10][3] |
| 911 (992) | 2020– | Standard color | [4][6] |
| Boxster / Cayman | 2002–2020 | Standard color | [6] |
| 718 Spyder RS | 2024 | Standard color | [9] |
| 944 / 928 / 924944 owners and Porsche literature also call it Indian Red | 1980–1991 | Standard color | [7][1] |
| Carrera GT | 2005 | Standard color | [6] |
| Cayenne | 2008–2009 | Standard color | [6] |
US model years where the source gives them. A trailing dash means still offered in the latest source.
Guards Red paint codes
- 027— 1970s–1980s code (also written L027)[7][2]
- LM3A— 1980s–early 1990s code[7][8]
- Paint code 80K— 1990s code[8][2]
- Paint code 84A— 1998-onward code (water-cooled era)[6][2]
- G1— short code on option labels[6][2]
The code is printed on the car's option sticker and on a VIN build sheet. Porsche has reused some names with new codes as paint formulas changed, so the code is the reliable identifier.
About Guards Red
- Guards Red appears in the launch colour range of every 911 Targa generation from the G-series of 1974 through the 991, according to Porsche's own overview of Targa colours. [10]
- When the 993 GT2 launched for the 1996 model year, Porsche offered it in only a handful of colours, and Guards Red was one of them. [5]
- On the 992 Carrera T, Guards Red sits in the no-cost solid palette alongside Black, White and Racing Yellow, while the deeper Carmine Red is an extra-cost special colour. [4]
How common is Guards Red?
| Model | Listings in Guards Red | Share of new listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 911 | 22 of 588 | 3.7% |
Counts of live US new-car listings by dealer-listed exterior color, aggregated from licensed vehicle-data providers. Dealers sometimes list generic names, so true shares can be higher.
Is that car really Guards Red?
The build sheet shows the factory exterior color and installed options recorded for a specific VIN, plus original MSRP when the build data includes it. Free availability check first; $9.99 only if detailed build data exists — no subscription.
Colors similar to Guards Red
Frequently asked questions
What is the paint code for Porsche Guards Red?
Guards Red has carried Porsche paint codes 027 (1970s–1980s code (also written L027)); LM3A (1980s–early 1990s code); 80K (1990s code); 84A (1998-onward code (water-cooled era)); G1 (short code on option labels). Porsche reuses names across eras with different codes, so match the code on the car's option sticker or build sheet rather than the name alone.
Which Porsche models and years came in Guards Red?
Our sources list Guards Red on the 911 (G-series) (1974–1989, standard color), 911 (964) (1990–1994, standard color), 911 (993) (1995–1998, standard color), 911 (996) (1998–2004, standard color), 911 (997) (2005–2012, standard color) and 911 (991) (2012–2019, standard color), among others. If you see it on a model or year not listed, it may be a Paint to Sample order or a respray — the build sheet for the VIN shows which.
Is Guards Red a Paint to Sample color?
Our sources list Guards Red as a standard color rather than Paint to Sample. Porsche's Paint to Sample program can still apply many past colors to new cars, so a recent car in Guards Red may be a PTS order.
Guards Red vs Carmine Red: what's the difference?
Both are non-metallic reds, but Guards Red is the bright, slightly orange-leaning signal red that Porsche has offered as a standard colour since the 1970s. Carmine Red (Karminrot) is darker and bluer, arrived in the 2010s, and is normally priced as an extra-cost special colour, as on the 992 Carrera T.
How common is Guards Red?
In US new-car inventory on October 22, 2026, 22 of 588 new 2026 Porsche 911 listings (3.7%) were listed in Guards Red. Shares come from dealer-listed color names, which are not always exact.
How can I tell if a Porsche is factory Guards Red?
Read the paint code on the option sticker (in the maintenance booklet and, on most models, in the front luggage compartment) or on a build sheet for the VIN, and compare it with 027, LM3A, 80K, 84A and G1. A matching color name alone does not rule out a respray or wrap.
Sources
- Porsche Klassik: Nina Vetterli-Treml and her 944 — Porsche Newsroom
- 2022 Porsche 911 paint codes — AutomotiveTouchup (secondary)
- 911 Carrera T: puristic performance (991) — Porsche Newsroom
- World premiere of the new 911 Carrera T (992) — Porsche Newsroom
- 911 GT2 (993) in Coppa Florio — Porsche Newsroom
- Guards Red (84A/G1) paint code and years — PaintScratch (secondary)
- Guards Red (L027/LM3A) paint code and years — PaintScratch (secondary)
- Guards Red (80K/G1/M3A) paint code and years — PaintScratch (secondary)
- 718 Spyder RS press kit: body and aerodynamics — Porsche Newsroom
- The Vibrant World of Targa: 911 Targa colour ranges by generation (Christophorus 372) — Porsche Newsroom
More Porsche color research
- All Porsche colors
- Red Porsche Colors
- Porsche paint codes
- Porsche Paint to Sample explained
- Porsche tools & data hub
Independent reference; not affiliated with Porsche AG.