Source: http://www.volvotips.com/index.php/general/volvo-color-codes/

Volvo color codes
On this page you can find all the information about the paints Volvo used on their cars. A nice color chart with examples of all colors is also included! See below for the samples of the various colors Volvo has used during the years.
The paint color samples are based on the original Volvo-templates, color cards of Sikkens and DuPont and color cards of Motip and some other aftermarket paint producers. It took a lot of time and was a lot of work but I think it’s worth it!
Please note that the colors on your screen may appear different than the color is on a real car. Also the color may be slightly different because some of them are scanned and retouched by me and Photoshop. If you’re planning to respray your car: don’t let the color be based on the chart below but let the paint be selected by the workshop who resprays your car. Enjoy!
Volvo paint color codes
The paint color code can be find on the vehicle identification plate (VIN-plate) which is located under the hood. The code you are looking for is 2 or 3 digits long, followed by a extra code (except most classic Volvos). These extra 2 digits stands for the manufacturer of the paint and the type of finishing that has been used. The fourth digit of the code indicates the manufacturer and the fifth digit represents the sort of paint.
Manufacturers of Volvo paints
The paint usually was made bij Glausarit and Herberts. These days the paints are supplied by BASF (code 1), DuPont (2), Beckers / Kemira Oy (3), ICI (Akzo Nobel) (4), Sikkens (also Akzo Nobel; indicated with number 5 and IVI / local suppliers (8). The manufacturer code 6 was only used for experimental purposes and was made by Lewis and some other manufacturers (mostly local suppliers).
For older Volvo models the following paint manufacturers were used:
1: Max Winkelmann AG / Glasurit. Winkelmann / Glasurit was taken over by BASF in 1965 but kept the brandname until 2010 (now it’s BASF Coatings GmbH)
2: Herberts AG, brandname Standox. Taken over in 1998 by DuPont and also known as DPC (DuPont Performance Coatings).
3: Beckers, since 1986 Alco-Beckers. Now part of the Finish company Kemira Oy.
4: ICI, taken over by DuPont in 1998.
5: Sikkens, now part of Akzo Nobel BV.
6: testpaints delivered by Lewis and some smaller (mostly local) companies.
The producer of the paint can be found at the fourth digit of the paint code.

Volvo paint finishing
The fifth digit represents the type of paint and the kind of finish that has been used:
1 – a solvent based paint or metallic paint.
2 – a waterbased paint with metallic or pearl finish.
3 – a solid waterbased paint with only varnish (non-metallic).
4 – a solvent-based paint with varnish (non-metallic).
5 – a solvent-based paint with a pearl finish and varnish.
6 – a waterbased paint and 2-component varnish.
7 – a waterbased paint and a powder-varnish.
Sometimes you will see a added number at the paint color code, for example -1 (lighter shade), -2 (other shade) and -3 (darker shade). There are only a few paint colors that had a other shade.
In the chart below you can find all the colors Volvo has used from 1944 till now (color codes from 00 until 18 were used for the first cars, army vehicles, busses and trucks). Samples are also included, however the color might slightly vary. I used the original Volvo-brochures and color samples to complete this list. Note: some colors had different names: the color 411 is known as: “Beige metallic”, but also as “Taupe Metallic”, “Gold metallic” and “Light Taupe Metallic”.