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A Question of Color

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Hi Cutlass,

I didn't notice any measurable difference in door gaps with the engine in or out but my car was a rust-free california car .. original sills, etc. It's probably a good idea to play it safe with building a rolling chassis first .. most people go that route.

I did a quick photoshop color change to give you an idea of the dark blue with white coves.

Cheers,
John



67dkblue.jpg
 
Thanks, John. The photo really helps. I've got a few more days to ponder this pleasant dilemma. Since I had to replace both crossmembers, outriggers, floor pans, sills, rockers, etc., I'm going with a rolling chassis before final fit and paint. One tip for those facing the same problem: After doing all the chassis work, I reassembled the running gear, engine, suspension, doors and body panels, then hauled the entire assembly to the body shop, where all doors and panels were fitted and the frame tweaked. Now it's all apart again for chassis paint. This way when the body guy gets the rolling chassis, the doors and panels should fit with only minor adjustment. It is extra work, but when an old frame has been extensively re-worked, the doors and panels just won't fit as they once did. It's better to learn that before any final paint is applied.
 
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I did a quick photoshop color change to give you an idea of the dark blue with white coves.

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That's like magic! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

And its nice to see your own car in the BRG/White that I'm inclined to use....
 
I just read this thread and found it a very interesting read. I painted my BJ8 in its original color of Old English White in 1979 when I did my owner-restoration on it after driving it daily since 1972. It was a dull silver when I purchased the car in 1972 - looked pretty good when freshly waxed, but oxidized out rapidly. Anyway, when I decided to redo the car I went with the OEW and have never been sorry. The car looks really good in that color, but it is not a striking, jump out at you color. I recently bought a new MX-5 Mazda 3rd generation limited edition which is painted in "Velocity Red Mica" color. This color really jumps out at you big time. My daughters couldn't believe that I bought a RED sports car after owning a beautiful white one all these years ("DAD, it is SOOoooo RED!). What is my point? Well, today I just feel like I want a RED sports car so that is what I have purchased, but the Healey is "right" in OEW - I wouldn't consider painting it Velocity Red Mica at all - perhaps a Colorado Red Healey original color, but not a modern color. Why not? I really don't think I can explain it, but I just "feel" right about it in an original color. So, am I recommending you paint it an original color? I suppose so, but not adamantly. Ultimately, it is for you and your pleasure. Just perhaps think a bit about how you will feel about the color in fifteen years or so? Time goes by really quickly and in my view you wouldn't want to be thinking "I wish...". But again, it is YOUR call. I personally think the right dark blue over an ivory white would be very attractive on a big Healey. Be sure to post a pic when you get her all painted up! And, of course, best wishes to you on the project!
 
My 2 cents is to visualize it with what ever interior, top and tonneaus you have. My BJ8 is the original OEW with black interior (origanally red). I think you will never tire of the original if conservative. You will have the Healey for a long time while the daily driver will change every few years probably cause you get tired of the color and style.
 
As a product designer, I can tell you that color is often the most emotionally charged design decision we make on any product. But it is also one of the most important, often given careful consideration, research and analysis. Designers work closely with the marketing folks to assure that the total product image is coherent in every detail and appropriate for the target audience. While I am not an automotive designer, I believe many of the same principles apply. Color selection is not a random decision, and not based on any one person’s personal preference. Often much research is done to tap into current cultural trends and fashion. It’s no accident that the iPod is white (and not just any white) or that refrigerators from the 70s were avocado. Those colors were carefully selected to be an integral part of the designer’s vision and manufacturer’s overall marketing intent. Now, I doubt that the Healey folks conducted extensive market research and conducted focus groups to determine the best colors for their cars, but they were obviously astute observers of trends and tastes of their times in their product category - sports cars. Best to think of color as much an integral part of the design of the car as bodywork or trim. Yes, I confess, I’m a design snob, but I’m no nazi, so in the end it’s whatever floats your boat. Anyone for a titanium gray Austin Healey?!

PS - ever notice how German cars seem to look so right in silver, and wrong in red...think bright red Mercedes..see what I mean.
 
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Anyone for a titanium gray Austin Healey?!

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How about a silver (how's that compare to titanium gray- I'm a guy, I know primary colors- what's puce or ecru anyway?) over black one?

https://www.cape-international.com/capesport_cars.tpl

It looks nice but definitely not a contemporary color scheme. I like it, a lot; but I think a more traditional color is more likely to "age" well and not "date" the car.
 
Sure, now you tell me! My 2006 Porsche Cayenne in Carmon RED with black trim (special order) and black interior is on the boat (due Nov 30)as we speek. That's why they make different flavor ice cream. (Carmon red is VERY dark metalic and you are right, I bought it for the color 'cause all the other colors looked blah and "same old".)
 
oops touched a nerve there, sorry...actually true German red is a dark red, not a bright red. I believe Porsche red is the German dark red, which has a whole different charcter. More importantly, if it's coming from the Porsche factory, you know it has to be correct. Sounds like a very striking color combination. Good luck with it!
 
You bring up another interesting element to the color decision process. Interior color. The factory interior color that came with my Healey Blue car was a dark blue. Not the greatest color in my opinion, but probably right for Healey Blue. A tan or bisquit color would look great with dark blue, however. I'm still not fully decided, but I do remember that my wife really liked the Healey Blue over white coves, and that opinion goes a long way.
 
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The factory interior color that came with my Healey Blue car was a dark blue. Not the greatest color in my opinion, but probably right for Healey Blue. A tan or bisquit color would look great with dark blue, however.

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I've seen several Healeys with tan interiors, and while they are handsome enough, to me they also always look a bit out-of-character that way. The "biscuit" interiors look more appropriate in Jaguars and more up-market cars. Healeys are handsome brutes and to me it just doesn't look quite right to dress them up in pastel leisure suits like that.

A Healey is not a poor man's Jaguar; it's a Healey, dammit, and should dress like one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Agreed (with Cutlass not Reid)tan or bisquit would look good with the dark blue. Actually tan looks great with BRG as well. Again that would not be original. BRG only had black interiors and Healey Blue only used the dark blue interiors. I don't believe tan was offered on any BJ8s except Florida green and red. Those interiors were actually called grey, but were closer to tan. Tan interiors add a richness to the look of the car.
 
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I don't believe tan was offered on any BJ8s except Florida green and red. Those interiors were actually called grey, but were closer to tan. Tan interiors add a richness to the look of the car.

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The color that BMC labeled "grey" was actually a very close match to the "putty" color of much computer equipment. It is exceptionally rare, and not tan at all. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif

There's a small photo of a 3000 with a "grey" interior HERE. It's the January car at the top of the page. The interior color was painstakingly researched and duplicated by Roger Moment, and is a light grey/putty color. It almost looks off-white in that small photo, but in any case it is not at all a warm, tan shade.
 
You are correct Reid!, Years ago at one of the Palm Springs concours judgings an original Healey in BRG with a cream set of coves had a "Grey" interior and managed a Bronze rating. The owner redid the interior some time later and fell out of the concours status.Perhaps you also recall this case.---Keoke
 
Reid, thanks for posting the photo. I personally had not seen the "grey" interior. Moment's Restoration Guide on pg. 89 states that "Grey was a very light beige, or parchment color". I assumed the beige had some sort of light brown tone to it, but certainly not according to the photo. In any event, I think Healeys redone in a tan or bisquit interior look neat, albeit not original. I recall a BJ7 that sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2003 that was BRG/tan that looked terrific. Seems the sales price was only about $38K. A picture of the car can be seen on the Barrett-Jackson site, car 448, Scottsdale 2003. Maybe the non-original interior kept the price down, for Barrett-Jackson at least.
 
Attached is a bigger picture of a grey interior - on a Pacific Green car.

Wonder why, if someone was going into Concours, they would paint the a BJ8 BRG & white (not original) and put in a grey interior (not original). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 

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When I purchased my BJ8, the PO had changed over the original black interior for tan. Clearly, not original in color or any other way. And while I've endeavored to undo the POs "restoration" otherwise, I'm thankful for the tan interior because a black interior on a sunny summer day will become hotter than a Healey footwell. I will suffer 200 degree feet to drive my Healey, but I will not suffer hot cross buns if I don't have to. And, I might add, I think the tan interior looks pretty darn good.
 
While not original the tan/biscuit is very attractive with the BRG or red cars. I think having that for the upholstery and panels would be good, though cars I've seen with that for their carpets too soon seem to get pretty dirty. If you've time and can its really useful to see both exteriors and interiors for colors and how well they go together and such practical problems as how hot or dirty they get....

If you're interested in keeping to Healey colors you might consider using Lobelia Blue as was seen on the sides of the 100S cars. That is a nice shade of dark blue, intended to appeal to the American market I understand.
 
If it were possible to actually go to a showroom and buy a new Austin Healey (or any new modern sports car for that matter), I wonder how many would opt for a dealer-customized car with nonstandard paint and trim...even if it happened to be an attractive color combination? My guess is that most of us would choose a car that was consistent with factory standards. So, why not apply the same logic to a restoration?
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
Why be ordinary Nevets? the world is full of ordinary people. Then of course there are the few Einsteins---Fwiw---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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