Healey Blue Paint Source

[DerekJ]

Speaking of colors ... my upholstery guy (he's done a number of cars for me) says a guy should always bring a woman with when they are picking out interior colors to go with a given paint color. Why? He says women see colors that men don't. I don't know if this is scientifically true...but... he says left on their own more men screw up color choices that women. FWIW

Maybe, but do you really want a pink interior?

 

[HealeyRick]

Speaking of colors ... my upholstery guy (he's done a number of cars for me) says a guy should always bring a woman with when they are picking out interior colors to go with a given paint color. Why? He says women see colors that men don't. I don't know if this is scientifically true...but... he says left on their own more men screw up color choices that women. FWIW

Austin had a female colour designer, former racing driver Kay Petre:

View attachment 63946

 

[HealeyPassion]

Here is the paint mix for a pint of Rick's color...PPG 1648 … and, yes, it says it's a Mack color.

 

[Flypast111]

Austin Healey BU.2 Ice Blue Metallic (1960-67) BASF and PPG interpretations in BASF Glasurit Line55, PPG Global (BC) and PPG Deltron (DBC) formulas ... see attached files ... Flypast111

 

[HealeyRick]

Austin Healey BU.2 Ice Blue Metallic (1960-67) BASF and PPG interpretations in BASF Glasurit Line55, PPG Global (BC) and PPG Deltron (DBC) formulas ... see attached files ... Flypast111

It's interesting to note they say this formulation is a cross-reference to "Ice Blue" from a Rover. Rover did not combine with Austin until 1967, after Healey production had ceased. No where can I find an image of a Rover sedan that was painted Ice Blue until one for Australia late in the '70s. The bottom line is I don't know there is any modern color formula that you can get that will be an accurate reproduction of what the cars looked like when new, just something that looks pretty close and probably more glossy with bigger metallic flakes. Or as the saying goes, "Healey Blue is in the eye of the behlolder."

 

[HealeyPassion]

Or as the saying goes, "Healey Blue is in the eye of the behlolder."

It is interesting. I'm not judging as I'm as bad as the next guy on colors. That said, I heard Geoff Healey once marveled at our (Healey enthusiasts) effort to get the EXACT color match. I'm told or read - don't recall which - when asked about the phenomena of variants of Colorado Red he said, "When we ran out of a color we'd just go down to the paint supplier and have them mix up another batch which could be a bit different from the last batch."

That would seem to explain why there are Colorado Red variations as well as other color variants ... like Healey Ice Blue Metallic.

 

[John Turney]

It is interesting. I'm not judging as I'm as bad as the next guy on colors. That said, I heard Geoff Healey once marveled at our (Healey enthusiasts) effort to get the EXACT color match. I'm told, or read don't recall which, when asked about the phenomena of variants of Colorado Red he said: -- when we ran out of a color we'd just go down to the paint supplier and have them mix up another batch which could be a bit different than the last batch.

That would seem to explain why there are Colorado Red variations as well as other color variants... like Healey Ice Blue Metallic.

I would think that Geoff was talking about the cars assembled at their shop. Weren't the regular production cars assembled and painted by Jensen and shipped to Longbridge or Abingdon for installation of the drive train?

 

[vette]

I think John has a good point.

Rick, about your point about BU-2, I tried a number of suppliers for BU-2 paint and it never looked right to me. I have been told that the original ice blue metallic is darker than I imagined, but the BU-2 that was mixed for me was waaay too dark. I realized that I could effect its shade depending on how I sprayed it, but it was too touchy for me and still was not what I liked.

My BJ7 is painted with a Ford Mercury colour which is close enough for me. I think Chrysler has some colours that are very close as well.

 

[HealeyPassion]

I'm also working on a Healey Ice Blue car. What I did was decide (by viewing the cars) on a few cars that looked close. I got the paint codes and had my painter shoot test panels on some curved pieces (to replicate curved panels rather than just flat pieces). Interestingly, one was very close... and one that I had thought would be my choice was way off (much too dark). So when I get to the car, I'm relatively confident I'll be happy with the result. Better to spend a little testing than be disappointed later!

 

[Flypast111]

Perhaps this formulation of BU.2 => ICE BLUE MET will help improve the availability of supply and usage ...

PPG Global (BC MET) information on Healey Ice Blue Metallic (BU2=>ARGBU2 formulation);
Rover / MG / Austin Healey Code: ARGBU2 (1 US Pint / 16 fl.oz.)

Component / Parts / Cumulative
D770 Fine AL 412.0 / 412.0
D759 Matte Base 38.0 / 450.0
D741 Blue 36.4 / 486.4
D740 Black 17.7 / 504.1
D753 White 2.9 / 507.0

Consider using undercoat G3 for best quality results ... Cheers, Flypast111

 

[mwagon]

Hi,
I spent a lot of time to find the true BU2 paint and not a compromise. PPG Global Line is a 2-part system and was the only source for true BU2 paint available at any of the auto paint stores. I normally buy thru Wesco Auto Body Supply. Not all of their locations mixes the Global System. I use the PPG DU2021 Clear over top, but lots of other brands are compatible. It depends on how glossy you want your paint.