Healey Blue

[HealeyRick]

What a cool old pic thanks to NutmegCT Really shows the difference of what Healey Blue looked like originally compared to modern basecoat/clearcoat. Nice steel wheels and thank you for your service, wherever you are.

 

[Kainopong]

Thanks for sharing!Very similar color on my bn4

 

[simon1966]

These things are so hard to judge from photos. Rick's image could have faded if it was a print. It could have been enhanced digitally at some point in time as it was scanned into a PC. If it is a photo from a 35mm slide, then even the film used at the time would impact the color rendering. Kodachrome and Fujicolor had completely different color temperatures. Then throw in how you have your monitor setup...................

 

[Top Down Resto]

Cool vintage pic Rick, thanks
Very few people get it as far as what modern paints do to that color , you really have to know what it originally looked like in order to faithfully reproduce it in modern paints. Same for XKE opalescent colors.
Carroll

 

[HealeyRick]

Carroll,

I think you are totally correct that only those who saw these cars new understand the color differences. The metallics like Healey Blue and Metallic Golden Beige really look quite different in modern basecoat/clear than the original colors. They are much shinier and the size of the metallic flakes are larger. The old metallics were much duller and didn't hold up too well. Plenty of Healeys had to be repainted by the dealers because of this. I actually think the photo in my original post does a pretty good job capturing the original Healey Blue and the one of my car in my signature shows how much different the new stuff looks. Having said that, I think the new paint is more attractive and will last much longer

 

[Top Down Resto]

Rick, just did an original 25K BJ8 that the owner had re sprayed in 1968 just for that reason. PPG DBC with the finest metallic available and flattening agent added to the 2042 clearcoat.
btw wheels were matched to the inside under the rubber protectors to the original shade of silver, using the same base coat and metallic with hardener added( no clearcoat).

 

[Top Down Resto]

soorry about the sideways pic, having an issue, btw thats the original top and all chrome original never redone and as new looking from 1967.

 

[HealeyPassion]

I'm looking for numbers... can someone provide the best PPG number for Healey Blue? I'm fine it if has more pop than the original... but don't really want it to be too far out. At some point, I'm planning on repainting my Healey Blue car, it was originally this color and was repainted by a PO, but it's showing age and abuse.

I saw photos of one that I thought was spectacular but could not find the owner … maybe one of you know whose car this is... it has TN plates. I'd sure like to get that paint mix number.

Steve

 

[HealeyRick]

Hi Steve,

Let me know if you want my PPG paint code for my car. The color was obtained from scanning the inner trunk lid of the original paint on my car which came up with this color, which turns out to be from a Mack truck. I won't be able to get it for you until the beginning of April as I'm away from home.

 

[DavidThorn]

Don`t know if it helps but I have just had my BJ8 resprayed in this colour Healey Blue BU-2 which I found on the internet by searching Healey Blue.

It looks good and original to me ,the painter got it easily from his local supplier in the UK,he was not a Healey Specialist just a normal modern paint shop.

 

[HealeyPassion]

Rick,
Yes, I would like it. I'm probably going to collect a few numbers and then spray some sample panels on an old door I've got.
No rush... this is way out there, but I've learned to start early collecting info on anything I do with my old Healey!
Thanks,
Steve

 

[HealeyPassion]

Thanks David, I'll see if my local guys have any info on that.
Steve

 

[DTDuck]

I think the closest regular paint I have seen to the original "Healey Blue" is Atlanta Blue (a BMW color) although it may be a touch more metallic than the original.

Cheers,
Dan M.