History Traditional hot rod paint colors

I took this photo of this 'flat' silver W block powered '32 5w at CHRR back in Oct 2007.

 

I always thought red worked OK on a hot rod. I guess I don't understand putting in all the time, money and creative effort it takes to build a hot rod, and then painting it the same color as your neighbors Toyota? Isn't a hot rod supposed to stand out, not blend in?

 

My C-dan is Painted 1937 Indian Motorcycle Navajo Blue although its not a car color it is a vintage color.

 

I like a color that stands out. I don't care too much for the pale looking pastels you see on so many 50's cars, although if they are part of a two tone with another, brighter color they can work well, like red and white or red and ivory. Black is great for most cars, but the shade of black can make or break it. Flat black says you care more about performance than looks, gloss black says you like perfection.
My three least favorite colors are white, silver, and green. I'd rather have something turd brown than any of those three colors.

 

Pastels? We don't need any stinking pastels. They are obsolete along with tweed interiors and nineties graphics.

Gary

 

1948 Fordson and as near as poss to original colour

 

Maroon!

 

NICE!

 

[QUOTE="BamaMav, post:
My three least favorite colors are white, silver, and green. I'd rather have something turd brown than any of those three colors.[/QUOTE]


I guess that's why there are so many colors out there. I have 2 silver cars, 2 white ones and a turd brown one. Every car has a color that looks right on it. Not all colors fit all cars.

 

I guess that's why there are so many colors out there. I have 2 silver cars, 2 white ones and a turd brown one. Every car has a color that looks right on it. Not all colors fit all cars.[/QUOTE]

Well said! If we all agreed on color and everything else, we'd all be driving white Ladas!

 

As you can see every one has an opinion and a favorite . It will always be a personal choice. I like my cars dark and sinister. But sometimes red, orange, or yellow just looks right on something I am building. Many of the older colors are not even mixable now because the toners no longer exist . the color that the paint companies have crossed over are computer generated closest possible match's and if you could compare them to an actual original paint job you would see they do not really match well at all. You sound like you have a warm fussy spot for silver, because your Dad like it. That is the color I would go for and there are countless shades to choose from. It is your car, follow your heart and not what others would do. Otherwise you are building their car and not yours. Good luck and have fun!!! Larry

 

Don't rule out tractor colors from the era you're going with.

 

I love it. What color is it?

 

I think he said it was maroon

 

[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure that you can buy a red Toyota .

 

A '61 Corvette Roman Red Toyota??

 

Try not to second guess yourself-I went down that road during the build but in the end I went with my first instinct and am happy I did- when in doubt- Trust Your Gut!


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Piss yellow & pee green lol Lov that movie it my favorite I've watched it somewhere around 30 times or more lol


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Jmo, I paint my cars what ever I like at the time I don't go along with the period correct law, I'd rather be an outlaw or rebel when it comes to wheels, motors and color BC back in the day I'm 60 they used a lot of big flake and I still Lov it, hotrod harry


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The car I have is Hawthorn green. 1930 Hudson colour (British racing green is similar).
If I decide to paint the outside it will be the colour I used for the dash and motor, "Sinner G" green (Gm colour).



Tones of silvers out there... light charcoal, gunmetal or stainless steel are ones I personally would shoot for. Kinda like the 2017 kia in the background.

 

Inca Silver, with Snow Crest White coves, 1958 Corvette

 

56 Mercedes silver, Pretty much timeless.
I'd say that unless a guy had access to a custom painter most of the guys in the 40's, 50's and 60's did just as Dean Lowe did on his RP and bought the new in that time frame hot lick color that was on the newer cars in the showroom or on the lot outside the dealer. That is what the "older guys" I knew did in that time frame. There some nice silvers on mid 50's Mercedes 300 SL and the similar Porsche models of those years.

 

I guess that's why there are so many colors out there. I have 2 silver cars, 2 white ones and a turd brown one. Every car has a color that looks right on it. Not all colors fit all cars.[/QUOTE]

According to paint ref.com its somethings like 229,000 different formulas. That's a lot of colors.

My dad would never allow any silver or light grey cars in the family. His reasoning was that they blend in with the road too well, they all but disappeared and people,,, after they hit you will swear they that didn't see you.

 

Back to 229,000 different colors-
I guess it's bit more because I custom made and then named this one "Rasberry Tourmaline" for my buddies wife's bike.

With the black fade it would be BITCHEN on a hot rod !

 

Agreed - when I asked the original builder of my car what color the silver was, he laughed and said "ohh hell, it was just a silver I liked on some of the newer cars I seen - thought it would look good on the hot rod, I cant remember what the actual color was"

 

Don't worry, I will do what makes me happy. I just like to hear feedback. I am still undecided but I have plenty of time.


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PPG Washinton Blue and Tan

 

Exactly why I've been trawling through late 50's/very early 60's US manufacturer colour charts and Google photos to find a suitable period factory colour for my '32.

 

The next time I see a surf green '57 Chevy, I'm gonna puke.
None of the Easter egg colors do it for me. Apologies to the Hirohita Merc.

 

Some of what appear to be "traditional " period colors Ive run across have been truck fleet colors. Check em out.