Austin Minor Pick Up - what colour??

[Aran48]

Hi all, I need some help please. I am sympathetically restoring my Austin Morris pick up. It was originally a van and it's a 71 J plate. Could someone please tell me what colour it's painted in? I posted this on one of the Facebook pages but I didn't have much joy... Many thanks in advance. Aran

[firedrake1942]

Ray Newell's book, page 115 only lists one type of grey for 68-71 Austin badged and that is Cummulus Grey . there is a 'colour' listed as 'Primer' which I assume is a colour rather than simply primer paint as it has a full interior scheme.

If Morris badged and later registered i.e. made before registration 1968 seems to be the year that colour choices narrowed.

It is worth looking at the chassis numbers - third letter B =light grey H Primer (which I think means primer as it is also CKD) which do not give the specific colour but a general indication.

[palacebear]

Aran.
As far as I'm aware, there is no code letter on the chassis number to indicate colour on vans and pickups built after 1962.

It's difficult to tell from your pictures but, as firedrake suggests, the only grey finish available between 1968 and 1971 was Cumulus Grey, or plain grey matt primer. (Cumulus is rather unfortunate in looking much like primer but with a gloss finish!).

The BMC / BL paint code was GR29. I can't track down a corresponding ICI code. Would recommend you find a component with seemingly genuine paint on it (door check-strap maybe?) and take it to be matched by a paint supplier

[firedrake1942]

PB you are right about the letters it is early models only. (pre 1962)

[Aran48]

Thanks for your help gents. I'm confident that it's not Cumulus Grey. As you say, it looks like it could be in primer. I've found El Paso Beige to look extremely close.
Whilst I realise that I can paint it any colour I choose, I'd prefer to keep it as original looking as possible. Thoughts on El Paso? Is it going to look odd to the purist?

[palacebear]

I would say paint it whatever colour you like, but beware, colour chip scans downloaded from the internet can become digitally 'degraded' with successive uploads. If you have an interior for the pickup, why not go with a colour that compliments seats etc. El Paso beige was predominantly a mk.2 Mini, Morris Oxford and Morris 1100/1300 shade.

If beige shades take your fancy, why not consider an older Minor shade such as Sandy Beige, or Dove Grey. Both these are, in reality, variations on light beige or light tan.

[firedrake1942]

I think Primer was a stand alone colour as opposed to 'in primer', AS PB says Primer was a gloss finish and in primer will be matt. The Primer colour would look good and be original. I remember them being used and I would describe it as a gloss battleship grey.

[palacebear]

Think you've got a bit confused FD. I said (I think) that Cumulus Grey was virtually the same shade of grey as primer, but with a gloss finish.

Years ago I briefly had an Oxford in cumulus grey, with fibreglass, grey primed front wings. I clear-lacquered the wings, polished the rest of the car and nobody was any the wiser

[firedrake1942]

I would not dismiss Cumulus Grey (Its my age .....Still think Primer as opposed to primer as it is listed in Ray's book with interior colour scheme, unlikely to have had such a scheme if simply in primer waiting for a bespoke customer colour) either.

ICI colour (albeit Austin Morris not mentioned) is quite close to the images shown.

[palacebear]

To be honest, as you may be aware from other posts recently, there are perhaps unavoidably, a few discrepancies regarding colour schemes in Ray's book. Understandable particularly with later LCVs, given the frequent changes of colour options, plus the fact that very late models would be painted in whatever 'colour of the day' was being favoured by the paint shop for A60, Mini, J4 and JU250 commercials!

[firedrake1942]

Have a look at these

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/photos-a ... van_66.htm

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/morris/minor/181164

Of course the LCV people may be able to assist. PB speaks truth - the later days of austin morris lcv badging was apparently quite chaotic . Fit it with whatever was at hand and spray it with what was in the tin !

[ManyMinors]

There wasn't a huge range of standard colours available to buyers of the late commercials and as already mentioned there are errors in Ray Newells book but all colours used on the line were British Leyland colours of the day and used on other vehicles too. El Paso Beige was never used on Minor Commercials - or as late as 1971 anyway. The colour in your pictures is too brownish to be Cumulus Grey. There is very little depth of paint showing in your pictures which would make me think that it is quite likely just a primer coat. The only British Leyland paint colour I recall being offered at that time which bears any resemblance is Antelope. Have a look at that and see if that seems a possibility? There are certainly more attractive options however!

Colours are a very personal thing of course and you must paint it whatever colour you wish but I do understand your desire to stick to something original if possible. Also, as somebody else has already pointed out, the computer screen can make colours look look very different to real life.

[Aran48]

Thanks a lot gents! Antelope is now also a possibility, you have all helped and kind of haven't, hehe. At least I'll be able to make a more informed decision... I'll post some pics at some point under the restorations section on here

[StillGotMy1stCar]

Was a van, now a pickup. What bits have been resprayed? The cab back was part of the donor vehicle so isn’t necessarily the original colour. The section under the cab back where the transmission tunnel meets the back is part of the original van and looks slightly darker although could be a trick of the light. Probably better off looking under the dash and behind glove boxes or under untouched bolt heads for more clues to the original colour.
Sorry to cause more confusion.
Regards John

[POMMReg]

All very confusing, AddPk separate to Cowley so with regard paint it's all a bit hit'n'miss tbh.

Light/Dark/Mid blue I can understand, but Persian/Xerxes blue? Only Antelope I know is in Africa, Damask the author of the The Count of Monte Cristo..

Suspect back panel from an earlier vehicle?

"Numbers" from BOTH vehicles please.