paint colour

Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 6:08 pm

Smoke grey is a very popular colour for Minors - there seems to be an awful lot of them about.

It's a misnomer to call it "Smoke" grey, because everyone thinks of grey as, well, grey...

However, get your 50's A-series hat on, and think of the smoke that comes from the back of the oil-burning engine (in an A30, of course, never a Moggy!)... What colour is it? Well, it comes out as a blue haze!!

Still with me? I said "STILL WITH ME?" That's better, back you come.

Smoke Grey is a silly name for the paint, because it is actually very light blue - a little lighter than the background on this messageboard.

Post by **Chris Morley** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 1:24 am

I'm not sure I agree with you Gareth. I saw a newly restored Smoke grey Minor last year at the Hillingdon car show and it was very similar to the board's background, with a slight hint of a darker grey. However my 1969 saloon is a much brighter shade of blue without a hint of grey. I believe it was Bermuda blue when built, even though the colour was not listed for that year except for police cars and travellers. However Bermuda blue spray cans create a deeper hue of blue. I've always assumed the difference is caused by 34 years worth of fading.

A lot of late Minor saloons are the same colour as mine. Is it possible there are two shades of Smoke grey like there are two shades of Trafalgar blue?

Post by **Gareth** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:49 am

I presumed the question focused on the semantics of Morris' idea of calling light blue "Smoke Grey"...

I don't know if there was a lighter/brighter shade of Smoke Grey produced, but the lighter blues include Teal Blue, Bermuda Blue and Smoke Grey.

Chris, the only way you will find out for certain what colour your car was when built, is to get in touch with the Heritage Centre at Gaydon, and pay them £21ish for a production certificate.

34 years worth of fading can make an awful mess of paintwork... as can poor mixing. When you say it creates a "deeper hue" - a hue is a different colour. Do you mean it is a different "shade", which would suggest that fading has occurred, or the colour is too dark...
I've always found it a misnomer, because Smoke Grey doesn't look grey at all... It's light blue, on all the cars I've seen. Now Dove Grey is a different story altogether, but that shouldn't confuse the issue, because it IS grey...

Post by **Cam** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 11:46 am

Just to chip into your argument chaps (and before fists start flying

). Has anyone got one of these certificates?? If so, what info do you get on it, and are ALL cars listed??

The reason is that I'm quite interested in the original spec of my 1952 MM, and it may be worth the £21 to find out what it left the factory with.....

Any info would be gratefully recieved....

Right, sorry for the interruption......... back to your argument..

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 pm

two shades of Smoke grey like there are two shades of Trafalgar blue?

This is what I have heard too - yet two specialists I have spoken to have suggested I'm talking utter tosh. You see I have a Convertible that has been resprayed from it's original grey to a 'trafalgar blue'. Well that's what you would believe it is until you put another trafalgar blue car next to it. Obviously being resprayed it may not be an original colour but when i do get round to having the doors/boot repaired it would make life a lot simpler if the restorer doesn't assume.

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 3:20 pm

Right then I am in total agreement with the above of course Grey can sometimes be Blue, but Blue can never be Grey.
Cam it is a copy of a Heritage certificate you would like to see as I have one for the Traveller hidden in my garage (well I hope its still there) at least the colour for that is easy its Snowberry White with a touch of Old English White, just depends on the light

, thank goodness the saloon is Almond Green (but I have never seen a Green Almond)

Post by **Cam** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Kevin, yes, I just wondered what information is on the heritage certificates. If you can let me know, I would be very grateful.

Almond Green (but I have never seen a Green Almond)

Yes, my car is Almond Green and I have often thought the same!!

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 4:31 pm

I will dig it out tonight Cam

Post by **Cam** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 5:27 pm

Thanks Kevin, I will look forward to it!

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:30 pm

Sent it to you direct Cam

cap of the can it said.................Wait for it.......SMOKE GREY/BLUE HAZE

Should not have put it in the engine then PBC

Post by **Willie** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:42 pm

SMOKE BLUE was only used between 1954 and 1955.
SMOKE GREY was used from 1959 until production ceased.

Post by **Jerry** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:51 pm

Ahem...

Looking at my certificate from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust:

The color of my Minor is Trafalgar Blue.
Also states the interior trim color.

The Certificate does indeed state the orginal color of the car as shipped.

Jerry

Post by **Cam** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 12:40 pm

Thanks for the info Kevin, it made interesting reading. I think I'll be sending off for one (or two) now!

Thanks everyone.

Post by **modify55** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 11:04 pm

tc wrote:Can somebody confirm the colour for a 1970 saloon.
Is it smoke grey or smoke grey blue grey or are they both the same?

I have purchased the latter before and it seems ok however paint merchants confuse the issue when they say do you mean smoke grey????

Please clarify please if any body knows.

tc

The I.C.I. colour code for Smoke Grey is 3301 and

Blue Grey is an alternative B.M.C. name for the colour.
any paint factors should be able to mix this for you using this code
Dave Miles 47729

Morris Minor Owners Club

paint colour

paint

Re: paint colour