Dan - Personally I'd keep the original colour scheme as it's so rare. You'd be unlikely to see another one on the rally field (unlike white ). Smoke blue is a lovely colour, quite a bit darker than the smoke grey above. A picture was posted here but it was so long ago that the link has gone. Speak to Sidney61 though as he possibly still has a picture of one on his kitchen wall
I'm currently trying to get a database up and running with photos of all minor colour schemes... so here you go, a smoke blue minor...<br><br>
There aren't many around, in fact this one^^ is the only one I've ever seen (it was replaced quite early on by Sandy beige).
It's a beautiful and very rare colour and the red interior compliments it hugely, go for smoke blue, you know you want to....
Andy W____________1961 2-door 948cc (Sidney)_____________1963 2-door 1275cc (Emily)_______
The drivers I've met aren't boring I just think the original rare smoke blue is much more attractive than white but it's Dans car so it's up to him. He likes white. And rust. And moss. So he'll probably keep it exactly as it is.
A bit more research shows that smoke blue came in with the slatted grille, central speedo models, you could never get the cheesegrater style in that colour.
Of course it depends how bothered you are about originality as for whether you keep the cheesy grille or not but whichever you choose smoke blue is still a damn nice colour and certainly has my vote
Andy W____________1961 2-door 948cc (Sidney)_____________1963 2-door 1275cc (Emily)_______
I am still very much debating what to do at the front, I rather like the cheesegrater, and I have it and the hockey sticks and I'm not sure if the blue would work with that look....
Sidney'61 wrote:
It's a beautiful and very rare colour and the red interior compliments it hugely, go for smoke blue, you know you want to....
I agree with this entirely. Having resprayed my car Clarendon, neighbours have commented what a nice "grey" it is... for a grey (if you know what I mean). But this blue knocks spots off it! I'm surprised it is so rare, but I suppose tastes have changed over the years.
Does anyone have the code? Paints4u.com do most the old moggy colours in cellulose, it's not cheap at £30 per litre but a very good quality paint.
My Minor:
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535
A bit more research shows that smoke blue came in with the slatted grille, central speedo models, you could never get the cheesegrater style in that colour.
Without wishing to sound too anoraky, smoke blue was introduced on saloons / convertibles from chassis number 290385. The slatted grille was introduced on 2 door saloons from chassis number 291140 and convertibles from 291336 so it is possible for a smoke blue 2 door to have a cheesegrater grille (but not a 4 door or traveller).