What colour for my B20

[GG]

In the early 1990's Lechler put out new paint codes for older Lancia paint colors. Supposedly, these had been carefully vetted to match the original colors, but as there is no Lechler distribution in the states,  we've never seen what these look like. So too, not all the colors seem to be listed, but that's another can of worms. The list is below, with some discussion here:

http://web.me.com/geoffreyg/Cars/Blog/Entries/2006/2/27_So_what_are_the_colors.html

One idea was that a Club could have the samples made up as a swatch book for loan... but the US club is just not big enough for that...

[williamcorke]

Is this Pozzi's car? (Picture from the Registro Aurelia website doesn't show the colour particularly well though...)

[the.cern]

Thank you so much everyone for the numerous comments and advice that my request has provoked.

Geoff (GG), I had already found your blog on colour (I keep finding extra threads and blogs from your site which make fascinating and, I think, essential reading for restorers). I looked up the two listed codes for Amaranto and they appear to be a grey commonly used by Lambretta, but I will persevere !

Thank you John (Turner) for the Lambda photo, that colour looks so dark compared to the red of my car as purchased. The trouble with photos is that they rarely show the true  colour and it is not possible to gauge how far off tone they may be. The (possible) Pozzi car is much darker than that which I was anticipating as a possibility, but certainly looks good and could be a real contender !!

William, with regard to dirty being a lifestyle choice I understand what you are saying, but to me dirt is more of a mandatory extra !!!! It most definitely is not optional !!!!

Thank you again for the help and advice, the decision has yet to be made, so if any other thoughts arise please do share them. I do hear and agree with the comment that whatever colour I choose, it should be one that was originally available, otherwise the field is open.

I have attached a photo of my car, as dragged out of the garage, to indicate the red that I thought may be an option. It would appear that  such a light red was not originally available and thus should be excluded.

                    Andy

[DavidLaver]

Has anyone a picture of John Savage's car?   I remember that as a similar colour to that.

Mine was in an early 70s Ford Capri "suburst red".  When it came to a repaint I went all the way round and back and went with just the same again.  From traces found on the car I think the original was a sea blue, maybe with almost a metal flake - or was that an early 70s Hammerite colour.

Thinking about it has ANYONE been brave enough to replicate an original metalic?   

David

[GG]

There was an article about 10 years ago in the Wall Street Journal (!) about Paul Russell making a 1950's metallic for a Gullwing Mercedes - and how they had to make their own metal flakes, as the flakes were smaller and finer back then. People have probably done this since, but the '50s metallics were really small flakes!

If memory serves right, Pozzi's Amaranto was a stunning color on the car. I wonder if its the original color paint. 

[Sebastien]

Geoffrey,
Here another photo of Roberto Pozzi's B20, taken on the Sardinia trip in 2007.
That color (a dark reddish brown) reproduces very badly on a computer screen, one has to see it to describe it! That color is also spoken of as "testa di moro", not PC perhaps, but descriptive!

Knowing Roberto and the italians, it must be the original color! (I can ask him if you want)

[Sliding Pillar]

Here are some more dark red Aurelias, including John Savage's old car now owned by Tim Riley

[Sliding Pillar]

When I was searching for the right original colour to paint my B50 it took ages to find the right shade of metallic blue with the correct size of flakes in it, especially as it was a Pinin Farina colour not a Lancia one. Although in the end when I found the correct shade it turned out to be Bleu Sera, a common colour used on Ferraris and Maseratis.

[DavidLaver]

Is that Tim Riley who does (or did?) rally an Aprilia?   If so an excellent home for the old war horse.  I loved John's stories of racing his Aurelia back when I'd just got mine.

David

[DavidLaver]

Looking at all the pictures back again the maroon looks a bit "Jaguar".  I really don't tend to like black - I think of it as a boy racer BMW colour - but it looks fantastic on a B20 and it would be unusual as well as being THE original colour.  Unless you intend to tour Italy in the summer it shouldn't get too hot - ventilation isn't too bad in a B20 and given you're happy in a heaterless Appia for New Years day you must be a hardy soul.

All the same I love the pastels and am itching to see an Aurelia in a beach-buggy metal flake, pref parked infront of futuristic 1950s house.

David

[Sliding Pillar]

Yes David, same Tim Riley.

[B20B24]

Juct curious Ade - why did John sell that car? - I thought he'd had it since the 60s...

[B20B24]

Here's a mid blue S3 in the US which purports to be the original hue

[lancialulu]

Thing is to find a paint that you don't have to lacquer.....

[Scott]

Noticed the comment on Lechler paints by Geoff (GG) so thought this might be of use...

Go to: http://explorer.lechler.it

Login with 'email': admin@zero-paints.co.uk
Password: zeropaints

You should now be logged in ... so click on 'Formula' which will bring up a 'Formula Search' panel. Select Lancia as the manufacturer and click 'Find' ... this should give all the codes for all Lancia paints.

Of course if you know a friendly Lechler paint shop then they should be able to make you up a sample.
I came across the 'Zero Paints' resource as I needed some colour matched paint and found a company in the UK who will do colour matched samples for any Lechler paint code for a fiver! A potentially useful and inexpensive route for original Lancia colour samples if you're undecided between colours but about to spend a small fortune on a respray!