Early colours?

[xvivalve]

What shades of orange/red were originally available on the 1500 in 1971?

[sprint95m]

That'll be Pimento (code 72).

Signal red (32) might have been available?





There was also Damson (17), but this was strictly speaking classed as a purple.




Ian.

[xvivalve]

Thanks Ian, I thought Pimento might have been slightly later...

[Carledo]

Pimento is too late a colour, red choices in 71 were Matador Red (12) and Signal Red (32) Damson is indeed listed as a Purple (code 17) but is more of a deep Burgundy. Even Carmine did not appear until late 73 and Pimento was later than that, possibly as late as 78.

Other early choices include Sienna Brown (23), Saffron Yellow (54) Laurel Green (55) Wedgwood (26) Royal (56) and Valencia Blue (66) plus the rare Slate Grey (68) White (19 of course) and special order Black (code 11)

Steve

This list cribbed from my early Toledo parts list, but the FWD choices would have been similar, if not the same.

[Toledo Man]

According to my 1500fwd parts catalogue the colours available were Black (11), Matador Red (12), Signal Red (32), Sienna (23), New Tan (33), Jasmine (34), Saffron (54), Laurel (55), Wedgewood Blue (26), Royal Blue (56), Valencia Blue (66), Sapphire Blue (96), Damson (17), Shadow Blue (27), Slate Grey (68), Grey (78) and White (19).

[GlenM]

Pimento was available from 1972 on the TR6 and it was available earlier than 1978 on the Dolomites. From about 75/76 I think

[Carledo]

According to my 1500fwd parts catalogue the colours available were Black (11), Matador Red (12), Signal Red (32), Sienna (23), New Tan (33), Jasmine (34), Saffron (54), Laurel (55), Wedgewood Blue (26), Royal Blue (56), Valencia Blue (66), Sapphire Blue (96), Damson (17), Shadow Blue (27), Slate Grey (68), Grey (78) and White (19).

Thats the same list I have for the Toledo, except yours has Jasmine and Sapphire on it. I'm not totally certain, but I believe New Tan, Grey78 and Shadow Blue were trim colours. Come to that, Matador red may be a trim colour too! And Black of course!

Steve

Grey 78 is definitely a trim colour, it's whats in the Carledo, I just checked the comm plate! But that is a Dec 73 built car and both colour choices (Carmine/Grey trim) do not appear in my early 73 Parts list (which has disc brakes in an appendix)

[Steve28]

My old S reg sprint was pimento.

[Carledo]

Pimento was available from 1972 on the TR6 and it was available earlier than 1978 on the Dolomites. From about 75/76 I think

You're right of course Glen, the very late colour I was thinking of is Flamenco.

Steve

[Toledo Man]

Steve, when I was typing that post I was thinking that some of them could be trim colours.

[paulsprint]

My sprint, build March 75 is pimento red.

[xvivalve]

The reason for the question is the 1500 - Sprint hybrid that I didn't pay for and collect on Sunday, whilst painted in what appeared to be Sienna brown showed that the bodyshell was originally an orange/red, ie Pimento or Vermillion type shade (except one door which had previously been Saffron). If it had been Signal Red originally, then it had faded (in the under bonnet area!) drastically before it was repainted. My recollection is the 1500 fwd were generally the more muted rather than 'bright' colours?

The colour history wasn't the main reason I reneged on the auction by far, but I was left wondering whether there were three cars sitting in front of me on his drive, ie drivetrain, identity and bodyshell?

Two I could have coped with, but three was just one too many.

[Jon Tilson]

My dolomite is pimento, always was and was built in 72.
Pimento is more tomato or post office pillar box than flamenco which is a bit less bright and slightly more orangey.
That being said I have had all 3 colour panels on the same car (vermillion too) and with a bit of grime from 10 feet away its hard to spot...

Look under the back seat or behind the boot panel for the original colour.

Jonners

[Carledo]

In descending order of "redness" you start with Signal which is almost pure red (i've seen the recipe and its REALLY simple) Fire engine red, Rosso Red, Ferrari red, call it what you will, a very strong colour! I painted my GT6 convertible this colour cos I hated the original Pimento on the 75 Spit shell I used (the GT6, a 1970 mkII was originally Sienna - yeuck!)

Next down and slightly more orangey is Pimento followed by Flamenco and finishing with Vermillion, which I would describe as orange rather than red (don't give me a hard time over this Polly)

I have seen 1 or 2 Signal red early 1500 FWDs but it wasn't well liked on the model and IIRC was dropped across the range for the 72 model year.

I rather suspect that the muted colours more popular on the 1500FWDs had more to do with the market segment buying them than any conscious decision by BL

I think you may have been right about getting 3 cars for the price of one Alun, though anyone with less than our degree of expertise would be unlikely to work it out and even if they did, I very much doubt anyone could PROVE any misdemeanor!

Steve

[GlenM]

The reason for the question is the 1500 - Sprint hybrid that I didn't pay for and collect on Sunday, whilst painted in what appeared to be Sienna brown showed that the bodyshell was originally an orange/red, ie Pimento or Vermillion type shade (except one door which had previously been Saffron). If it had been Signal Red originally, then it had faded (in the under bonnet area!) drastically before it was repainted. My recollection is the 1500 fwd were generally the more muted rather than 'bright' colours?

The colour history wasn't the main reason I reneged on the auction by far, but I was left wondering whether there were three cars sitting in front of me on his drive, ie drivetrain, identity and bodyshell?

Two I could have coped with, but three was just one too many.

was that the J registration one on E-bay? It looked almost metallic grey in the photos.