Colour choice

[No Quarter]

Help me decide what colour to paint my 63 FHC. Originally it was black, and has red interior, so there are arguments for painting it black, original color. And I'm told red paint is best for selling price one day. But I don't want those two colours. Right now I'm mostly for gunmetal, but in some web pictures it looks like there's a little brown in it, which I don't like?
Where can I find the available colours for 1963, with red interior as a combination available. Preferably with pictures?

Thanks

[Gfhug]

Look here:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5536
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=13409
And here: http://www.xkedata.com/ and http://www.xkedata.com/catalog/colors/
The choice is yours and yours only. There are the official E Type colours as seen in the above but other colours have been used by owners going their own way.
You can also look at these trim companies to give ideas:
http://www.suffolkandturley.co.uk/class ... s-gallery/
https://www.car-hood.co.uk/trimmed-jaguars
https://www.aldridge.co.uk/

Have fun choosing

Geoff

[Heuer]

There were only 1091 3.8 cars originally painted black with either beige, black or red interiors. Of those 617 cars had black paint with red interior - about 7% of total production. Divide those numbers by two for an FHC - so quite rare!

Despite what you have been told red cars tend to be shunned by buyers as so many were cheaply restored and given a quick flash over with "re-sale red" as it is known in the trade. As regards Opalescent Gunmetal, whilst it looks beautiful, it becomes invisible to other motorists as it 'melts' into the road surface so daylight running lights are strongly recommended.

Rarest colour was British Racing Green with only 42 FHC/OTS cars so painted. If you are concerned about future resale then stick with what the Heritage Certificate says.

[flatfloor 3.8]

Where are these various numbers available?

[Heuer]

[No Quarter]

Have fun choosing

Geoff

Thanks, but it's no fun ;-). During a project I usually change my mind 4-5 times. I like Pale Primrose best, but didn't come with red, and I might get tired of that colour soon. Black has it's advantages, but I know my painter wants more money, he needs more time for straightening. Any blue metallic is also good, but not with red interior. Yes, I'm rambling, I'll probably end up with black, the non-brave choice.

Right now my favorite is on this picture (but is it only grey or also a bit brown?):

This is when I bought it in a strange metallic maroon

[No Quarter]

As regards Opalescent Gunmetal, whilst it looks beautiful, it becomes invisible to other motorists as it 'melts' into the road surface so daylight running lights are strongly recommended.

First time I heard a warning like that, but thanks. But in my country we have DRLs anyway, so they'll see me (unless I drive very fast! )

[Gfhug]

Any blue metallic is also good, but not with red interior.

Opalescent dark blue looks very good with a red interior. I’ve seen several in that combination and I like them all. Try looking at etype.chrisvine.com for his excellent restoration blog and you’ll be able to find photos of his car in that combination.

Geoff

[flatfloor 3.8]

Have fun choosing

Geoff

Thanks, but it's no fun ;-). During a project I usually change my mind 4-5 times. I like Pale Primrose best, but didn't come with red, and I might get tired of that colour soon. Black has it's advantages, but I know my painter wants more money, he needs more time for straightening. Any blue metallic is also good, but not with red interior. Yes, I'm rambling, I'll probably end up with black, the non-brave choice.

Right now my favorite is on this picture (but is it only grey or also a bit brown?):

This is when I bought it in a strange metallic maroon

Why does your painter want more money to paint it black surely it should be straight and flat whatever the colour.

[No Quarter]

Why does your painter want more money to paint it black surely it should be straight and flat whatever the colour.

In theory you are absolutely right, straight is straight regardless of colour. But those that have straightened and painted cars themselves as I have earlier know, a metallic or a light colour hides bigger "waves", while a dark/black non-metallic is a mirror where any imperfection screams at you. And unless your car is in very good shape, with panels that require almost no filling, the areas with filler do over time sink a very tiny bit, and e.g. a door can become a "wave". My car is in 75% shape, most of the metal over knee height is original and perfect, but not all of it.

And perhaps because I've painted cars myself I look for imperfections more than most, waves, uneven panel gaps, orange peel. Rare I see a perfectly painted car.

[No Quarter]

You may see a nice shiny car. But look at the line on the left side, bonnet and rear of door is not factory fit. Very visible on a black car.

Don't get me wrong, this is a very straight car, and job well done, but it's not factory perfect, neither will mine probably be. So should I paint it black? Is it good enough?

All of this is of course IMHO

[Allrand]

IMHO there's no such thing as factory perfect, they were anything but. Many well restored cars I've seen are way better than factory (and plenty are worse).

[Simon P]

IMHO there's no such thing as factory perfect, they were anything but.

That last thing you'd ever want on an E-type is 'factory perfect'....and I speak as a Lancia owner!

[kevh]

Heuer wrote;

red cars tend to be shunned by buyers as so many were cheaply restored and given a quick flash over with "re-sale red" as it is known in the trade

The question to be asked is why do traders looking to move a car quickly choose to paint it red, from all the colours at their disposal, is it because it's the best looking colour for that model and attracts most interest form potential buyers? It's certainly not the colour most suitable for covering up poorly prepared bodywork, that would be white.

[No Quarter]

IMHO there's no such thing as factory perfect, they were anything but. Many well restored cars I've seen are way better than factory (and plenty are worse).

IMHO:
I was only speaking about bodywork, panels, straightness and gaps. Very few can rebuild a car and get it as good as factory.
My 63 FHC is by no means perfect, but the reason I bought the project and spend the hours and €€€ on it is that it's so straight. Panel gaps around doors and rear gate are just about perfect, bonnet also. This has never been in an accident and repaired.
Most other things can be fixed, but a slighly warped body/chassis, very very difficult.

BTW if your panel gaps are not good and even, best way to not advertise that is a dark colour

[Gfhug]

How about going for matt dark grey? It’ll hide all gaps, waviness, dings etc. And there seem to be enough matt painted cars on our roads to look modern and up-to-date!

Geoff

[politeperson]

This one is medium satin grey. OSG (light shade).

[rcorsaut]

Black is the most easy to spray, and touch up afterwards, never a colour match problem, if you use simple carbon black. Single stage urethane paints simplify the process over base clear. every other colour is harder to get and keep right!
I have painted thousands and you can never go very wrong on most any car, with BLACK on BLACK!
I did my own Dark Opalescent green because it was original, and my wife liked it, probably light silver blue is my favourite. cheers

[Philk]

This is such a matter of personal choice. I was fortunate insofar that the last owner decided to change our car's colour from opalescent gold sand to a classic version of British Racing Green (there are several variants, some bluer than others). Notwithstanding the fact that it is not the colour the car left the factory in, we shall be keeping it BRG. The car always receives great feedback at car shows and, often, people comment that it is their favourite colour on a British sports car.

[dlgis]

Notwithstanding the fact that it is not the colour the car left the factory in, we shall be keeping it BRG.

Nor would I if I had a car in that shade of BRG. My top favourite