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MG MGA - MGA Colour Choices
| I hope this isn't too trivial...but can someone point me in the direction of pictures of MGA's with the colour identified? I am about to begin a "restoration" of my 59 1500 Roadster. The current colour is some sort of red (I'd call it almost orange). My wife suggests that all sports cars should be red, but I might be interested in the original "Glacial Blue". I've seen some pictures of "Iris Blue", but not "Glacial". Maybe there is good reason the previous owner painted it the current colour?!? Does anybody like "Glacial Blue"? Thanks, Mark in Utah |
| Mark Hoffman |
| Mark, Try this one: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccmga/index1.htm The colour is Glacier Blue and it is a turquoise something like the colour of the lakes in the canadian Rockies. My second A was that colour. Never quits sure that I liked it but easy to spot. Shane |
| Shane Rutter-Jerome |
| I completly agree with your wife, a sport car has to red, an MG must be red. Is there any other options ??? Was there any other colour made for MG's. Just finished mine and i hesitated for more than one year, between, Old Enlish white, Black, Red, Dove Gray but finally decided for Chariot Red (1960. Your car should be Orient Red, a little more Orange than the chariot Red. The hard part is that with any colour an MGA is beautiful !!! You just have to think in what car colour you want to be in with your Wife. I often say to my wife ''right or wrong, you are always right !!!. It takes some time to accept this concept but once accepted, life is much easier !!! Take your Time... Cheers, Jean Marc |
| Jean Marc |
| While many people would agree with your wife that all sports cars should be red. The simple truth is that the world does not need a nother red sports car. Now something like Dove Grey, Glacier Blue, Black, OEW or Minneral Blue that would be different and would be appropriate for the era that the cars were built. While a metallic paint job might look great, it is not what was available in 1955 through 1962. But then again that starts the whole argument between the purests and the anything goes crowed. |
| JP Jim |
| I too love red sports cars, especially British ones. However, I decided to stick with Ash Green for mine. Most MGA's are OEW or Red-both fine colors, but there are very few ash green ones (problably for good reason hahaha). Here in Japan I know of 5 MGA roadsters. 4 are OEW, 1 is red. The FIRST thing people comment on is the color. At least to my face they say they like it :) All in all it is a personal choice and I know you'll choose the right one for you. Check out 'Wasabi-chan' here: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mgb1972/my_photos |
| Tom Baker |
| Hi folks. When I restored my MGA, I felt that the original colours were either overused (like red) or ugly (like the blueish green) that mine had been painted. So I opted for a (gasp) non original colour: pale yellow! The car looks very nice in yellow, and the black interior and trim really set it off. I intend to repaint it again perhaps next year, and will paint it yellow again. Cheers! Glenn |
| Glenn |
| Good choice Mark ! Glacier blue is a very special colour: not many of these around. I restored my 1500 roadster in this (original) colour (car had chassis number HDL43-) and I always found it beautiful. But in general people either love it or hate it. And there is hope for your wife as most women seem to like it.....8^) Cheers, Nick 63midget/52TD and (ex-) 59MGA. |
| Nick |
| Mark, Sorry, Should have said: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccmga/index1.htm and go to "gallery" for photos of original colours. Shane |
| shane rj |
| With sites that use Frames, and the URL does not change in the address area, you will see the correct URL at the bottom left of your browser then you can type it in.... Thus http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccmga/gallery/1500_colours.htm Hope this helps. <MARK> |
| Mark Hester |
| The best advice that was given to me was to paint it in the colour that will give you the most pleasure. Many MGAs were exported from Abingdon in primer, so it could be argued that any top coat colour available at the time is an original MGA colour!? Food for thought Steve (with a Jaguar British Racing Green MGA!) |
| Steve Gyles |
| Hi Mark As the driver of an original Iris Blue (now repainted the same) I was not fond of the color initially. But as Nick said Blue is not common and does stand out well in a crowd. Whenever it is parked I hear from almost everybody that they love the color. I am still not sure I like the Iris Blue even after 3 years but I am glad it is not "Resale Red". After all Red is for Italian cars. Oh boy ...that is going to get some comments !!! Ralph |
| Ralph H . |
| Dear Ralph, I must admit that Iris Blue is very nice for a pool. Hahaha !!! Jean Marc |
| Jean Marc |
| An MGA is old and it's English...so Old English White seems to be a completely appropriate colour. |
| Andy Bounsall |
| The vin # of 1500's show what the original color was. What is the 3rd letter of your vin # it will tell you the orig color for your car or if the car left the factory in primer. If you like that color ,great use it, if not pick what you like and live with some snobs reaction. It is your car enjoy it. Randy |
| R J Brown |
| My 58 was originally black but in silver an MGA is amazing! |
| jmhills |
| Thanks to all for your comments. Although I don't have the VIN number with me, I remember looking it up and discovering that the original colour was Glacier Blue. Now that I have begun stripping the paint, I have been finding more and more blue. Yesterday while driving home I noticed that many modern cars are using 50's retro colours (light greens,blues...)and I'm not totally against it for this car. After all, there may be some merit for originality. Also, I've had the bright red Italian car...'71 Fiat Spyder (actually very nice car), I sold that car in favour of the MG. What a great forum! I'm learning so much about these great little cars and the people who drive them. Thanks, Mark |
| Mark Hoffman |
| When I got my BMH certificate and it said "Alamo Beige", I said "Beige? They've got to be kidding." However, after uncovering some of the paint it has grown on me, and I will most likely paint the car Alamo Beige. IMO there are way to many red MGs out there. However, as has been pointed out on this thread, it is your car, paint it pink with purple poke a dots if you wish. My personal opinion is that you should stay with an original color or at least one that is in character of the car and its period. Safety fast! JMG |
| JM Greenlee |
| BTW, My 66 B is painted Tartan Red. It was originally British Racing Green. I wish it still was. JMG |
| JM Greenlee |
| www.mga-register.org/ has some nice pictures, and glacier blue is one of them. |
| Nigel Munford |
| My car is Glacier Blue. http://zippo.homelinux.org/mg/ |
| David Breneman |
| Mark, If you're going to choose a factory color, I'd recommend finding and visiting a car that's painted in the color you're considering, or at least take a look at the photos in "The Original MGA: The Restorer's Guide" by Glausager. I've owned a pair of MGA 1600 MkIIs - one Old English White (with red leather seats, black carpet, black rag top, silver-grey disc wheels, and MG maroon engine ) and one Iris Blue (with black seats and light blue piping, black carpet, black rag top, silver-grey wire wheels,and MG maroon engine). Of these two I much prefer the former paint and color scheme over the pastel shade, and still have that car today. The OEW w/red interior combination has simultaneously a classic, warm, and yet strong presence. (The red tail lights also contrast nicely with the warm off-white.) Also very appealing and unique are Dove Grey (w/red)and the non-standard factory color of Woodland Green (with tan). I only wish I had the problem you're now facing, i.e. to have another A ready to be painted. To be sure, you'll love it whatever color you choose, even red. Note, I've heard that many now rare Alamo Biege cars were repainted red by U.S. dealerships when the cars arrived, as the red cars were easier to sell. |
| Steve K |
| Erratum: That's Clausager, not Gl.... |
| Steve K |
| Some things never change! Last I heard, over 125% of red MGAs are still on the road today. :-) |
| David Breneman |
| Chattanooga Glenn will soon be Charlotte (NC) Glenn... And I'll be driving the 57 MGA every day. It is at the paint shop now getting a high metallic silver (2002 Dodge bright platinum)respray with gray and green interior... all custom... but done in OME style... when I got the car it was OEW... but during the body work stages I found... jag primrose under the white and over the OME red... and yes while they look great in red.. I couldn't add another one red one to the list. when it comes back and is all together I'll post pics. Chattanooga Glenn |
| Chattanooga Glenn |
| I stayed with red when rebuilding my 62 MK-II. I did not like the orange red, so chose a red that I liked. I'm not hung up on originality, but wanted a good looking driver. I went with GM Victory Red, with clear coat on top. I know it's not like the original, but I like it. Whenever we are parked in a group of other MGAs it seems like the shiny red one draws the crowd. There are a lot of nicer MGAs, but the bright red seems to attract more notice. I hope the local police aren't attracted to it as well! |
| Ed Bell |
| My MGA was originally Alamo Beige. That was changed when the car was involved in a roll over when it was about four years old. It was painted non-OEW white, and was still white when I bought it in 1969. I painted it '69 Pontiac metallic Verdoro Green. There were at least four other Verdoro Green MGAs in the town where I went to college. (University population about 14,000) It stayed that way for nearly ten years when I painted it silver. That is badly faded now. I really don't like Alamo Beige, but I'm considering going back to it for originality and "difference" reasons. I've never seen another Alamo Beige MGA, even when there were lots of them around. |
| Chuck Asbury |
| Mark, Several years ago I had an opportunity to purchase an INCREDIBLE ground up restoration of a Glacier Blue 1957 MGA. My wife insisted on a red car of which we found a very very nice example. With my encouragement a close friend bought the Glacier Blue car. Long story short. We go to shows together...the cars are of nearly comparable quality. There are always half a dozen red MGAs, one Glacier Blue. I wish I had a buck for every time he's won and I've come in second! what ever color you choose, you'll love it...enjoy the process. Regards, Bob Kassow |
| Bob Kassow |
| Chuck - I've seen an Alamo Beige MGA. Photos don't do it justice. It's an unusual color (literally the same orangish-brown shade of desert stucco) but it's really eye-catching and, since it's *really* uncommon (there were *never* "lots of them around"), I'd encourage you to go with it. There was only one Alamo Beige MGA at the NAMGAR get-together in Oregon a few years back, and it always drew a crowd. |
| David Breneman |
| Ignore me if you've hear this one. I just could not get behind any of the origional colors. I think the same guy that's in charge of English food and electrics does the color schemes. I ran across a '55 Porshe Speedster replica done in an origional but obscure color scheme. That had to be it. Its a beige but darker than Alamo, and with more yellow in it, called Ferret. The canvas is Rootbeer and the interier is "Saddle", compared to Tan its more brown. The colors just work (for me). It was hard to do, cuz its not red, or.... Its a very understated color but somehow it draws more attention to it. A few have seen it now, I've gotten some very nice feedback. When I get my digital camera and the process figured out to I put it in our gallery. Steve |
| Steve Meline |
| Hi, Steve - If you find the factory colors offensive, it's certainly your prerogative to paint your car any color that your aesthetics judge more ameliorable . But lest you find yourself playing "we in the 21st Century know better" with the original engineers and designers, remember that the MGA is a product not only of its heritage but of its time, and by giving short shrift to that context and its styling idioms you are left with nothing, really, but a kit car; or worse yet, an Excalibur. I await the "damned purist!" flames... :-) |
| David Breneman |
| Another .02 worth. My 1500 Roadster originally came in black. In a restoration, not many cars can carry off black well due to let's say - "bodywork issues." On the other hand, along with my "non-original" 60 spoke chrome Dayton wires and brilliant red interior combined with the gleaming chrome - not many MGAs have ever looked as good! Black is a lot of work in a lot of different ways - including proper care and maintenance - but if you have the heart for it, it really makes the car, body lines look great with that silver wing piping too! |
| Brian |
| I'm sure your car is beautiful Brian. Thanks for the incouragement David, sorry about those chains. Steve |
| Steve Meline |
This thread was discussed between 02/08/2005 and 25/08/2005
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