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MG MGA - What is this MGA Blue?

Hello,

I am found of this color that is supposed to be Iris blue, but there is frequently a confusion with some other blue bearing the same name. For ex. on that site there is 4 Iris blue cars with two differnt colors. I want to paint my MGA the color that is:

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/pics/crawford60a.jpg

Could you tell me what is the real name of that color and if you know the paint code for modern car paint, it could be usefull.

Thank you.

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

According to Clausager in "Original MGA", here are the paint colour codes for Iris Blue he lists in the "Paint Colour Code Reference Table" on page 105:
BMC Code: BU.12
ICI: 3243
Gipgloss/Ault & Wilborg/Berger: 20306
Dockers/Pinchin Johnson: CHB143
Ditzler/PPG: 12235
Rinshed-Mason: BM.054
Dupont: 8184
Bobby

I think the colour is Mineral Blue.
If you look on www.mga-register.org/
there are pictures of most of the colours, and trim combinations.
Nigel Munford

Paint codes.

http://www.mgcars.org/MGA/mgapaint.html

All available colours sould be on there.

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

Looks like Iris Blue, the other colour is Glacier Blue, from memory its slightly darker, look on the MGA register site, there are some colours in the Gallery section



Terry
Terry Drinkwater

Jean Guy. My MGA is in its original Iris Blue (body unrestored and has been owned by me since 78 and a friend purchased it in 75). It's color is almost identical to an Iris Blue car at the local wrecking yard, also still in its original Iris Blue color. Both of these cars are of a lighter shade of blue than the car you have the photo of. I wonder how much the paint specification changed over the years? (My car is a 61 and the one in the wrecking yard is a Mark II.) I know with the BMC color "Healey Ice Blue", the exact color changed slightly over the years with some years being more attractive than others.

The car you have us look at is a prettier shade of blue than the Iris Blue I am used to. Hope you find out exactly what it is and can let us know.

Les
Les Bengtson

Hello,

I went to different sites and the ambiguity still there. According to some owner Iris blue is that color.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/pics/lhlfrnt.jpg

I do not know which is which, but I prefer the first one at the beginning of this thread...and it is still an unknown color, named Iris blue according to that fellow. Now I am still facing two different iris blue

Cheers,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

my coupe body is iris blue http://www.citrusguide.com/tropical5/ www.btropical.com
karl

JGC

Don't forget that the colors shown on one monitor are NOT necessarily the same as displayed on the next. Only way to be sure is to physically compare color chips or samples.

If you cannot physically look at a paint sample (known manufacturer's code) of the color you want consider buying the smallest can available of the color you think you want and do a test panel to verify color.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Jean Guy,

I found this in the archives:

http://www.autocolorlibrary.com/

Choose "Select European" then "Austin Healey/MG"

Then enter year (say 1958) and view chips.

Every BMC color appears. Unfortunately, I don't see your blue appearing so I guess its a custom paint job.


Dan
Dan Barton

Hi Jean Guy

IRIS BLUE for sure I have the same on my 61 1600 but as you will find out if you try to match it the factory Iris blue took on many different shades and hues. Glacier blue is darker as noted above and more of a royal blue color.

As larry noted the lighting, monitor and the camera the shot was taken with all affect the picture you see.

So you have one of the many variations of BMC Iris blue

Ralph
Ralph H .

I went through the same 21 yrs ago when I did my coupe. I had access to original color chips so I compaired them to DuPonts. Got a real nice match, turned out it was color they used by fleets if I recall, so therefore was mixed by the company not by the supplier and would be more consistent. About 7yrs ago I walked by the car saw something sparkly on the lower drivers door. Turns out a paint remover can on a shelf next to the car rusted out and in the sun with the garage door open, dripped to a lower shelf then splashing on to the door,rocker and the front of the rear fender.By the time I found out the paint remover had even dried! Found out they changed the formula removing the lead and at dusk if you know what your looking for, you can see the diffrence. The moral of this story is pick a color you think matches and that you like,keep some extra(there are products available to replace the air as you close the lid on the can)and THROW away paint stripper when done, it's cheaper and much better on your nerves. By the way, any time I take a picture of mine the color looks diffrent, sometimes real lite and sometimes dark depending on the light or angle. Must be the original version of VW's vapor or the color that the Ford Mustang's were painted that changed as you went past. Gary
gary starr

Looks like a standard Renault Blue to me - the Alpine racing blue
dominic clancy

It's a little off, but closest to Iris blue. Sherwin Williams still has the correct paint codes for an Iris blue match.
Phil
The Other MG Brother - Phil White

Thank you guys,

And Phil you were right. I went to sherwin-williams site:

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/

and found under austin the formula for BU12. A phone to my local S.-W. car paint distributor confirmed that they could mix the color in regular enamel (Dimension). This will give an original finish.

Cheers,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

The picture you show appears to be Iris Blue. The tone in a picture that is the shown over the internet can look totally different than it should. The amount of light, the angle of the light, the color of the light all affect how a picture looks. Mineral blue is darker and was a coupe only color here is a good looking one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957-MGA-Coupe-Body-off-restoration-Award-Winer_W0QQitemZ4639699178QQcategoryZ80750QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Glacier blue has more of a green tint to it and is rarely used. I think this is glacier blue

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1958-MG-MGA-ROADSTER_W0QQitemZ4641522089QQcategoryZ80750QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I like Iris blue, I used it to repaint to original GHNL/90954 and was very pleased with the look.
R J Brown

I have just uploaded a compendtum covering mga differences and original colors.

Yes, it is in danish - but you can look at the illustrations - and guess the text

;-)

http://www.2-a.dk/mga.pdf

Ole Aaen
Ole Aaen

Hi Ole

I loved your document.

It looks very much likely that you made this document with the Pages programme on a Mac. I'd like to use some of your graphics in a document I am doing for our local MGA club Rally (and I'm also using Pages)

Could you send me a copy of your document in original Pages format. If it is too big (although my email has no limits on file sizes at all), I can give you an ftp site to upload it.

Many thanks
Dominic
dominic clancy

Ole,


Thank you, for the info. I like both color and danish is simple to read concrning colors.

Cheers,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

Hi Dominic

Your are almost right - I'm an Graphic artist and I'm using Mac - InDesign though!

But I could send you the Graphics as JPG's if you point out the ones you want to use!

Ole Aaen
Ole Aaen

I've gone thru the research for Iris Blue too. All the old paint codes are obsolete, of course. Old duPont code is a dead end. Ditzler, however was bought by PPG. Give the old ditzler code to a PPG house and it is still in their computers. It then transfers the formula into a PPG color. That turns out to be Florida Blue, an old VW color. Took the VW info back to the DuPont house where my car was being restored and Florida Blue comes up in the modern DuPont code book. ChromaOne, and ChromaPremier both. hth
Paul Hanley

Paul,

Florida blue was for VW of which yer, and is it really the same color as Iris blue.

Please what is the Dupont code for Florida blue?

Thanks,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

JGC,

If you go to a PPG place and have them type in the Ditzler code of 12235 (Iris Blue) it will translate via their data base to DG3199 A. "Florida Blue". If you take that modern code back to a DuPont paint shop, the DuPont data base will cross reference GD3199 A to the modern DuPont code. Also "Florida Blue" in the DuPont data base.

Looking at the one gallon paint can that I scavenged from the shop where/when my car was painted, the DuPont codes on the can are:

In large printed numbers: L7850G
It then says in slightly smaller type:

Car: Volkswagen-Audi
Code: LA5A/J1
Color: Florida Blue
Year: 1979
Valueshade #2

Is it really Iris Blue? With out a doubt. The formulas, both old and new tranlate to each other. I don't mean to brag, but solely to add credibility: My car is the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Best-in-Show at the NAMGBR Annual National Conventions. (simplisticaly put) There has never, ever been one question as to the acuracy of the paint color. Its Iris Blue for sure...and its matched most, but not all of the Iris Blue cars its encountered. The ones that didn't match, were clearly wrong...most often, too grey. The ones it did match--it was spot on.

I will admit this however: My Iris Blue '64 has had a touch-up on one panel due to rust bubbles. Also, the bonnet lid was painted seperately from the rest of the car on restoration. If you look very, very carefully, there are three different Iris Blues on the car! Paint does vary in color with batches.

If you're looking for Iris Blue, print this thread and take this information to any DuPont or PPG paint house. All the info they'll need is here.

Cheers,


Paul Hanley
Concours Coordinator
North American MGB Register
Paul Hanley

Ole

In Design files are also fine.

Dominic
dominic clancy

Paul,

Your infos will be helpful, thank you. I will certainly keep them. The only problem I am facing now is to choose between traditional enamel as sherwin-williams sells or more modern finish (i.e. basecoat-clearcoat) by Dupont.. But it is another story...

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

Hello,

One last note, I found in S-W site more references on Iris blue and in base coat or lacquer are avalaible:

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/formula/quality_list.cfm?result_c3=%20K6118%2CW51485&div_cd=AUSTIN&mfg_ccd=BU12&page_id=1&search_type=vehicle&form_vm=ALL&form_mdl=INCALL&form_vp=1&form_vcc=&form_vy=ALL&form_vcn=iris%20blue&dm=0

But according to them Florida blue is different but as they do not give formulas, it could be the same color.

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/formula/quality_list.cfm?result_c3=%2030422%2CW51433&div_cd=VW&mfg_ccd=LA5A&page_id=1&search_type=vehicle&form_vm=ALL&form_mdl=INCALL&form_vp=1&form_vcc=&form_vy=ALL&form_vcn=florida%20blue&dm=0


JGC
Jean Guy Catford

JGC,

The Florida formula is also available in single stage thru DuPont. Perhaps their Centuri line?? For some reason, my painter prefered it for the underside of my car. So I guess that makes 4 shades on one car! Good luck with the project.

Paul
Paul Hanley

Thanks,

for all the infos.

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2006 and 24/05/2006

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