10 replies to this topic

[neilw]

I'm currently doing a full strip down and rebuild of our Mini and although it needs a lot of TLC the bodywork is in pretty good condition. I do however have some touch up jobs to do and need a couple of rattle cans but I'm not sure how to determine the correct colour of the car. 

 

Here is a picture of her in the garage:

 

 2017-05-05 13.42.16.jpg   93.29K   5 downloads

 

Here is a picture in natural light:

 

 IMG-20170504-WA0002.jpg   114.57K   3 downloads

 

Can anyone help identify the colour? She is a 1981 Austin Mini HL (998cc) 

Edited by neilw, 03 January 2018 - 12:27 PM.

[nicklouse]

Not original from what I can see.

[neilw]

Not original from what I can see.

 

That's what I was afraid of, so if it's not original I guess my only option is to take the bonnet to one of these paint shops that have a colour scanning gadget that will identify the exact colour?

[slidehammer]

Even if that was a standard colour it would have probably faded slightly by now, so you are best to take it to a Automotive Paint supplier with colour matching facilities, so you can have some rattle cans made up. If the number plate light has been sprayed body colour that is a small part to take.in. Looks a nice little project, good luck with it.

[MikeRotherham]

Hard to tell from an image my initial thought was clove brown but is it metallic?

 

Looking again no.

 

Does it have any info on the vin plate if it still exists? That's if cars of that age had that info then.

Edited by MikeRotherham, 03 January 2018 - 02:21 PM.

[Magnetagz]

looks similar to the mini 30 burgundy, but a bit lighter, if you take it to a local spray shop they may be able to find your code and point you where to get the paint?

[Rolo94]

Also looks abit like rover nightfire red,

[neilw]

Hard to tell from an image my initial thought was clove brown but is it metallic?

 

Looking again no.

 

Does it have any info on the vin plate if it still exists? That's if cars of that age had that info then.

 

It has a plate but it only has the VIN number on it, the colour code section is blank

 

looks similar to the mini 30 burgundy, but a bit lighter, if you take it to a local spray shop they may be able to find your code and point you where to get the paint?

 

I've contacted a company in Brighton who gave me the following options:

• You could bring in a sample and have a look through our extensive range of colour chips.

• We could put the spectrometer on your sample

• You could bring us a sample and we match the colour

The problem is Brighton to a 2 and a half hour drive from me.

 

Also looks abit like rover nightfire red,

 

That's what I initially thought so I bought a can from Halfords but it's too Red, my colour is more Burgundy than Red.

Edited by neilw, 03 January 2018 - 06:50 PM.

[Minimattvan]

hi, 

is the paint metallic? it looks to me as if it could have a clearcoat on top, if so its going to be near impossible to match, even if it is a flat base coat, its still going to have aged, reds and browns etc are notorious for fading, and your realy going to struggle with matching it.

have you not thought of giving it a full respray in a similar colour, then at least it has a fresh coat of paint, and you dont have to worry about matching it? its only a little baby mini!

[Itsaminithing]

If it's the original paint then my money is on Emberglow BLVC368 (used on 1980-82 Mini HL Saloon & Estate).

[absx2]

Itsaminithing is probably on the money as it looks the same as a mini 1100 special I once owned.