Veteran Car Colour Chart - Established Practice in 1912
(a) In any of the schemes, set out below, brass or nickel furniture is suitable, the term "furniture" including the lamps, door and ascending handles, step edging and beading on the body, if not japanned. Glass frames may be polished or varnished in mahogany, rosewood, walnut or oak, or covered to match the upper trimming of the car either both sides or on the inside only when the outside is polished, or the polishing may be of two different shades with the lighter one inside. Metal frames are sometimes used to match the furniture but it is rather suggestive of a hansom cab.(!) |
(b) The stripe colour may be looked upon as a moulding, and reference to columns 2 and 3 of the table will give a general idea as to what may be done in this direction. |
(c) In deciding on a colour scheme, the exterior should be finished to harmonise with the colour of the upholstery. |
Body panels with or without bonnet
|
Fine edging lines or broard center lines for BLACK MOULDINGS. Releiving lines are seldom omitted.
|
If not black mouldings or wings (mudguards)
|
If not black rocker (or boot) panels below seat line, and black upper parts if closed body.
|
Chasis with or without bonnet, if not to match body.
|
Trimming
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
Dark Blue
|
White, any red, any blue lighter than the body colour. All shades of yellow, or gold
|
To match, or lighter blue with black lines or as column 2
|
To match body colour.
|
Yellow with black lines, red with black or white lines, light blue with black or dark blue lines
|
Dark or light blue, red, fawn or drab. The last two colours may be used for top only with other co-colours in
contrast below for closed cars
|
Dark Green
|
White, red, yellow or gold
|
To match, or lighter green with black lines or as column 2
|
To match body colour
|
Yellow with black lines, red with black or white lines, light green with black or dark green lines
|
Dark or light green, red, fawn or drab. The last two colours may be used for top only with other co-colours in
contrast below for closed cars
|
Dark Purple Lake
|
White, Vermilion
|
To match with lines as column 2
|
To match body colour
|
Vermilion with black lines
|
Blue, red fawn or drab, or last two colours for upper parts only
|
Black
|
Any colour
|
-
|
-
|
White, red or yellow with black lines
|
Any colour
|
White
|
Any colour
|
White with any colour line
|
White
|
Cream, with red, blue or green lines
|
Any colour
|
Dark Brown
|
Yelow, red, white or gold
|
To match, or lighter brown, with black lines or as Column 2
|
To match body colour
|
Yellow, red or lighter brown, with black lines - light blue, with yellow lines
|
Brown, red, fawn, or drab, or last two as upper colours in combinations with brown or red
|
Light Blue
|
White, yellow, gold or dark blue
|
To match, or darker blue, with black lines or as Column 2
|
To match or dark blue
|
To match or dark blue
|
Dark or light blue, fawn, brown or drab
|
Light Green
|
White, yellow, gold or dark green
|
To match, or darker green, with black lines or as Column 2
|
To match or dark green
|
To match or dark green
|
Dark or light green or black
|
Bright Red
|
White, yellow or dark red
|
To match, or darker red, with black lines or as Column 2
|
To match or darker red
|
To match or darker red
|
Most shades of red
|
Yellow
|
No fine lines, with black lines
|
To match
|
To match
|
Deeper, or lighter shade than body colour
|
Blue, fawn, drab or black
|
Grey (Lead Colour)
|
White, red
|
To match
|
To match
|
Black, white or red
|
Black or red
|
Reprinted from the VCCA March circular dated 1/4/56. It stated the source as being Motor Bodies and Chasis: H.J. Butler, Harper Bros., London, 1912. |
