VB600 colours

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Geoffrey Lord
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VB600 colours

Post by Geoffrey Lord »

I am just starting a new renovation job on a 1952 VB600 and wondering what colour schemes (apart from black) are correct for the year?

Can anyone suggest a good source of accurate reference material/photos?

Cheers

Geoff
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simon.holyfield
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by simon.holyfield »

cheers

Simes

'51 Square Four,
'58 Huntmaster,
'42 W/NG,
'30 Model A
https://ariel-square-four.blogspot.com
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simon.holyfield
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by simon.holyfield »

This is my 51 SQ4. Colours for 1952 are identical, the black option has the same lining with black tank and wheel rim centres; there is also a green option for VB, tank and wheel centres as the Damask Red option. Never seen one but rather attractive I should think.

IMG_20210717_170903.jpg
cheers

Simes

'51 Square Four,
'58 Huntmaster,
'42 W/NG,
'30 Model A
https://ariel-square-four.blogspot.com
Geoffrey Lord
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by Geoffrey Lord »

Cheers for the excellent picture, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I will investigate the green too as it could be a bit different. I already have a 1930 'Black Ariel' and would like to have a bit of colour!

Geoff
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by will_curry »

Not the best picture I've ever taken but it does give an idea of
what the green looks like.

I believe the journalist Bob Currie had a similar green KG which is - or was -
in the National Motorcycle Museum.
green_kg.jpg
david.anderson
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by david.anderson »

The export green that was used in 1952 on is a darker green than the previous green (reseda green equivalent). I found it very difficult to find the actual colour when I did my 52 VB restoration. Advice that I received from Paul at the time referred to a comment by the late Bob Currie which was that the 1952 Ariel green was like the London and North East Railway. After some continued searching I found an Arielist who had restored his 52VG and who claimed that the paint colour that he had used was a match for the original. That colour was the same as the green used on Toyota vehicles in Australia from 1979 to 1981 (possibly the same in the UK). See this link for photos of my VB. Note there should be a winged motif around the tank badges, valanced front guard etc. Also the tank colour in the different photos differs between photos. The true rendition on my screen is the photo of only the tank.
http://forum.arielownersmcc.com/viewtop ... n&start=40
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simon.holyfield
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by simon.holyfield »

If indeed that green is close to one of the LNER colours, this might be useful:

https://www.craftmasterpaints.co.uk/col ... y-colours/
cheers

Simes

'51 Square Four,
'58 Huntmaster,
'42 W/NG,
'30 Model A
https://ariel-square-four.blogspot.com
Geoffrey Lord
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by Geoffrey Lord »

RS Motorbike Paint Ltd. list Deep Claret for the 1958 VB600 (no other years are listed). However they also list Brunswick Green for the 1954 Colt. I wonder if that green is somewhere near the shade(s) mentioned in this discussion? Thanks for the link David, very inspiring!
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paul.jameson
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by paul.jameson »

I think David Andersen is your best guide to the correct colour. The Bob Currie quote was "like LNER Apple Green, but darker". I have taken this to mean what I can only describe as a whitish tinge in the green. Like Smon, I am an LNER fan.

For the record, this is what Reseda Green looks like, on my Square Four.
IMG_71905.jpg
Paul Jameson
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Geoffrey Lord
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Re: VB600 colours

Post by Geoffrey Lord »

That looks fabulous! Cheers
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