As gear heads and enthusiats, we dig through several parameters concerning a vehicle before placing it under our yay or nay list. The type of engine it houses, the horsepower it generates, the 0 to 60 mph timing, the top speed, and the mileage — these are usually our common factors. While all these form the identity of the car there is something that is equally important — The shade of the car. A car's skin is equally important in forming its identity.For example, red for us is Ferrari, yellow is a Lamborghini, green is an Aston Martin, Jaguar or Bentley and silver is a Mercedes. While these colors represent a particular brand, there have been many cars in the past whose livery preceded its reputation. We bring you a list of 10 cars that are known for their iconic liveries and were regarded as the best car colors of that era. These cars have proven their identity goes beyond their achievements and performance.
10 Mazda 787B Le Mans
Green And Orange
Mazda 787B Le Mans' livery has been captivated by its stunning combination of green and orange. These vibrant colors instantly grab your attention and make a bold statement on the racetrack. The deep green hue exudes power and sophistication, while the fiery orange adds a touch of excitement and energy. The Mazda 787B was not just limited to being a visual masterpiece, it also made history as the first Japanese car to win the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1991.
Its striking color scheme perfectly reflected its dominance on the track, turning heads as it zoomed by at incredible speeds. This iconic racing machine's distinctive livery has become synonymous with Mazda's motorsport legacy. It showcases their commitment to pushing boundaries and challenging conventions in pursuit of excellence. The green and orange combo is undeniably unique, setting this car apart from its competitors both visually and performance-wise.
9 Lotus JPS
Gold And Black
Lotus was renowned to don flashy liveries on racetracks. However, the special black and gold skin takes the win. The timeless elegance of Lotus JPS gold and black is unrivaled. The John Player Special was a limited edition model released by Lotus in collaboration with the tobacco brand (yes, back in the days tobacco advertisement was allowed).
Lotus F1 cars wore the flashy design from 1972 to 1978. The sleek black body adorned with gold accents made the car stand out amidst a swarm of others. Many associate Lotus F1 cars with gold and black even today. American F1 racing team Haas tried their luck with the same color combination ahead of the 2019 race season. But still black and gold means Lotus JPS!
8 Mini Cooper S
Red And White
The Mini Cooper S is a true icon on the road, and its red and white color scheme only adds to its charm. This classic combination of colors perfectly captures the Mini's fun and vibrant personality. The inception of this color combination for the Mini Cooper S is interesting. T
The British Motor Corporation has been using the red body and white roof for its Austin-Healey rally cars before mimicking it for the Mini Cooper S rally cars. However, it was after one of their Mini Copper S rally cars got damaged and came out of the garage with some repairs and a paint job done. The white roof was supposed to reduce the cabin heat. The "accidental" livery ended up catching so much attention that BMC just went for it!
7 Plymouth Roadrunner STP
Petty Blue
The Plymouth Roadrunner STP in its signature Petty Blue color is a true icon of American muscle cars. When you see a Plymouth Roadrunner STP in Petty Blue, you are bound to reminisce about the legendary race car driver Richard Petty, who famously piloted his iconic blue No. 43 car to numerous victories on NASCAR tracks across America.
The connection between this stunning shade of blue and racing success only adds to its allure. This car is also the symbol of the successful relationship between American oil and fuel additive supplier, STP, and Richard Petty. They dominated the racetracks together and the success even led STP to change the liveries of other sports cars sponsored by it to Petty Blue.
6 General Lee Dodge Charger
TNT Express
The General Lee Dodge Charger is a car that needs no introduction. This legendary vehicle, with its vibrant orange color and the Confederate flag, proudly displayed on its roof, has become synonymous with the popular TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard." With its sleek design and powerful engine, General Lee was not only a symbol of Southern pride but also a force to be reckoned with on the road.
But what made General Lee truly stand out was its distinctive paint job. There are many Chargers with the orange shade but none with the TNT Express one! The bright orange Dodger was called "TNT Express" as it packed explosive power under its hood. The thunderous roar of its engine could make anyone's heart race in anticipation.
5 Toyota Supra A80
Candy Orange Pearl And "Nuclear Gladiator"
The Fast And The Furious franchise has a huge part to play in the popularity of JDM culture in the United States of America. The movie series featured countless cars but the late actor Paul Walker's Toyota Supra A80 stands out. The F&F crew took the liberty to paint the Toyota Supra A80 with the vibrant Candy Orange Pearl finish.
Apart from the bright orange shade, the car was also slapped with the famous Nuclear Gladiator vinyl on the side. The popularity of this Supra A80 went beyond the movie screens as the car earned around a million dollars in the auction. We certainly couldn't miss out on this car while talking about the best car wrap colors.
4 Ford Mustang GT350
Wimbledon White
Carroll Shelby's journey from being a chicken farmer to one of the most revered automobile designers is celebrated by all of us. His Mustang fastbacks were absorbed by the American car manufacturing giant Ford. Together the duo created many iconic cars but the 1966 Ford Mustang GT350 has to take it home. The '66 Mustang featured a Cobra V-8 engine and a unique exterior design that complemented its speed.
It was also the first time the Mustang featured dual exhausts which resulted in quieter rides. Of all its features, it was the shade of white and the legendary dual race stripes that grabbed more attention. Today this car is a collector's item and the Wimbledon White remains to be one of the best car paint colors.
3 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1
Torch Red
The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has captivated car enthusiasts for generations. The Torch Red shade worn by this beast is considered the most popular one. Torch Red is a vibrant and eye-catching color that perfectly complements the sleek lines and aggressive stance of the Corvette Stingray. This legendary car packed a punch under its hood, courtesy of the 7.0-liter V-8 engine.
This is probably the only car on our list that prevails even today. The 'Vette has seen various updates over the course of years. Chevy is still reaping benefits from this nameplate and making the most of their best factory car paint color. The company is selling units in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world.
2 Porsche 917/20
Pink Pig
This roaring racing machine made its mark at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971, and it was hard to miss with its striking pink livery adorned with butcher-style cuts of meat. The inspiration behind this unique design came from a joke. The initial 1971 design was called "a pig". Which inspired the designer Anatole Lapine to take ideas from a butcher's chart.
Lapine added broken lines and named each section of the exterior body of the 917/20 Porsche. Despite its unconventional appearance, the Pink Pig proved to be more than just a gimmick. It was running high up in the fifth position at Le Mans in 1971, before being retired due to accident damage. However, it might not have been the best sports car colors but certainly a whacky one.
1 McLaren F1
Red And Blue
The period between 1974 and 1996 saw tobacco money being splashed in the F1 market. Many teams benefited from the massive investments and McLaren has to top the list of stunning car paints. The team's 1974 Championship-winning car was gifted with the legendary red and blue livery. The car was driven by the legendary Brazilian racer Emerson Fittipaldi.
McLaren had to wait until 1984 to bag another title. The red and white color combination with the "Marlboro" logo became symbolic of not just McLaren but F1 itself. The car was occupied by the best of the drivers in F1 history like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Gerhard Berger, and many others.
FAQ
Q: Which car colors hold up best in heat?
As per the process of reflection, white car paint holds up the best in heat. It is followed by silver, red, yellow, and gray.
Q: What car colors have the best resale value?
Yellow cars are said to have the most resale value. Beige, orange, green, and red follow.
Q: Do red cars really get pulled over more?
As per the National Motorist Association, it is not red but white-colored cars that get pulled over the most. Red comes second.
Q: What is the most attractive car color?
Even though it is very subjective, black, white, gray, and silver cars are considered to be the most attractive car colors.
Q: Which car color is safest?
Consdiering the safety parameters, white car color is considered above all.
Q: What color car is the least stolen?
Bright-colored cars like yellow, orange, or white are least likely to be stolen.