Color Focus
Color Focus: Aston Martin Racing Green – AST1140
The story of Aston Martin Racing Green likely begins with England's pre-war national racing color of British Racing Green. At a time when top-tier racing represented pride in one's nation, blue stood for France, red for Italy, white (the silver) for Germany, yellow for Belgium, white with blue stripes for the USA and for England... green.
Color Focus: Porsche Maritime Blue – 5MB
Near as we can tell, Maritime Blue (maritimblau; non-metallic UNI; 5MB; Porsche) as a color was introduced or at least popularized during the 964 era. Porsche Club’s Rennbow website lists it as mainly available from 1991 to about 1995 with a few exceptions since and potentially in 1979 on the Carrera SC. They also suggest it may have evolved from early Porsche Enamel Blue. Whatever the case, the idea is simple enough – a practically primary blue that harks early national racing colors of France, often referred to as French Blue and popularized in those early pre-war racing years by Bugatti.
Color Focus: Porsche GT Silver Metallic – M7Z / U2
When it comes to core racing colors, silver and Germany go hand-in-hand since the pre-war Silver Arrows days of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union. And though Porsche tends to lean towards the original german racing color of white in more recent years, there's no doubt that its classic 1950s racers predominantly went silver. And one of the most popular modern Porsche silver colors is GT Silver Metallic (gtsilbermetallic; metallic UNI; M7Z / U2; Porsche).
Color Focus: Porsche Brewster Green – 22B
Some say Porsche's non-metallic Brewster Green (brewstergrün; nonmetallic UNI; 22B; Porsche) is Stuttgart's take on British Racing Green. However, we'd suggest it's just another shade by Stuttgart of England's original national racing color. Where Irish Green goes just a bight lighter than a lot of traditional British Racing Greens, Brewster Green goes a bit darker. In lower light it can sometimes even look black, though under direct light the green hue and the relationship to the British national racing color is undeniable.
Color Focus: Porsche Gulf Blue – 328
The term "icon" may be loaded. For starters, the word itself is used far too often, in a way that waters down the value of the label. And, in the case of a truly iconic color such as Gulf Blue (gulfblau; non-metallic / non-metallic UNI; 328; Porsche), the color also tends to get over-used by Paint to Sample clients seeking the obvious Porsche motorsport heritage play. And what a play it is.
Color Focus: BMW Individual Dakar Yellow – 337
BMW named this yellow hue after the iconic Dakar Rally, the ultimate rally raid style endurance race that originally trekked from Paris to Dakar, though presently is now held in Saudi Arabia. Though BMW automobiles has never competed as a factory at Dakar, BMW Motorrad won the motorcycle class of the Dakar Rally six times, including its first victory in 1981 when Hubert Auriol won on the R80 G/S. Though we don't know for sure, it's a safe guess that these victories are quite likely the inspiration for the name of this almost buttery shade of yellow BMW used to debut the BMW M3 type E36.
Color Focus: Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue – Z5M
Might Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi) be the ultimate color for four rings cars wearing an RS badge? Well, we know it is pretty much the original. The color first launched as RS Blue when it first appeared on the Porsche-built and developed RS2 Avant. It would later reappear in the B5 S4, first-generation S3 and remain a favorite for S and RS applications and special editions through to today. The "RS Tribute Edition" take not the RS 6 Avant, itself a tribute to the RS2, remains one of the most sought-after of the C8 RS 6 models sold in the U.S.A.
Color Focus: Mercedes-Benz MANUFAKTUR Vintage Blue – LU-934
It may say "Vintage" in the name, but MANUFAKTUR Vintage UNI (vintagblau; UNI; LU-934; Mercedes-Benz) is technically modern. Yes, it seems to hark visions of powder blue W115 or W123 E-Classes of the 60s and 70s... or maybe Gulf Blue racing liveries, but it's decidedly different and decidedly modern. Mercedes-Benz rolled out this blue uni color as one of the colors in the palette of its modern era MANUFAKTUR tailoring service, offering a very unique look that's both timeless and throwback.
Color Focus: Porsche Oak Green Metallic Neo – M6E
A modern reformulation of a classic color, Oak Green Metallic Neo (oakgrünneo; metallic; M6E; Porsche) harks Porsche's Oak Green Metallic of the 80s and 90s that was offered in that period as a standard though remained rare. Today's reformulation, thus the "Neo" in Porsche parlance, appears to be close but not exact. It was a standard launch color for the Porsche Macan Electric and the launch photo spec for the 992.2 GT3 Touring, so not widely seen in person at the time of this writing. Those familiar with the original who have seen it in person report it has a bit less gold tones and metallic flake than the original.
Color Focus: BMW Borusan Turkish Blue – P9E
Borusan Turkish Blue is an intense racing blue on the green side of the blue spectrum, established as a go-to color from its use on the BMW M4 GT4 racing cars of the Turkish racing team Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport. Launched in 2008, Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport, working with BMW Individual to develop this blue as a special color specifically for its cars. In more recent years, mounting success for the team has brought their signature color to the fore.