Sunbeam Alpine Paint Codes

NOTE: This article appeared in the November 1995 issue of the Tigers East/Alpines East newsletter.

Color By Number

by Scott Christie

When speaking with many Alpine and Tiger owners I like to ask their car's original color. Unfortunately many do not know because they don't know how to decipher the color code. So in an effort to help, I thought a listing of color codes and their applications might be beneficial.

The first step is to find the code, which is stamped on the chassis plate attached to the scuttle. Once you have found this, refer to the chart below and you'll know your car's original factory color (my apologies to the Tiger owners -- I only have this information for Alpines, but most if not all of the Series IV and V Alpine colors were offered for Tigers as well).

All hardtops came from the factory in Embassy Black except for the GT models which came in body color. The hardtop headliner was a very light gray, almost white, perforated material called Vynair. Dealers also offered hardtops in any color of your choosing.

At shows and club meets I usually see the more common colors: Carnival Red, Moonstone, Wedgewood Blue, Arctic White. But I have yet to see someone with one of the rarities such as Thistle Gray or Orchid Green.

Most of these colors were exclusive to the Alpine and Tiger in the Rootes family of cars. The Sunbeam Rapier for example had a different portfolio of colors to choose from -- and there were some real dandies. Thankfully we don't have to see any Alpines painted in Morocco Brown or Apple Green!

CODE COLOR DESCRIPTION SERIES
APPLICATION

1 Embassy Black jet black I - V

11 Thistle Grey pale grey I only

19 Moonstone pale grey; near white I - IV

30 Seacrest Green mint green; decorator's Eau-de-Nil II only

39 Carnival Red red with a touch of orange I - mid V

40 Glen Green smoky mid green I only

52 Lake Blue mid blue II only

53 Wedgwood Blue sky blue; just like the pottery II - IV

58 Midnight Blue dark greyish blue late IV - early V

61 Quartz Blue Metallic pale silvery blue III only

67 Light Green Metallic the name describes the color perfectly III only

68 Autumn Gold Metallic brownish gold III only

76 Balmoral Grey mid grey IVa only

86 Forest Green Rootes' version of British racing green late IV - mid V

92 Arctic White pure white IVa - V

100 Mediterranean Blue light blue IVa - V

102 Oxford Blue pure deep blue late V only

106 Commodore Blue deep blue with touch of purple late V only

107 Holly Green pure deep green late V only

108 Polar White off white; close to Olde English white late V only

109 Orchid Green vivid pea soup green late V only

122 Signal Red pure deep red late V only

127 Turquoise Blue Metallic dark turquoise late V only

130 Gunmetal Metallic dark grey late V only

CODE	COLOR	DESCRIPTION	SERIES APPLICATION
1	Embassy Black	jet black	I - V
11	Thistle Grey	pale grey	I only
19	Moonstone	pale grey; near white	I - IV
30	Seacrest Green	mint green; decorator's Eau-de-Nil	II only
39	Carnival Red	red with a touch of orange	I - mid V
40	Glen Green	smoky mid green	I only
52	Lake Blue	mid blue	II only
53	Wedgwood Blue	sky blue; just like the pottery	II - IV
58	Midnight Blue	dark greyish blue	late IV - early V
61	Quartz Blue Metallic	pale silvery blue	III only
67	Light Green Metallic	the name describes the color perfectly	III only
68	Autumn Gold Metallic	brownish gold	III only
76	Balmoral Grey	mid grey	IVa only
86	Forest Green	Rootes' version of British racing green	late IV - mid V
92	Arctic White	pure white	IVa - V
100	Mediterranean Blue	light blue	IVa - V
102	Oxford Blue	pure deep blue	late V only
106	Commodore Blue	deep blue with touch of purple	late V only
107	Holly Green	pure deep green	late V only
108	Polar White	off white; close to Olde English white	late V only
109	Orchid Green	vivid pea soup green	late V only
122	Signal Red	pure deep red	late V only
127	Turquoise Blue Metallic	dark turquoise	late V only
130	Gunmetal Metallic	dark grey	late V only

NOTE: Code #30 is also Rootes Racing Livery.

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This page is maintained by T.J. Higgins (tjhiggin@ingr.com).