I知 nearing the point of needing to pick out paint colors. I have gone back and forth about my color scheme, but I知 fairly certain I have landed on blue with black or dark gunmetal gray stripes. I am blacking out all chrome. For the blue, I知 looking at Royal Blue, Indigo Blue, and Jeep Hydro Pearl Blue. There痴 a Hydro Pearl Blue Jeep in my neighborhood, so I致e seen it in person many times. For the black, I知 looking at Black Sapphire Metallic (BMW). We've got a vehicle in this color, and it looks really good in the sunlight.
I知 thinking since I知 blacking out everything and the stripes are going to be dark, I may not want Indigo Blue because it is darker than the other two options. I've tried creating images in ChatGPT, but I can't really tell the difference between the royal blue and the Jeep Hydro Pearl Blue. Also, the black stripes don't really show the metallic.
I'm here for any and all opinions. I do know that I would want my painter to do some spray outs before making a final decision.
I've done two darker blues with black stripes in the past year. Personal opinion here but I think black on blue can be a little boring and the stripes can kind of get lost unless you highlight it with a contrasting color. Here's some food for thought...
Ram pickup Patriot Blue with Mercedes Laurite silver next to the black stripes:
Audi Navarra Blue with Porsche Carmine next to the black:
Best to see the color on an actual car in daylight. I went with the current Chevy Riptide Blue(corvettes/Blazers) and a Medium Gray strip. Not a Ford color but not really a Ford car.
My pic will not post at the moment but some in my build.
I think the AI tools are good for determining how different colors might look on a car, like red vs blue, or royal blue vs dark blue, etc. However, I would not rely on them to help you decide between similar shades/hues of a color. Plus you'll want to get spay-outs from whomever will be painting your car. A particular paint color can look different depending on the product used etc. This is all coming from very fresh experience.
Side note... before my build started, I fell in love with a particular color scheme, but then got distracted by other colors as time went on (including greens, blues and silvers). I've now finalized on that original color scheme from a few years back. I guess this is a long way of saying go with what "speaks" to you.
Mike - I do like your HoK cobalt blue. It's also in the back of my mind. Too many shades of blue to choose from.
Jeff - yeah, that's why I'm leaning towards a lighter shade of blue and not the Indigo Blue. My plan is not to do another stripe in a contrasting color. However, my plan is to do the side stripes that go from the hood down to the exhaust like Chad has done - https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...l=1#post604402
Speaking of Chad's car, I do like the Ford Magnetic Metallic he used for his stripes.
Waterman - I do like the colors you chose. That shows me the blue with a darker gray.
I've used ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot some. Are there any other AI's that you all have had success with.
Who knew picking out colors would be this exhausting.
I've used ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot some. Are there any other AI's that you all have had success with.
I've used both of those plus Gemini and a couple others (names escape me) - mostly just for fun, but ultimately none of them came anywhere close to looking at spray-outs in different lighting situations. I'd narrow down a handful (or fewer) colors and have your painter do some samples on speed shapes. It's worth whatever he charges you, if much at all.
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
Nothing wrong with over the top (the world doesn't need another blue Cobra ). This is one of my all time favorites and I was "this close" to duplicating it on my Mk5.
Mike - I do like your HoK cobalt blue. It's also in the back of my mind. Too many shades of blue to choose from.
I'm a red guy so I wanted red but my wife loves blue so we compromised and went with blue. I'm with Jeff, I wasn't very excited about another blue Cobra as it's been done to death. We must have done 20-25 sprayouts including Indigo Blue and none of them increased my heart rate. I think these cars are cartoon cars so they need an over the top color to go with it.
The shop suggested we look at Hok so we did and I had a few conversations with their main tech guy Reed. We got a sample of the Cobalt blue and did sprayouts over ligt and dark primers, nice but not spectacular. We wanted to be the BLUE car in a sea of blue cars. The painter suggested spraying it over a silver base and the moment we saw the sprayout we both said "That's it!!" I still have the sprayout hanging on my office wall.
Your Viking Blue looks a lot like Nassau Blue, a 1965-66 corvette color that I plan on painting my MKIV, also without stripes. Who makes the Viking Blue Paint?
Your Viking Blue looks a lot like Nassau Blue, a 1965-66 corvette color that I plan on painting my MKIV, also without stripes. Who makes the Viking Blue Paint?
Thanks,
Mike
Viking Blue is a ford color from the 1960s; Code "E" M1448
Similar color is Brittany Blue, another Ford color from the 1960s; Code "Q" M1624
I've done 2 roadsters in Brittany. It's a nice color!
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
This would also be my pick if i did another. Love it!
Delivery Date 6-24-23 Build thread Living the Dream
SBF 427 564hp/576tq Holley Sniper with Hyperspark by Smeding Performance. Tremec TKX .68 OD. IRS . Wilwood 12.88 brakes. Wilwood EPB. First start 11-17-23. First go cart 11-20-23. Title Reg. 7-3-24.
I had to laugh at this thread because it hits so close to home. I went round and round with colors. In the end, pick the color that does it for you. Picking a color is like choosing shoes. What you find comfortable, may not work for someone else. I'll bet, in the back of your mind, you already have your color picked out.
Yeah, my color schemes have changed a good bit. The one I like the best is this one. However, the family has vetoed it. It might be just a bit over the top.
I was at a car show once and a guy came over to look. He said these cars are almost like cartoons. They are so over the top in virtually every way and it's amazing. He was right. There is no ceiling with these cars. Do what you love. That color looks fantastic!
That's almost exactly what I'm shooting for in my head, the only thing I want to add to this would be a smaller red stripe on each edge of the black stripes. That's going to be a beautiful car, I'd love to see it in the sunlight.
Do you know if this is a standard color or a custom color ?
I've also considered going gray, yesterday we ate breakfast with some friends and they have a newly acquired Honda Civic in Urban Gray Pearl.
I'd seen it before but not in direct sunlight which brought out some sparkle and a more silvery appearance.
It's amazing how some of these paints really change in different lighting conditions.
I was at a car show once and a guy came over to look. He said these cars are almost like cartoons. They are so over the top in virtually every way and it's amazing.
Exactly how I've always felt. About as far from a Camry as you can get.
I've also considered going gray, yesterday we ate breakfast with some friends and they have a newly acquired Honda Civic in Urban Gray Pearl.
I'd seen it before but not in direct sunlight which brought out some sparkle and a more silvery appearance.
It's amazing how some of these paints really change in different lighting conditions.
….and that’s the challenge. There are so many great colors to distract you from what really speaks to you. I saw Ken’s video that Jeff shared and started to second guess things again, but quickly straightened myself out.
….and that’s the challenge. There are so many great colors to distract you from what really speaks to you. I saw Ken’s video that Jeff shared and started to second guess things again, but quickly straightened myself out.
Yes, every time I see something I like I go squirrel just a bit.
I've got the gray diamond FF seats and door panels and I painted my wheels black with red stripes and with the black trim I think a gray might look too dull or too much of the same color.
I'm sure I'll settle on my original plan of some shade of blue with black or even possible a dark gray stripe.
Last edited by TrackDay17; 03-22-2026 at 10:07 AM.
Reason: spelling
I know it takes time but unless your build is ready for paint right now I think it is worth it. You need to see the color on a car in the sun. Wife and I looked at cars as we were driving on trips, as we walked through a parking lot, at cruise-ins etc. I worked at a Lexus dealer and they had a beautiful dark red. As you walked around a car it had a subtle gold metallic visible at different angles of sun to body to eyes. I loved it and chose it for stripes on my silver. It was a 3 stage paint so I was charged extra. But the stripes didn't cover enough of the car for that gold to show up. It was still a good choice but I could have saved a couple $100 by going w/ a standard 2 stage color.
FFR MkII, 408W, Tremec TKO 500, 2015 IRS, DA QA1s, Forte front bar, APE hardtop.
I had to laugh at this thread because it hits so close to home. I went round and round with colors. In the end, pick the color that does it for you. Picking a color is like choosing shoes. What you find comfortable, may not work for someone else. I'll bet, in the back of your mind, you already have your color picked out.
Agreed. Two years ago, when I started my research into a build, I had a certain color in mind. Then, as time passed it changed, then months later, it changed again, and now, two months into my build, I've gone full circle back to the original color choice.
Now, it's different shades of that color....which changes weekly.....think I have it down to three choices.
Look at Chrysler F8 Green. It was used on Chargers/ChallengersColor choice.jpg
I have not seen a Roadster in this color, but the color goes great with black and dark grey
My Dad had a whole fleet of old Chrysler products from the late 1960s and 1970s that were that color which my sisters drove into the ground as teenagers. The color choice wasn't by design, it was just coincidental that they were cheap beaters!