Which paint colour goes where?

[TimNZ]

So I'm getting closer to painting the Series 3, and want to confirm what gets painted what. So far, from looking at older pictures and other info on the web I've come up with:

Body - Body Colour
Doors - Body Colour
Door Tops - Body Colour
Wheels - Limestone
Roof - Limestone
Sides (Hard top) - Limestone
Sides (Station Wagon) - Body Colour
Tailgate Lower - Body Colour
Tailgate Upper - Limestone
Rear Door (Station Wagon) - Body Colour
Engine - "Engine Blue" AKA "Sky Blue" for 3MB engines

Some sources mention that the roof & sides etc should be painted "White", however I can not find any mention of what white exactly they should be painted.

Any corrections to the above, or extra info would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

[Gordie]

My sides on the 'safari 88' are limestone, but I recall one my father had when I was a kid, as being body colour...so maybe it was an optional thing??

[gromit]

I have a feeling that Series II & IIa had the body sides and tailgate top in Limestone and Series III had them in body colour.
The roof & wheels on a Series III were maybe white rather than than Limestone (?) but no doubt it depended on where it was built and what day of the week it was built.........


Colin

[JDNSW]

Your summary is fairly accurate for the majority. But throughout production there have been variations, often for large customers, and towards the end of Series 3 production, there were some quite unusual (by historic standards) paint schemes, perhaps the most different being the 'Game'.

John

[Tim_AM]

Tim,

I have to say that regardless of historical accuracy, I think a contrasting canopy looks much nicer,

however, if you have a split tail gate or a swing door may be the decision maker:

a contrast may look odd with a swing door?

just my 2pence

regards
Tim

[Gordie]

Mine looks fine with contrasting swing door.

[Peter O]

My Series 3 109 was originally painted sandstone from the mid line up however it was changed at some stage then changed again.


I did similar and changed it again with just the roof in the sandstone.

[JDNSW]

In Australia, up until the introduction of the Defender name here in 1991, the vast majority of Landrovers with a metal roof (cab, hardtop wagon) had at least the roof limestone or something close to that. This was often extended to the upper side and rear body panels.

Most Series 1, 2 and four cylinder 2a were deep bronze green for 88s and grey for 107-109. When introduced, sixes were usually camino gold or close to this. These colours tended to remain the most common into Series 3, but particularly later in S3 production, there were more variations.

And as I commented earlier, there have always been ones that did not fit the usual colours - for example, my 1961 2a 109, sold new in Alice Springs, was white all over with a grey trayback, quite unusual for any make at that time.

John

[S3ute]

Hello from Brisbane.

When the 2A sixes came on the market in the late 60's they were mainly Limestone or a colour close to that. The Golds were largely 3's.

The metal roof on the hardtops (not necessarily cab tops) was a white but not vivid white. I don't think it was Limestone - my 1968 2A certainly had Limestone wheels and a lighter cab. The truck cabs on the 2A's were usually the same colour as the body on both the roof and back panels - bronze on the 88" and grey/Limestone on the 109" depending on the number of cylinders. The 3's changed all that with the patterns as described before.

And of course there were the special orders, imports and mix and matches .....

Cheers,

Neil

[mick88]

Hello from Brisbane.

When the 2A sixes came on the market in the late 60's they were mainly Limestone or a colour close to that. The Golds were largely 3's.

The metal roof on the hardtops (not necessarily cab tops) was a white but not vivid white. I don't think it was Limestone - my 1968 2A certainly had Limestone wheels and a lighter cab.


Cheers,

Neil



Neil,
Limestone (LRC.007) is listed as a colour from 1959-1984
as is "Sand" (LRC.004) so perhaps the lighter colour you refer to is Sand.


Cheers, Mick.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

My collection of Camino Gold Series IIIs are all 109s.

All came with Silver wheel rims. Ute cabins with white roof.

The ute configurations either came with plain aluminium sides or colour coded metal tray-back sides and tailgate. The custom sided utes had Camino Gold body with silver wheel rims and a white roof.

The exception to this is my ex-military Series IIIs which came with green wheel rims.

I am only going off what is in front of my nose when I walk up to my collection though.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[TimNZ]

Thanks for all the replys everyone :) Sounds like I'm pretty much safe to do what I want! :D

I suppose if you questioned a dealer back when they were available new the reply would be something like "Just be thankful both sides are the same, sir" :angel:

Cheers,

[JDNSW]

Thanks for all the replys everyone :) Sounds like I'm pretty much safe to do what I want! :D

I suppose if you questioned a dealer back when they were available new the reply would be something like "Just be thankful both sides are the same, sir" :angel:

Cheers,


For most of Series production it would be more like "That is the colour they come in. We can get a different colour for extra, but unfortunately, sir, the delivery will go to eighteen months instead of the twelve months for standard colours". Until the mid to late 1970s, demand for Landrovers exceeded supply.

John

[mick88]

Or perhaps it went "Sir, If you like it to have an undercoat, then two or more top coats, it will be thirteen months wait and an extra twenty bucks."
The paint on my 71 2A is that thin and worn through to bare alloy on the wing tops. I am sure it is not undercoated, and probably just got one quick coat of DPG as it whizzed past on it's final drive out of the assembly plant.
Maybe they were running low on paint.


Cheers, Mick.

[JDNSW]

As far as I know, they all only got a single coat at least on the alloy bits - it was not necessary for protection, and there was certainly no idea that the paint would last 46 years.

John

[wpalmo]

Hi All,

My Series III truck cab is still wearing its original paint. It is a very light blue with a white roof. The cab sides and door tops are the same as the body colour. I have been told by a couple of people that it may have been a Navy vehicle (RAN) in a previous life but someone else out there may be able to tell me something different.

I have not seen any other Series III's with this light blue but it is original. Like Mick's mine has also worn through on the wing tops and is pretty much a bare aluminium patina. Sort of looks cool though! I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has the same colour scheme.

Regards Warrick.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/421.jpg

[JDNSW]

I remember seeing that blue on new ones (civilian, not navy), but not common.

John

[mick88]

What year is your vehicle Warrick?
There is a Tuscan Blue, 1972-81 (LRC.236)
The only other blue in the same era, 1959-87 is Marine Blue,
and it is a darker colour.
If it's post 1982 it could be Stratos Blue/Tasmin Blue 1982-87 (LRC.327)


Cheers, Mick.

[Dgd69]

Telecom 76 series 3 never been touched orange all over white roof silver wheels https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/369.jpg

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I just finished watching Midsomer Murders on ABC and they showed a blue Series III shorty with limestone wheel rims. So maybe SWBs came out with them standard?

Where here in Australia the LWBs may have been fitted with silver wheel rims.

The 109th Episode of Midsomer Murders in Series 18 appeared as number 5 in the series Title Saints and Sinners first screened in the UK 10 February 2016 (accessed January 22, 2017 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Midsomer_Murders_episodes).

Kind Regards
Lionel

[JDNSW]

I don't think silver wheels started right at the beginning of Series 3. Also, although the Series 3 specified 5.5 rims and 7.50 tyres (lwb) as optional, these were fitted to most Series 3 swb in Australia, and hence would have had the same wheels.

John

[Tim_AM]

I watched that too,

Im sure the blue one was an LWB!?

[Lionelgee]

I watched that too,

Im sure the blue one was an LWB!?


Hello Tim,

Was it? My new prescription for my contact lenses just arrived in the mail. In four hours, after they soak in storage fluid, I will be able to see properly again - woohoo!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[S3ute]

I don't think silver wheels started right at the beginning of Series 3. Also, although the Series 3 specified 5.5 rims and 7.50 tyres (lwb) as optional, these were fitted to most Series 3 swb in Australia, and hence would have had the same wheels.

John

Hello again.

That is also my understanding.

The early Series 3 trucks mainly came with Limestone wheels - the 88"s did at least (the family had a couple - new 74 and 75). The silver wheels came a bit later - I also think the body colours might have changed at the same time (e.g. switch over between the two Golds on the 109"s, Spanish Olive and Gold on the 88's cf the lighter green on the early ones).

I believe the underlying rationale was to jazz up the trucks a bit since technically they were falling well behind the opposition and also to standardise the colours through the British Leyland Aust range. You may recall that Spanish Olive and Camino Gold was available for minis around that time and the latter was also an option on the Austin Kimberley, Triumph 2000's, 2.5TC etc.

Cheers,

Neil

[Gordie]

Yep, sounds about right...limestone rims on my '73 SWB.

[Lionelgee]

Yep, sounds about right...limestone rims on my '73 SWB.


Hello Gordie and S3Ute,

My 109s start off at 5/1976 and 6/1976, each with silver wheel rims so things must have changed around then.

I also have a 11/75 however it has different coloured rims on each corner so it is not much help. All three are Camino Gold by the way with truck cab - tops painted white.

What month was your 1976 Telecom vehicle made in DGD69?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Dgd69]

Hi Lionel

The series 3 Telecom car or Everest as kids call it is 5/76

Thanks
Darren

[wpalmo]

What year is your vehicle Warrick?
There is a Tuscan Blue, 1972-81 (LRC.236)
The only other blue in the same era, 1959-87 is Marine Blue,
and it is a darker colour.
If it's post 1982 it could be Stratos Blue/Tasmin Blue 1982-87 (LRC.327)


Cheers, Mick.

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the input. My Series III is a 1981 Stage One V8 truck cab. I am not familiar with the Land Rover Tuscan Blue or Marine Blue. Do you have any images of a Series III in that colour?

I have seen an image on the REMLR Forum with 2 light blue (similar to mine) Series III 1981 Stage One V8 truck cab's in service with the Royal Australian Navy. There was a small fleet of these vehicles purchased as clearance vehicles for the RAN. Mine originally came from the Northern Territory. I have been told by a few REMLR members that the blue colour of my Series III is the RAN blue but I am happy to be told otherwise.

Anyway it has been an interest of mine to try and find out the origin of my Stage One. I have owned it for about the last 18 years and I purchased it off a good friend of mine who owned it for about 8 years previous to that. So I have known the vehicle for over 25 years now. My mate purchased it in the Northern Territory and that is where the history of my Stage One becomes a bit of a mystery.

Can anyone out there in AULRO shed any light on the history, pre 1990, of this vehicle?

Regards Warrick.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/340.jpg

[S3ute]

Hello All,

I just finished watching Midsomer Murders on ABC and they showed a blue Series III shorty with limestone wheel rims. So maybe SWBs came out with them standard?

Where here in Australia the LWBs may have been fitted with silver wheel rims.

The 109th Episode of Midsomer Murders in Series 18 appeared as number 5 in the series Title Saints and Sinners first screened in the UK 10 February 2016 (accessed January 22, 2017 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Midsomer_Murders_episodes).

Kind Regards
Lionel

Lionel,

Hello from Brisbane.

This sort of thread can give the rivet counters a bad hair day.

When it comes to things like colour we need to be a bit clear on the scope of our inquiry. In this instance of colours the answer depends largely on whether you are talking about Land Rovers that were assembled in Australia and sold in Australia, assembled in the Mother Country and sold there, assembled in the Mother Country and sold somewhere else, assembled somewhere else and sold there or somewhere else.

There are some overlaps, but generally they were different. For example, and this may come as a bit of a surprise, North America took a lot of Series trucks but few were bronze green. Most of the NA spec trucks were light green, Limestone or red (especially wagons). The Marine Blue that you saw on Midsomer Murders is quite a common colour in the UK, especially wagons and SWBs with blue canvas tilts, but I don't believe too many left the plants in Zetland or Port Elizabeth in that particular hue. The trucks that were assembled and sold in Central and South America came in a range of fairly bright colours to suit the local vibe and so on.

Then there are the imports and resprays.

My own reflections on colours are largely restricted to what came out of the local plant with Rover Australia Pty Ltd proudly adhered to the compliance plates.

Cheers,

Neil

[Gordie]

Hi Mick,

I am not familiar with the Land Rover Tuscan Blue or Marine Blue. Do you have any images of a Series III in that colour?

As Neil alludes to...mine is NZ new...and I believe there were more marine blues there than here in AUS. Here is a pic off the net of one same colour as mine....http://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.Mc0bdf55e7d93bde802460962e1667f68o0&w=183&h=138&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0 (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=marine+blue+landrover&view=detailv2&&id=4F73F5446EC1E4C3D8F4BD0CF576FF07BB8789D1&selectedIndex=4&ccid=wL31Xn2T&simid=608045139957711002&thid=OIP.Mc0bdf55e7d93bde802460962e1667f68o0)

[mick88]

Found these "googling"
There are a lot of varying shades that come up when you google Marine Blue Land Rovers. Probably depends a lot on the era and what company the paint was sourced from at the time too.


Cheers, Mick.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Yes colour codes and variations even within the same colour. I took in the full colour code of the Series III sticky to one of the local paint places. SIII Camino Gold: Dulux 12137 (Accessed January 24, 2017 from, https://www.aulro.com/afvb/series-land-rovers/126729-standard-paint-codes.html#post1462066)

The paint mob then informed me that, "there are different colour codes and proportions for Camino Gold - which one did I want?". Some were for Minis, some for Mokes two within Land Rover 109s. My can from the paint shop has written on it 363 - 1967-1977.

Apparently, there was another variation on the same colour that went from 1977-1981. Not sure if the Camino Gold Range Rovers had the same paint mix as for the Series either?

Gee just as well we love our Land Rovers! For such a basic machine they come with complex accoutrements :)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[reachjatt]

Here is some more info on Land Rover Series Paint Codes http://www.landroverseries.org/paint-codes.htm


Regards,
Nav

[cjc_td5]

The later series 3s used Bahama Gold, which is slightly more mustard than Camino Gold. My moke is Camino Gold and my Stage 1 is Bahama Gold. They are slightly different when parked side by side.