MOTOR CAR COLOURS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

MOTOR CAR COLOURS

UTILITY OR AMENITY? ALL COLOURES OF RAINBOW. (By Our Motoring Correspondent). Many years have passed since Mr. Henry Ford told his customers that they could have their car painted any colour they liked so long as it was black. Those were the early days of massproduction, and everything was done in the simplest possible way, and there was nothing so simple as a good- coat of shiny black paint. Besides, Mr. Ford probably argued that a piece of mechanism should not be decked out in fancy hues. Machinery, he contended, ought to look like machinery. After all, he was only following out the ideas that prevailed in the time of Victoria the Good. Even in this country the theory was held that machinery and everything connected with it ought to acknowledge its connection with the Black Country. That is probably why the Board of Railway Directors, responsible for the building of Euston Station, declined the offer of the PreRaphaelite Brotherhood to decorate that station free of charge. What, argued the directors, had a railway station to do with art? Their successors have, of course, made handsome amends to art, as witness their magnificent posters, designed by leading artists. But this has nothing to do with the colour of modern cars. Since the Black School of automobile art had its sway things have changed considerably. Nowadays it is possible to have one’s car decorated in almost any colour of combination of colours at only a small extra cost, while the range of colours offered without cost is decidedly comprehensive. Mobile Rainbow. During the recent R.A.C. rally a team of cars created a minor sensation by representing all the colours of the rainbow. Each car left from a different starting point, and as they came in together towards their final resting place at Bournemouth, they constituted ‘ an impressive mobile spectrum. With the whole spectrum to choose from it may be asked which is the most popular car colour of the year? Some interesting facts relating to car colours have been sent to me by the Wolseley Company who have made a close study of the matter. Apparently colour schemes for cars are as changeable as they are for feminine fashions.

One year the demand is for bright shades and combinations; the next it is sombre hues that are favoured. Some years ago there was a perfect orgy of two-tone schemes, to be followed by a passion for dark blues. An analysis of the past six years shows that as far as one make of car was concerned blue has been the most consistantly popular, never dropping below second place until this season, and for threa consecutive years holding first place. For this season blue has dropped to fourth place and black heads the list as it did last year. What is true of one make of cars is probably true of other makes. This-year, as far as it had gone, though black again leads, its percentage is reduced to 33, while green is second with 29 per cent., lake being third and blue fourth. In America, it is said, maroon is the favourite colour for cars. But enough of statistics. What the average motorist is perhaps more interested in is which is the most practical colour scheme? Ought he to indulge his craving for colour or stick to some hue which, if less emphatic, is at least more practicable?

Bedraggled Finery. In the case of 'an ordinary business man who has not too much time for cleaning his car, the best choice is obviously a colour that will not show dirt or dust too much —in other words, something like grey. A black or a blue car that is bespattered with mud always looks a neglected objact, though perhaps not so pitiable as a dirty green, I’ed or cream car. When I see a bright-ly-painted car which badly needs a wash and scrub I am always reminded of that very trenchant expression which the French have “une coquette sale.” Bedraggled finery is repellent. In the case of a chauffeur-driven car almost any colour scheme can be indulged in, for a chauffeur has presumably more time to attend to the toilet of a car than the owner-driver. But when all is said and done it is not difficult to understand the ascendance of black. Perhaps Mr. Ford was right after all. Black is non-commital and suitable for all occosions, from a wedding to a funeral, and it certainly looks smart when well washed and polished.. It can be said that colours follow, to a certain extent, the general trend .of •coachwork. Green and lake, which for the beginning of the 1934 season are second and third respectively in the list, are good colours for the sports car, a type which has sprung into popularity to a great extent of late. On the other hand, black is also a good colour for a sports car. It seems to impart a satisfying fierceness to any car of low build. If you see a red sports car you can generally make a guess at its highest maximum speed. But a sports car painted black naturally suggests a dark horse. Instruction Schools.

There is, of course, one argument in favour of having a car in a bright colour; it will make, or ought to make, the owner take such a pride in the car that he will keep it clean whatever happens and in doing so will probably pay more attention to the upkeep of the engine. These things usually go together. It is a safe bet that if the exterior of a car is well cared for and clean, the interior and working parts are the same. It sometimes happens that an owner is willing to spend the time and labour needed for cleaning the car but is unwilling to spend a portion of it in the maintenance, owing to lack of knowledge. To meet this emergency some makers have established special schools. In one company’s works at Coventry, and at its depot at Hendon, are schools for owners and part time chauffeurs. The instruction is necessarily flexible in nature, varying from an hour’s tuition whilst .waiting for a car, to a complete 14-days course including a spell of driving. For such men as gardeners and grooms who spend part of their time in the capacity of chauffeur, there is a three weeks course in which car maintenance and driving is taught from A to Z, a certificate of proficiency being given at the end of it. This is an extremely useful scheme and it would be a good thing if all other companies were to institute such ’a scheme. Many owners are content to learn their duties to their car as they go along, but there is the risk that . they may thus damage the car in the first few months of ownership. Others may leave it to their odd-job man or some other non-technical individual and find too late that their knowledge has. not been sufficient to maintain the car in a proper condition.