Hooniverse Asks: What Car has had the Most Unfortunate Factory Color Option?

rover
It’s probably too far in the past for many to remember, but at one point in time, back in the 1970s, British Leyland painted an unfortunate number of their cars a dull, dusky brown. I don’t know if they got some sort of bulk discount on the top coat, but it’s become the color that I most closely associate with the Jaguar XJ6s of the era, as well as Allegros, Minis, and a panoply of others.
The auto industry turns to the clothing trade for their color and fabric pattern direction, albeit about five years removed from what’s trending in wearables. That works out for the most part, but it does it does seem like almost every model has that one color that – while it may have seemed like a good idea in concept – has turned into a mockery of those fashionably good intentions. Do you have one that is particularly egregious to your own personal sensibilities? What do you think is the most unfortunate factory color?
Image: Flickr

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103 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What Car has had the Most Unfortunate Factory Color Option?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I had a Ford Ranger rental around the turn of the Millennium, It was a metallic orange, that got dubbed “Electric Pumpkin”. Similar to this:
    http://www.fordf150.net/photos/data/500/1orange-ranger.jpg

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      That’s a gorgeous colour! I think I’m with GTXcellent on this one…browns and yellows – also the mustard kind – are just my kind of paint.
      We went across the country last weekend to attend a wedding in Oslo. Drove right past this place without knowing of the ad, and I’ve been angry at myself since. Never do a cross country trip with an extra driver without checking for classic cars along the road…anyway, can’t find anything that isn’t perfect with this one, down to the price.
      http://finncdn.no/dynamic/1280w/2015/4/vertical-3/23/0/583/877/20_1569645464.jpg

    2. Tanshanomi Avatar

      Within a few years, they wisely toned it down a bit. I think the later “orange crush pearl” is actually quite attractive.
      http://i1.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_0751.jpg

      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        I kind of prefer the less toned down version… and the much less toned down version. http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/509/85352004SVT.jpg

          1. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            We can do this all day man.
            http://www.pfyc.com/cotm/gt/wk135_deyster.jpg

          2. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Volvo’s golden phase was neat:
            http://rs976.pbsrc.com/albums/ae249/Volvofreak-10V/IMG_4503.jpg

          3. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            A tech question: Anyone here knows why some images get thumbnailed and others not? I’ve tried paste+enter, paste+post or paste+enter+click on link, but it seems absolutely arbitrary which images show up and which don’t. It’s the same for Opera on Android and Firefox on Windows8.

          4. Tanshanomi Avatar

            Disqus is just slow. A lot of time it shows up after a while, but either way it will eventually embed the image.

          5. Tanshanomi Avatar

            I’m planning on painting the fuel tank and fenders on Bultakenstein that exact ’06 Brazen Orange.

          6. dead_elvis Avatar
            dead_elvis

            This is an excellent plan.
            ETA clarification – the orange, yes. I can’t endorse pj134’s suggestion.

          7. pj134 Avatar
            pj134

            You should paint the frame aviator grey as an ode to your post.

          8. dukeisduke Avatar
            dukeisduke

            Not an original color, BTW.

          9. Tanshanomi Avatar

            No, obviously not. It still gives me Tingly Sensations™

          10. NapoleonSolo Avatar
            NapoleonSolo

            Actually, this is a beauty.

      2. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I just remember that I was visiting a vendor on a business trip with this truck and everyone there thought it was hideous. Maybe it was in the time frame.

    3. Kris_01 Avatar
      Kris_01

      I had a 2000 Focus wagon in this color. It was “Autumn Orange Clearcoat Metallic” and it looked fabulous.

    4. Scott W. Avatar
      Scott W.

      They made the Escape in that color too- it looked awesome, especially with the polished wheels and the NBX Pack (Roof rack, etc). I still kind of want one.

  2. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    1998 Corvette Pace Cars are the absolute worst.
    http://www.buyavette.net/New%20Pictures/247201.jpg

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      Great colors for a Mardi Gras parade, though. Just find a way to incorporate some green, and you’re set!

    2. mzszsm Avatar
      mzszsm

      Wife’s friend’s husband has a purple ‘vette, I love it, so does he and his kids.

  3. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    BL never did quite get their textiles-inspired colour palette quite right.
    But at least they Plaid with new ideas.

    1. ramLlama Avatar
      ramLlama

      True. On the other hand, I always thought that two-tone white/pink and cream/pink look great on these 50’s car.
      We need more two-tone cars today.

    2. NapoleonSolo Avatar
      NapoleonSolo

      Pink on ’50’s cars is fine.

  4. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    Color is SOOOOO subjective – I think P161911’s burnt orange Ranger is really sharp. Conversely, in my (very minor) opinion, GM’s “Light Driftwood Metallic” is far and away the very worst color ever put on a vehicle. Why would anyone actually pay money to drive something this hideous?
    http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2005_chevrolet_malibu_ls_gold_in_wallingford_connecticut_3950002416903099686.jpg

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I’m not sure that’s so much different than any other shade of “champagne metallic.”
      http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2461555437_195a309a26.jpg

      1. pj134 Avatar
        pj134

        … and, unless it’s a Rolls or a giant Caddy, they’re all bad.

      2. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        I actually like that. A 911 that’s not painted red or black.

        1. pj134 Avatar
    2. cap'n fast Avatar
      cap’n fast

      there was in the 1960’s a base standard color known in the trade as “chevy baby shit brown” which unless one paid for optional paint, it is what your chevelle was painted with. just nasty.

  5. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    At the time, it was the coolest thing, but the novelty wore off pretty quickly, and now they just look terrible. Mystichrome.
    http://themustangsource.com/forums/gallery/files/8/8/2/0/0/1996mysticcobra.jpg

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      I still love it, if only for nostalgic reasons.
      I would not, however, want to see the repair bill for a respray after an accident.
      “JAYSARS! Uhhh… just paint the whole thing black. That has to be cheaper.”

    2. Cameron Vanderhorst Avatar
      Cameron Vanderhorst

      That’s not Mystichrome. It’s Mystic. Mystichrome was the 2004 “re-issue,” if you will.
      Maybe it’s my Midwestern environment, but I still get compliments on the color on a regular basis. Guess the novelty hasn’t worn off yet for some.

      1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        No offense intended. These Cobras are sweet, and I’d compliment a well-kept Mystic Cobra, if I saw it. I still don’t like the color(s). I think it’s more about what it spawned in the custom car world than anything. Color-shifting paint was everywhere for a while there.

        1. Cameron Vanderhorst Avatar
          Cameron Vanderhorst

          That’s true. I saw firsthand how awful and splotchy a lot of the imitators looked up close. Truth be told, I’d be content with any of the colors my Cobra presents as; thankfully I don’t have to choose.

  6. Tanshanomi Avatar

    The Tuesday answer is early ’71 BSAs. The designers specified a chrome-look paint on the frame to mimic the look of nickle-plated chromoly race frames that were popular at the time. One of the production managers saw what that was going to cost and unilaterally took it upon himself to alter the paint to a matte dove grey, which was made in huge batches for the British military and could be sourced very cheaply. The public hated it. By May (possibly late April) of ’71, the factory switched to black frames, and many dealers had to disassemble bikes and respray the frames just to move the early-season stock off their floors.
    http://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/images/71BSA-Rocket3-R.jpg
    http://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/images/71BSA-A65Lightning-L.jpg

  7. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Mrs. Alff had a series of Windstars as company cars in the mid to late 90’s. There were several unfortunate colors in the Ford palette. I was able to talk her out of grape jam.
    http://cimg.carsforsale.com/537267/DC68D810-A3D9-4BDC-94ED-10B41B0AEBFD_1.jpg
    But couldn’t steer her clear of teal. When she got pregnant within a year of our wedding, my best man pointed out that it was the appropriate color for an expansion team.
    http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2389/801/5970400001_large.jpg

    1. Citric Avatar
      Citric

      I actually like the purple, it sort of functions as a more interesting black and I want to see it on more things.

  8. Kiefmo Avatar
    Kiefmo

    Silver, and here’s why… one of these is mine, and only our choice of stickers (and the key fob) distinguished ours:

    1. GTXcellent Avatar
      GTXcellent

      I’m with you on silver – right after gold/champagne/sandstone/etc on my preference (lack of) scale

      1. Kiefmo Avatar
        Kiefmo

        Champagne looked good on some early 90s body styles, I think — back when actual colors dominated manufacturer output instead of the greyscale palette they have now.
        I liked the way my ’93 Accord Wagon looked in that color. This is a stock photo (obviously), but mine was identical.

  9. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    I’m cool with most colours. What bothers me, is the typical washed out red you see on beaters – that’s really nothing to embrace:
    http://www.totally-free-pictures.com/vermelho/picture-um_carro_velho_vermelho-P1130166-400_small.jpg
    Also, the Ford Ka was popular in a violet colour. Too many people bought it like that, and what was neat to start with, just became very blah. Also, strong colours do tend to wash out…
    http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDY1WDcwMA==/z/UA8AAOxyCGNTLEG2/$_72.JPG

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      My 1988 Dodge Ram 50 (Mitsu Mighty Max captive import) was nice and faded like that. The first thing I did for it, after a tune-up, was give it a good waxing, which brought its bright red luster back.

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        I tried that with my 1971 Volvo 145 which had its original burgundy paint still. It turned pinkish.

    2. Krautwursten Avatar
      Krautwursten

      That beater red washed out so quickly that looking back on the 90s now I’m convinced they came like that from the factory. And it seemed to happen with absolutely every Japanese brand, not just one. Edit: And even VW Polos now that I think about it.

      1. Citric Avatar
        Citric

        Beater Red was also pretty common on Ford Escorts, Chevy Luminas and Dodge Shadows.

  10. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I want to hate it, but I can’t – Agate Brown, used on numerous VWs and Audis:
    http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/661013.jpg

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Oh, and I had those ABS wheelcovers on my ’78 Fox, the same except the black wasn’t used on the spokes, and they had interlocking ring stickers.

    2. Juliet C. Avatar
      Juliet C.

      is agate another name for feces?

      1. Kiefmo Avatar
        Kiefmo

        Seriously. That’s not even chocolate brown. That’s plain ol’ bowl-circler poo brown.

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Man, now that you say it, it looks a bit sick. And I really liked it to start with.

      2. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        When your shit brown car still looks good, you know the designer earned his check

  11. Juliet C. Avatar
    Juliet C.

    A neighbor had one of these. I thought I’d get used to it. YOU DONT.
    http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/blk86trbo/101_0095.jpg~original

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      A neon Neon!

    2. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      It’s as though someone took a highlighter marker to a white car. I wonder how this looks under a black light.

      1. dead_elvis Avatar
        dead_elvis

        Does black light show off vomit stains, in addition to what CSI-type shows usually seem to find with one?

    3. Cameron Vanderhorst Avatar
      Cameron Vanderhorst

      You know, if this was the getaway car they used in “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry,” they probably wouldn’t have had to stop for gas, and conversely they wouldn’t have been spotted by the police after calling off the search.

  12. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    When I was a teenager, the next door neighbor bought a ’77 Le Sabre 4-door in this color (with the even-firing 3.8 V6!). I went with him to the dealer to pick it up, and trade in his ’70 Le Sabre (gold). This color was simply called “Orange”.
    http://images.copart.com/website/data/pix/20120624/19519472_4X.JPG

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Oh, and by the way, it was metallic. But the then-new enamel paints GM was switching to as plants were being retooled to build downsized cars (from Magic Mirror lacquer), didn’t hold up well, especially metallics.

  13. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2003_ford_explorer_yellow_cloth_seats_center_console_96635119870674791.jpg
    Yellow doesn’t work on every car/truck. The Escape in yellow was borderline. The Explorer was too much.
    Though, the yellow Escape did inspire many to perform a rendition of Yellow Submarine…

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      There’s one I’ve seen around my town (a Sport Trac) in that color, with the left front fender replaced, and painted a lighter shade of yellow. Not good.

    2. Citric Avatar
      Citric

      Makes it look like a taxi, especially that one since it has black doorhandles suggesting a cheaper model.

  14. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    I thin One should look behind the iron curtain for the ugliest colours. Domestic market Ladas (e.g. Zhigulis) came from factory in seemingly random colours some of which were I don’t know what.
    Can’t find ugliest now as everything has been painted to nicer hue. Some were brown (for sale in US btw http://www.forsalecheap.net/used/lada-2101) :

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Got to say, forsalecheap.net is a win-URL, and fits the concept of Ladas in the Capitalist west perfectly

      1. Manic_King Avatar
        Manic_King

        Yes, but $13k is not cheap, even for a very authentic piece.
        PS. Fixed the URL.

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          True. There are still some ok Ladas of this vintage on mobile.de at sub 1k-prices.

    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Those cars were painted in whatever color The Peoples Paint Factory #43 decided to send out that week.

  15. Citric Avatar
    Citric

    The raspberry hue available on S-10s in the ’90s doesn’t suit the car, and I struggle to think of what it’d look right on.
    http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/3202/561/8002780006_large.jpg

    1. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      Just shrink it down to fit Barbie.

    2. Tanshanomi Avatar

      Pairing it with the gray lower cladding doesn’t do it any favors, either.

    3. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I’ve just been browsing the link in Batshitbox’s comment about Saab paint codes, and can assure you that this shade of raspberry would suit the Sonet III perfectly.
      http://saabarchive.net/images/colors/97_107-1172.jpg

    4. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      AMC Hornet

  16. Citric Avatar
    Citric

    Just remembered this one: The Spark isn’t a good looking car at the best of times, but in “Techno Pink” it really emphasizes the “hairless cat trying to fit through a space smaller than its head” aspects of the design.
    http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/photo-582×576.jpg

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I have to guess that the customer profile for this car skews female to a greater extent than any other car in history.

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Which reminds me of Volvo’s YCC (“your concept car”), designed by an all-female team to suit the specific need of women. The car ended up looking a lot like a … car, so it never took off. But…mind the colour! It’s really not particularly attractive like that:
        http://images.gizmag.com/hero/4009_6050570635.jpg

  17. Tiberiuswise Avatar

    Ford had a color called Rose Mist or something. Looked like lavender.
    http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/Dukeofsho/SHO/used-1996-ford-taurus-sho-5131-4427.jpg

    1. Citric Avatar
      Citric

      Weirdly, I see a ton of Ford Aspires painted that shade, faded of course.

  18. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Toyota is going to have trouble shaking the “Toyotas are appliances” reputation if they keep offering their cars in colors to match the rest of my appliances.

  19. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Has anyone ever looked at the SAAB Color Database?
    http://saabarchive.net/index.php/c/cdb
    They have, like, a hundred different takes on each color, and you’d still have a hard time finding an ugly one.
    Malachite Green
    Acacia Green
    Pine Green
    Eucalyptus Green
    Scarab Green
    Beryl Green
    Pepper Green
    Arbor Green
    Graphite Green
    Sun Green
    Green Silver (jeez, get some polish on that!)
    …and that was all before the second gen 900s came out!

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I think the Safari Green they put on Sonett IIIs is pretty offensive. It looks like it was painted with pea soup.
      http://saabarchive.net/images/colors/97_107-1117.jpg

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Gorgeous!

    2. Scott W. Avatar
      Scott W.

      I had a 9-3 in “Silver Green,” or, as we tended to refer to it, “Metallic Pistachio.”

  20. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    Porsches have some strange colours, like Raspberry red…
    http://www.356-911.com/modelinfo/911colours/911colours7173.htm

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Screams 1980s boy’s room poster.

    2. Tanshanomi Avatar

      The gold Carrera stripe is a jarring contrast.

  21. jim Avatar
    jim

    Morning Piss Gold Fiat Multipla (the ugly one)

    1. NapoleonSolo Avatar
      NapoleonSolo

      I think that is the ugliest vehicle I have ever seen, and it’s not the color that does it. I happen to be very fond of a number of cars other people consider ugly, but this is just awful.

  22. FastPatrick Avatar

    Mid-’90s Honda Civic in…well, I dunno. What is this?
    Bruise? Dark mauve? Metallic plum?
    Whatever. Ugly pandering-to-chicks color.

  23. Krautwursten Avatar
    Krautwursten

    The W123, my favorite car period, came in a lot of colors over the years, sixty four in total, and quite a few of them spanned some really awful tones like baby diarrhea beige and adult diarrhea beige and beer poop brown, but one particular color by the code of 618 called Mimosengelb (Mimose Yellow) is just downright visually offensive. It’s not yellow, it’s not green, it’s just shrieky. This tone seriously makes me squinch up my face, it’s like the sour drops of car colors.

  24. Krautwursten Avatar
    Krautwursten

    The W123, my favorite car period, came in a lot of colors over the years, sixty four in total, and quite a few of them spanned some really awful tones like baby diarrhea beige and adult diarrhea beige and beer poop brown, but one particular color by the code of 618 called Mimosengelb (Mimose Yellow) is downright visually offensive. It’s not yellow, it’s not green, it’s just shrieky. This tone seriously makes me squinch up my face, it’s like the sour drops of car colors.

  25. NapoleonSolo Avatar
    NapoleonSolo

    That Rover SD1 is a factory color called Turmeric. I had a friend who had one, and it actually looked fairly decent in person, although it was definitely garish. My US-spec Rover 3500S was a rather bland tan color called Tobacco Leaf. Again, when the paint was in good shape, it looked very nice in person, but photos are reminiscent of stuff my sons extruded shortly after coming home from the maternity ward.
    I actually like some of the colors others have suggested, but I draw the line at any shade of purple applied to an automobile.

    1. Krautwursten Avatar
      Krautwursten

      Perfect car for raising autism awareness.

  26. Kyle Allen Avatar

    My first car (Lotus Europa) was a shitty colour brown. Wish I had a pic. Great car though. Would never paint my 7 brown

  27. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    White.
    I don’t want a white car of any sort. It shows imperfections, it shows dirt. It’s especially bad when it is appliance grade white.

  28. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    One of these two, I’m not sure which
    http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy350/Rentz/Mariner/DSC03266.jpg

  29. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    So how do you like your snot? Bloody, alien, radioactive, or normal?

    http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ss6aXZgoqd8/maxresdefault.jpg

  30. salguod Avatar

    There’s something wrong with me, I like most of these. I even appreciate gold. I had a gold (Mesa Beige) Odyssey and it set off the black trim pretty nicely and it really hid dirt well.

  31. barney fife Avatar
    barney fife

    Ford offered this dull shade of green in the mid-70s. It was as ugly then as it is now.

  32. Max Ukabam Avatar
    Max Ukabam

    Rover of old loved that color. Used to ride around in one of those when I was about 6