By Robert Emslie
An ad campaign for a certain line of clothing – the United Colors of Benetton – intended to bring us all together as one, regardless of race, creed, and/or color. It was a very nice thought, and when it comes to people, a noble aspiration. When it comes to automobiles however – and for one car-building nation’s bragging rights over all others – flying the national color is pretty much demanded.
BRG, French blue, Italian red, German silver and American white, they’re glorious representations of national pride. My favorite, for various reasons, happens to be that British Racing Green. It’s a funny thing though, about cars and colors, some cars look better in certain colors than do others. Those others, on the other hand, might just be found to be quite fetching in alternate hues.
When it comes to cars and trucks that take up the mantle in service of a nation’s honor, some look a whole lot better than others when painted their native land’s adopted color. And so the question for today is: what nation’s top car looks the best in that nation’s top color?
Image sources: Madcc, Roadnoise, mikeabbasclassiccars, MotorTrend, TheSuperCars
Jeff Glucker
America is technically white with blue stripes or blue with white stripes. This looks great in either.
<img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-def/Ford-GT-White-Blue-Front-Angle-1280×960.jpg" width="500">
This was too easy.
Yeah, way too easy. God bless America…………..and Superman.
<img src="http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/031/5/f/american_pride_ford_gt_2_by_dark_lord_of_sith-d4o9188.jpg"width="500"/>
Cannot go wrong with Fords in white.
<img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1965-Shelby-Cobra-427-blue-white-ma.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/healing-heroes-gt500s_100232567_l.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://www.wallpapersshop.net/wallpapers/2012/11/Ford-Mustang-Shelby-Gt350-1965-White-800×1280.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://remarkablecars.com/main/shelby/shelby-mustang-032-2.jpg%20width=" 600'="">
Whut?
<img src="http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dodge_lancer_shelby_white_a_1988.jpg" width="600">
Also acceptable:
<img src="http://wallpapers-diq.org/wallpapers/17/Shelby_Cobra_Daytona_Coupe_MKII_CSX9000_2009.jpg" width="600">
Everyone knows the Eastern bloc didn't adopt color until the late '70s. Fortunately their race cars look awesome in black and white.
<img src="http://www.autopuzzles.com/RRC7s.jpg">
Yes they do… but what ARE these?
GAZ SG-1 racing specials
Props from an early Dick Tracy film?
Ferrari.
Red.
/thread
Benetton…
<img src="http://www.comanalysis.ch/Images/PUBLICATIONS/PUBLICATION53/Twingogd.jpg" width=670>
<img src="http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/g/gaz/gl-1/gaz_gl-1_4.jpg" width="600">
Hows that for eastern block colour?
The D-type in BRG
<img src="http://photo.netcarshow.com/Jaguar-D-Type_1954_photo_08.jpg">
Also, the new XJ (again, in BRG)
<img src="http://photos.ecarlist.com/1t/TV/SM/1u/L6/ZM/Jo/PJ/1T/AJ/hw_640.jpg" />
Any green on a British car seems to be called BRG.
From the almost black Lotus Carlton:
<img src="http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/15736/lotus%20carlton-L.jpg">
To this F1 Jag:
<img src="http://www.autoracing1.com/images/2001/F1/JaguarR2_02.jpg">
Side note: Apparently the Lockheed SR71 is not black, but rather an insanely dark shade of blue. Anyone else heard that?
Every British automaker since the dawn of the automobile has come out with a different shade of green to call BRG. Hell, Jaguar alone has had like 30 different shades that they've called BRG over the years. So if it's a moderately dark green and on a vaugely British car, it generally gets called BRG 🙂
<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f535bd962561962bd8f9471e411a89e3/tumblr_migbefXR9P1qdgjmxo1_500.jpg">
What's the hardtop there! It's gorgeous.
Briggs Cunningham, through his company named for himself, made cars in very limited production quantities, but the C-4RK coupe was a one-off.
http://megadeluxe.com/photography/cunningham-c-4r…
Gotta love Briggs Cunningham….another rich guy who wasn't satisfied with the status quo.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/sfjRfihl.jpg">
I'm sorry, I can't hear you over ALL TEN CYLINDERS OF FREEDOM
PREACH!
I couldn't hear the 10 cylinders of freedom over the twelve cylinders of the corporate parent.
<img src="http://magazine.ferrari.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/250-GTO.jpg">
This is the car that came immediately to mind.
Bleu de France = French Racing Blue = Alpine A110!
<img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/83513/ALPINEA1101440.jpg">
I even find the A310 to be beautiful (probably because there was both an A110 and A310 in a book I had as a child).
<img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z336/photog02/ac8d18ed-1173-40ab-b623-69ab9a9875e0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo ac8d18ed-1173-40ab-b623-69ab9a9875e0.jpg"/>
I don't know where this corner is. But it consistently makes for some of the best car pictures. I've seen quite a few.
<img src="http://www.motorera.com/dictionary/pics/g/gullwing.jpg" width="600">
Perfection achieved:
<img src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff276/dblrplt/2009ACR.jpg" width=500>
Growing on me:
<img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2012-srt-viper-18-opt.jpg" width=500>
From the front I would agree the newer car looks retrograde. Im not a huge Viper fan, but the curves on the new one are phenomonal IMHO. From the side profile its stunning.
Germany's official color is white. The story I read ages ago was that Mercedes had a race car that was painted white but it came in just over the weight limit for its class. They used to paint them with lead based paint back then which was very heavy. The engineers scraped all the paint off putting them just barely into the weight class they wanted. From then on they went bare metal/silver as their racing color.
<img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/hoopd87/2458_zps856a0945.jpg" width=500>
Wasn't there a special edition SLR called the "722 Stirling Moss" or something?
An orange Spyker from The Netherlands should fill the bill.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Spyker_aileron_goodwood_festival_of_speed_2010.jpg" width="600">
And let's not forget the combining interior
<img src="http://www.autoblog.nl/gallery/Spyker/D12_Peking-to-Paris_2007/Spyker_D12_Peking-to-Paris_SSUV_10.JPG" width="600">
Spyker has to be the best exotic currently made, and I am basing that entirely on the interior.
Since it is unclear whether or not Spyker is still in business, here's an orange Donkervoort:
<img src="http://top.chronos.free.fr/img/DonkervoortD8270RS.JPG" width="600">
Source: <a href="http://top.chronos.free.fr/classementTopChronos.php” target=”_blank”>http://top.chronos.free.fr/classementTopChronos.php
Hakosuka Skyline
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n3TI-yprEQ4/TMJXJdoMlfI/AAAAAAAAABE/Lmawnklbxa4/s1600/03gc10.jpg" width="500" />
The Opala looks great in both Brazilian green and yellow
<img src="http://www.carrosdecolecionadores.com.br/album/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=44939&g2_serialNumber=1" width="600">
<img src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/p480x480/424782_10151355823330701_65180394_n.jpg" width="600">
Here's the full official list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_internationa…
Canada has an official racing colour?
<img src="http://www.challengercollection.com/images/FrontPage05.jpg" width=400>
Canada has an official racing colour!
Don't get too excited, Luxembourg and Uruguay do too.
Besides the traditional colors are white and green stripes for Canada. You guys didn't get the red maple leaves until 1958 and the current red and white flag until 1965.
wow, i honestly didn't knew we (uruguay) had one, thanks for the info!
now i'll have to try to find out if it was ever used on something other than the generic wikipedia car:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Auto_racing_color_U.png">
anyway, the answer to the question is 250 gto (or maybe maserati 250 f, with the yellow nose).
<img src="http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5337/oppu0.jpg" width="600">
That EK on the left! Im in love.
I like that you picked out a humble Civic on a page full of supercars and exotics.
Although all look very beautiful, EVERY german looks good in their Aluminum Silver
<img src="http://www.boldride.com/image <a href="http:///http://a.images.boldride.com/audi/1939/audi-auto-union-type-d.2000×1414.Oct-10-2012_23.59.30.705703.jpg?width=1024&height=770">” target=”_blank”>/http://a.images.boldride.com/audi/1939/audi-auto-union-type-d.2000×1414.Oct-10-2012_23.59.30.705703.jpg?width=1024&height=770">
Courtesy embed:
<img src="http://a.images.boldride.com/audi/1939/audi-auto-union-type-d.2000×1414.Oct-10-2012_23.59.30.705703.jpg" width="600">
I really have to hand it to ze Germans on this one.
<img src="http://blog.christsai.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/BMW-507-10-1-600×450.jpg">
<img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z336/photog02/bmw_328_cabrio.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bmw_328_cabrio.jpg"/>
oops ____
<img src="http://www.boldride.com/image <a href="http:///http://a.images.boldride.com/audi/1939/audi-auto-union-type-d.2000×1414.Oct-10-2012_23.59.30.705703.jpg>” target=”_blank”>/http://a.images.boldride.com/audi/1939/audi-auto-union-type-d.2000×1414.Oct-10-2012_23.59.30.705703.jpg>
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. they wont imbed. just follow the link, will ya
https://www.google.com/search?q=auto+union+type+d…
<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3012/3025529840_d96edaf497_z.jpg?zz=1" width="600">
XJ220 in BRG with gold wheels 🙂
Although, as you said there isn't a British car made that isn't made better by BRG.
TVR Sagaris
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/3850609672_a8497ccf64.jpg" width="600">
Jag C-Type
<img src="http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/1952-jaguar-c-type_07-w720-h720.jpg" width="600">
E-Type Low Drag Coupe
<img src="http://www.autoviva.com/img/photos/926/jaguar_e_type_lightweight_low_drag_coupe_large_24926.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20L/1997_mclaren_f1-pic-50875_m.jpg" width=500>
Don't think I need to name it.
pretty sure that's a lambo, dude
I think the Princess is the exception to that rule.
<img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z336/photog02/5609210777_c3fa84a8b6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5609210777_c3fa84a8b6.jpg"/>
I disagree, I think the BRG makes it much more palatable 😀
White and red.
<img src="http://cdn.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/MugenNSXRR-002_1lTA_0.jpg" width=550>
White with blue stripes:
<img src="http://www.firebirdfever.com/images/1969-trans-am-4-speed-pontiac-blue-interior-028.jpg">
And blue with white stripes:
<img src="http://www.firebirdfever.com/images/69fbb.jpg">
<img src="http://www.motorsportretro.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/jimclark_lotus_brandshatch_1967.jpg" width="600">
Lotus 49 in BRG.
German silver?
I thought their national color was polished aluminum.
<img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1990-1999/1991-Audi-Avus-FA-Studio-1024×768.jpg" width="600">
Mr. Gurney humbly requests that the rest of you pretenders please stop squabbling and clear the top step of the podium:
<img src="http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/IMG_0816RM.jpg">
Alright, we're talking about national colors, and these haven't shown up yet?
White and blue my ass, they're all missing a color.
<img src="http://www.beaversprings.com/photos/2005/0710126.jpg" width=500>
<img src="http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SC-Rambler2.jpg" width=500>
<img src="http://image.popularhotrodding.com/f/features/1301phr_top_41_hottest_muscle_cars_in_your_garages/42352463+pinline_block/1301phr-15-top-41-hottest-muscle-cars-in-your-garages-1970-AMC-rebel-machine.JPG.jpg" width=500>
EVERYONE but us is wrong!! And you're only slightly right since you got the wrong car:
<img src="http://www.ronman.org/pics/lemons/dallas12/IMG_0313.jpg" WIDTH=600>
Credits for the photo go to Ronman. Credits for the world's best racing machine go to NSF Racing.
Shouldn't that EB110 be red, then?
<img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4863705378_69f942b20c.jpg" width="500">
no because Bugatti (the man) is italian but Bugatti (the brand) is officially french.
Ettore Bugatti was Italian, then towards the end of his life, French. His company was German before WWI and French afterwards, as a result of the land his factory occupied being in the area ceded to France by Germany.
The company that produced the EB110, however, was founded by an Italian, Romano Artioli, under Italian law and with its factory in Italy. A car can't get much more Italian than that.
The current VW brand is produced in France, but that's not this car.
Batmobiles look best with Motorsport stripes over the White.
<img src="http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads18/csl1286055454.jpg">
Aussie Jack Brabham's F1 cars looked pretty sweet in green and gold…even when a Kiwi was driving.
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/–SMru3ZhgE4/T7PGG_c77qI/AAAAAAAAVOw/Ta1K5_Gb1Wg/w1000-h641/Denny+Hulme+%2540+Monaco%252C+1967…..%2528Brabham.%2529.jpg" width="500" />
So what is the official racing color of Ameristralia?