A Historical past of Automotive Paint Colours

January 24, 2026

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Kelley Blue Guide turns 100 this yr, and as we have fun our centennial, we’ve been enthusiastic about the historical past of the automotive trade. At this time’s automobiles are available in a dizzying array of colours and finishes, but it surely hasn’t all the time been that method. “Any buyer can have a automotive painted any coloration that he desires as long as it’s black” is a quote famously attributed to Henry Ford, however his dedication to monotone automotive manufacturing didn’t final.

Nineteen Twenties

In keeping with automotive paint provider PPGFord had loosened its one-color coverage by 1926, providing brown on the Mannequin T. Different automakers adopted go well with, although the inventory market crash later within the decade helped usher in a extra muted palette, together with shades of inexperienced and grey. Impartial colours — white, silver, and grey — additionally grew in reputation.

A Historical past of Automotive Paint Colours

Thirties

Even because the Nice Melancholy dominated the last decade, automakers launched new colours to market, together with navy, tan, and darkish inexperienced. Early metallic paints debuted utilizing fish scales, which value an arm and a leg (or a fin and a tail) to provide. Paint firms ultimately changed the scales with aluminum flakes integrated into the paint.

Forties

World Warfare II loomed over the early Forties, when many automakers redirected sources to help the conflict effort. By the top of the last decade, a broader spectrum of colours emerged, that includes brighter hues and a wider vary of shades.

Fifties

Automobile design grew to become bolder within the Fifties, reflecting the nation’s celebratory temper after World Warfare II. Flashier colours began appearing, corresponding to yellow and light-weight blue, and lots of automakers supplied two-tone paint choices. Later within the decade, Daimler-Benz elevated its coloration choices to 26 particular person colours and 23 two-tone choices.

Sixties

Paint developments within the Sixties constructed on these of the earlier decade, however colours grew to become deeper, with metallic paints utilizing new steel mixtures.

Nineteen Seventies

The Nineteen Seventies introduced shag carpet and an countless array of shades of brown to house design, and automotive coloration palettes adopted go well with. Automakers leaned into rust tones, browns, and greens. General, colours grew to become earthier and hotter, mirroring the texture of the last decade.

Nineteen Eighties

Automotive paints grew to become extra superior within the Nineteen Eighties, with PPG releasing a brand new line of metallic coatings and pearl-effect paints coming early within the decade. Software strategies additionally improved, as many firms moved from single-coat paint jobs to at the least two coats.

Nineteen Nineties

The Nineteen Nineties had been a peak decade of inexperienced for the automotive trade. PPG notes that greater than 20% of the automobiles offered in North America had been inexperienced throughout that point. Automakers leaned into the development, providing a variety of paints in varied shades of inexperienced.

2000s

Over the previous quarter-century, automotive paint colours have continued to evolve, that includes trendy interpretations of basic two-tone schemes, new matte finishes, and extra superior metallic choices. Some automakers have launched color-changing paints, whereas others are evaluating how these paints work together with the cameras and sensors in trendy driver help applied sciences.

Developments in Automotive Paint Colours

Worldwide automotive paint provider BASF studied coloration reputation developments on the finish of 2025. It discovered that automotive consumers within the Americas grew extra keen on silver, brown, and inexperienced, whereas grey and white declined in reputation. That mentioned, black, grey, silver, and white colours accounted for greater than three-quarters of the vehicles offered within the area in 2025.

Automotive Paints of the Future

Nothing within the automotive trade stays the identical for lengthy — particularly paint colours, which comply with shifting shopper tastes.

Sustainability: New paints are anticipated to scale back environmental influence via decrease waste, extra energy-efficient manufacturing processes, and extra.
E-ink paints: Nonetheless largely within the prototype stage, some automakers have launched E-Ink or E-Pigment finishes that may show patterns, textual content, and different graphics.
Self-healing paint: Some coatings use nanotechnology to assist restore or fill minor harm.
Sensible paints: Useful paints that assist block warmth and different parts are on the way in which. Nissan’s Cool Paintfor instance, guarantees decrease cabin temperatures and higher electrical automobile (EV) effectivity.