Blue metalflake 850s again

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Rohan

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What is said to be an original paint 1973 850, on evilbay.

Is this what the brochure calls Fireflake Blue, or the Pacific Blue that is also listed.

P.S.
Anyone have the color sheet that came with the 1973 brochure, that shows the colors available ?

Blue metalflake 850s again
 
On that very brochure, near the end, it says
"Range of colors available. Consult your Norton Dealer".

Your Norton dealer had a separate page showing colors. A 1971 page showing patches of colors available was on ebay a while back, so they do exist. Anyone got one for 1973 ??

That brochure also doesn't show all the colors available, other different brochure pages show more colors, including that lighter metallic 850 blue like the bike for sale.
Even Kims Commando CD doesn't have the color pages, are they that elusive ??
Cheers.
 
From what I've seen the colours are very elusive. I suppose someone could do a detailed study on it, but would it be positive? Don't know. They may have changed willy-nilly too?

Dave
69S
 
The 'study' of it is being done right here, in stages ?
But what we need is that elusive color page to turn up, to put names to some colors...
 
I have a brochure from 1974 as it references the October 1973 Santa Pod quarter mile time of 12.00 seconds.

The blue colored Roadster was described as Pacific Blue and had the double silver pinstriping on tank and side panels. It had the black instrument holders with rubber boots. 1974 had black painted cylinders.
 
So is this bike Fireflake Royal Blue (as called in the parts list) or Pacific Blue (as called in the brochure).

And why is only one blue listed in the parts list, when the various brochures clearly show there was a lighter metallic blue 850 paint and a darker metallic blue 850 paint, AND 2 paint names to go with them ??? (And the solid/plain blue for the Interstates, as a 3rd blue, but that was just called blue).

That color page that went with the brochures sure would be interesting to see....

Blue metalflake 850s again
 
Have you actually had two blue bikes sitting side by side and been able to see a difference in the color? (other than the dark blue on the Interstate).

Russ
 
L.A.B. said:
1973 850 Interstate blue?:
Click to expand...

I don't know if its the computer screen, but that is not a good example of Interstate Blue - its just a plain navy blue.

The same blue as on the JPN cafe bikes, with their red/white/blue scheme. ?
 
rvich said:
Have you actually had two blue bikes sitting side by side and been able to see a difference in the color? (other than the dark blue on the Interstate).

Russ
Click to expand...

Well, I've got this NOS (?) sidecover.

And its not the same blue as this much paler metallic blue bike - which color also appears on the brochures. With a different name ??

So do we have Fireflake Royal Blue, Pacific Blue AND Fireflake Blue.
And Interstate Blue ??

Be good to see that color page that went with the brochure...

Blue metalflake 850s again


Blue metalflake 850s again
 
L.A.B. said:
Alpha said:
Alpha wrote:]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

That is not quite an original Interstate blue either - bit too light. ?
And it has been broadly pinstriped, which is not original either.
Not that the Interstate Blue is the subject for discussion here, and its not a metallic paint either...
 
Think its been restored, but that blue looks pretty authentic. ?

Not that its a metallic blue, as being discussed ere...

Blue metalflake 850s again
 
Rohan said:
Not that its a metallic blue, as being discussed ere...
Click to expand...

There only appears to have been two '73 blues? "Fireflake Royal Blue" and Interstate "Blue".

A metallic blue would have been listed as "Candy Apple".
 
L.A.B. said:
Rohan said:
Not that its a metallic blue, as being discussed ere...
Click to expand...

There only appears to have been two '73 blues? "Fireflake Royal Blue" and Interstate "Blue".

A metallic blue would have been listed as "Candy Apple".
Click to expand...

No, Fireflake paints are metallic paints - big chunky metal flakes too.

Candy apple paints are something different again - they use a base coat of silver (flakes), with a clear red lacquer sprayed over the top. Quite different. Only the red is described as candy apple.

The 1973 brochure (was it ?) also lists Pacific Blue - and shows a metallic blue bike. It may have been the 850 Mk1A model, which would make it a 1974 model though, can't remember...

Whatever, there seems to be a lighter blue metallic version (like the bike shown at the start of this thread) and a darker blue metallic version - my NOS sidecover is the darker metallic blue - see previous pic against the 1973 brochure. The advertising shows lighter and darker metallic blue versions too ?
 
This is the paler metallic blue in advertising.

Later model obviously, but this shade of blue seems to go back a fair way ?

Blue metalflake 850s again
 
Rohan said:
No, Fireflake paints are metallic paints - big chunky metal flakes too.
Click to expand...

Fireflake in my opinion is not exactly what could be described as metallic.

Rohan said:
Candy apple paints are something different again - they use a base coat of silver (flakes), with a clear red lacquer sprayed over the top. Quite different. Only the red is described as candy apple.
Click to expand...

Candy Apple is a tinted laquer applied over a much finer "metallic" base coat, usually silver but can also be gold, or even white, etc. a "metallic" paint usually has the metallic element included in the coloured paint layer.

Rohan said:
The 1973 brochure (was it ?) also lists Pacific Blue - and shows a metallic blue bike. It may have been the 850 Mk1A model, which would make it a 1974 model though, can't remember...
Click to expand...

The '73 brochure shows a Mk1 Roadster in what appears to be a Blue flake which is, presumably, "Fireflake Royal Blue"!
http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... LineUp.pdf
 
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