R W B Color

I am looking at getting a new paint job done on the tank and side covers. Looking for some expert help in getting the colors as close to original as possible.The paint scheme is in the white with blue and red stipe. Can someone give me the correct color codes particularly for the blue and red colors. Thanks in advance.

Nearest I could get was BMW Zinnobar red and Vauxhall Atlantis blue. You'll have to look at my pics to judge but they are only pics and in the flesh it is different. All I know is that it's very close to an original when side by side though my red might be a bit darker.

These discussions always remind me of that scene in the old Cary Grant / Myrna Lloy movie "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home", where Myrna is explaining to the painter the exact shade of each color for each room, using references to bits of yarn, fresh butter, hospital rooms, and robins' eggs to ensure that each color is exactly as specified. After she walks away, the painter turns to his helper and says, "did you get that? Green, Yellow, White and Blue".

"After she walks away, the painter turns to his helper and says, "did you get that? Green, Yellow, White and Blue"."

LOL, right...nobody will know the difference because there will never be a "new" factory bike to compare it side-by-side anyway and the original paint on a factory bike will be faded and not "correct" now either.

"All I know is that it's very close to an original when side by side though my red might be a bit darker" And because the red is new and the other is many years old, the new red is naturally going to be darker.

"Nearest I could get was BMW Zinnobar red and Vauxhall Atlantis blue. "

Heck, I'd just go with that; sounds like a good choice!

I have an original tank which I think hasn't seen a lot of sun. I'll get a photo up. I may even be able to get the colors scanned.

Thanks guys, great (and funny) responses . Perhaps even the factory had different shades when they were making them back in 1974/75!? Maybe I should stick with "factory black"! At least I know that it will always be "ORIGINAL"!!!

What really gets me going is that there are so many "shades" of BLACK!

I always thought Black was Black, till I got into fixing up old bikes...

So this tank came off a 75 "parts bike" that from what we can tell was probably in a accident. IIRC, the front end was missing and other signs (like you'll see in the second picture).



This is under fluorescent lighting but I might get it under some sunlight, if or when it comes out again I might be able to get another picture.



We think, and I can't remember why, that it was a relatively low mileage bike. The pictures give a pretty good indication of the actual colors, depending on your monitor.

Thanks Swooshdave, nice pics. Also gives me a gauge with dimensions etc. I wonder if the factory used a standard stencil back in the days or did they do each tank by hand. Interesting that they did not keep accurate records and specs of colors fro each of their standard colors. Yes, would appreciate more pics in the sunlite. Cheers.

Colours on SD's tank are close to mine in the flesh. Have repainted since the original pics as original clear I used was very patchy (fuel proof spraycan stuff).
My original mistake was to run the horizontals parallel with tank bottom and 2nd time around I angled them down to the rear but still not enough to avoid them looking like they're going uphill when looking down on the bike from either side. That's why on some original tank pics you'll see a huge droop. I think you need about 3/8" front to back. My stripes are 7mm and 45mm wide with 7mm gap. However, 8mm and 48mm would be better. SD's gives you a clue on the blue width if you scale the dimension between the 'Norton' 'O's', assuming it's a 6" long decal. It's a lot of work getting the shape and radii to look right but once you have the lower side of the red line done the rest will follow. I forgot to mention the white, that's Ford Diamond white which was a pretty standard Ford colour in the 70's and 80's. It's not as bright as the name suggests, being a slightly off white. If you like the scheme it's worth the work but you'll never match the factory as they all seem to vary so my guess is that if they used a mask/template it was very crudely applied. BTW, use the same dimensions for the side panels and run them parallel with the top. Good luck.

Thanks Keith, I'll pass your details over to my painter. He's the one that's got to put it all together. This is something I would not try myself. I'll post some pics when its finished. Cheers.

gw88 said:

Thanks Keith, I'll pass your details over to my painter. He's the one that's got to put it all together. This is something I would not try myself. I'll post some pics when its finished. Cheers.

Click to expand...

I can get measurements if you want. Gimme tonite to do it.

The white is definitely an off-white, mine is almost ivory although it's in need of a good cleaning.

Just my opinion, but if I were reproducing that color scheme and pattern, I'd have the sidecover horizontal stripes in as close alignment as possible with the tank horizontal stripes.

Otherwise, you have visual convergence or divergence of the lines; a bit distracting...

Also, I'd probably like to see tank and sidecover horizontal lines laying parallel to the ground with the bike sitting upright, both tires on the ground.

Then again, that's just me.

grandpaul said:

Just my opinion, but if I were reproducing that color scheme and pattern, I'd have the sidecover horizontal stripes in as close alignment as possible with the tank horizontal stripes.

Otherwise, you have visual convergence or divergence of the lines; a bit distracting...

Also, I'd probably like to see tank and sidecover horizontal lines laying parallel to the ground with the bike sitting upright, both tires on the ground.

Then again, that's just me.

Click to expand...

Which you can see in the photo at the top. Take the bike to the painter, get the wheels level and then let them lay out the lines.

Yep, good point guys. I can see that it will be difficult to get the lines on both tank and covers to be on the same "plane" without these attached to the bike. Even a slight variation on how the tank and covers sit in situ will affect the finished look in the final job. Thanks for the input. What a great forum this Accessnorton site is. All the "brains" :idea:, experience :shock: and ideas :!: all together in one spot. Cheers.

Side View


Navy stripe on the side is 2in


The gap starts at .25in at the back of the tank but goes up slightly on the other areas. I think it averages .3in, I'm sure a little variation is to be expected.


Red stripe is .33in


At the back of the tank the gap to the bottom is just over an inch (1.06)


Towards the front of the tank it increases to 1.39in so that will give you the approximate slope.


When the Navy stripe come up to the top of the tank it reduces to 1.884in


The gap at the front is .335in

From the best I can tell using my angle finder it looks like something around 115° when the stripes come up towards the front of the tank.

I'm sure there were variations in production so don't feel you have to get this exact. But these measurements should get you real close.
Sorry no side covers, hopefully someone can provide those dimensions, especially the angle of the stripe in comparison to the top of the side cover.

Cheers SD for the very detailed info. I've loaded the pics and measurements onto a disc and its off to the painter. I hope that he can get it close to these. Man thanks for your kind assist. I'll post pics of the finished item when done.