WAS THERE A FIREFLAKE RED OFFERED IN 1969?

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jbbudgor

jbbudgor

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Hi Guys,
Just trying to confirm here. Was there a Fireflake Red offered in 1969? If so, does anybody have a good picture of it or know of a color that represents it well? I realize there are variations, but trying to get a reference point.
Thanks,
Brent
www.vintage-vendor.com
 
B+Bogus has previously shown this pic here of his sidecovers.
Done with colored flakes, as all fireflake colors were.
Don't know where he is lately...



WAS THERE A FIREFLAKE RED OFFERED IN 1969?
 
I bought a 1969 Commado S in 1971. I'm quite certain it had the original paint, Fireflake red.
 
The 69 brochure only shows the fastback, or originally just Commando. I doubt it came with FF colors from looking at the brochures. But the 69 model was actually made in 68. Now if you're talking about the 70 model, which has ID plates made in 69, yes they came in yellow, FF Blue, red, green and purple I think. I know FF red and blue for sure. I wonder if anyone has a list of the colors and years, the brochures just say 'wide range of colors available'. I stand to be corrected as usual.
 
I have a 69 brochure with a Red S on it .
Colors listed as "Fireglo Red or Pacific Shimmer, Blue Metalflake finish"
 
[quote="DogT" I wonder if anyone has a list of the colors and years, the brochures just say 'wide range of colors available'. I stand to be corrected as usual.[/quote]

There have been a number of threads where a few of these yearly commando color charts have been shown.
And we have asked if any earlier or laters ones are available...
(they were available, but does anyone have one sitting in a drawer etc).

WAS THERE A FIREFLAKE RED OFFERED IN 1969?


Note that there are 2 years of chart shown here, but one isn't opened out to show the swatches.
 
Those appear to be UK charts, I wonder if there were comparable US charts?
 
Hi Brent,
I can categorically say yes to your question, as my 1969 750S was repatriated from the USA and I have the original fibreglass tank which I've replaced with a steel one. The original colour is Fireflake Red and it was manufactured on 9th June 1969.
Regards,
Paul.
 
DogT said:
Those appear to be UK charts, I wonder if there were comparable US charts?
Click to expand...

If there was, none have ever come to light - which would be strange, given the size of the market and the fondness for collecting.
And all the range of colors on these charts can be seen in surviving bikes and markets.

So, all the world got the same colors of Commandos...... (?).

And I have mentioned here before, going to a Norton Villiers warehouse, and seeing them with a row of part assembled bikes.
I said I thought the bikes came crated, mostly assembled.
He commented that "all the unsaleable colors have been repainted to popular colors" - red, blue and black'n'gold."
That would be the candy apple red.
 
Yes, it was my impression that the Norton was mostly marketed to the US because of the population density. And even now for comparison, AU only has a population about the size of Texas'. I find that amazing.
 
Been busy - someone offered me paid work - still recovering from the shock :roll:

Just to add my ha'pennyworth, the '69 FB (poss late'68 too) was offered with candy red panels over silver flake gelcoat. I read somewhere that they were done in response to lacklustre sales of plain silver bikes, so it's fair to assume the red 'S' and 'R' types were candy red over silver flake as well

WAS THERE A FIREFLAKE RED OFFERED IN 1969?
 
Nice tanks. !

Interesting suggestion.
Red over silver flake is technically a candy red, rather than a 'fireflake red', isn't it ?

There are some pics of 'rijjinal' early fireflake red Commandos around, and they seem to be just red colored, no suggestion of overpainting.
As in, the red doesn't just wear off and leave a faded looking silver tank.

Maybe that 2 tone was done like that because it would be tricky to have a neat line with silver flakes one side and red the other, IN the fibreglass... ??
They do wear off or fade, and leave a faded silver looking tank, we have seen several here....
Hopethishelps.
 
So how many years were these awesome colors available? I've got a 75 interstate and I only see them in black and silver, while I like these schemes they are a bit boring. I miss those heavy flake 70's helmets and bowling ball paint jobs. I'm waiting till my house is done. And then I'm moving towards the heavy flake red or my favorite he gold bronze
 
Rusty bucket said:
So how many years were these awesome colors available?
Click to expand...

Its your bike, paint it how you like !
The fireflake colors became less numerous as the years went by,
and candy apple red (after a gap) seems to have replaced fireflake red, which didn't have much of a run at all.

I've told the story here a few times now of the importer having some of the less popular colors stripped off new bikes and
repainted in the more saleable colors, so if the supplier can do that....

And you see used bikes in all manner of color schemes.
Some better than others.
 
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