Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 11h

Factoid: Jan 1980 & BL offered a run of 400 black TR7s with a navy or tan interior & a new plaid seat pattern.

Oh, you got a choice of either gold or silver side stripes (& thankfully at least one with the former still survives)…
(📸: Motor)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 11h

No, never made there, this was a Ryton assembled car.

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 12h

Factoid: Those yellow-tinted ‘we’ve been to France’ headlamps everyone knows but how about the ‘Retrovisor’, a ‘periscope’ rear-view mirror used by caravanners in the ‘70s?

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 14h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:25 Bracken

Here’s a colour I’m not too familiar with (have you heard of it?) & I’m wondering what’s the best way to describe it - a light orange or a warm beige?
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 16h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:24 Pimento

A great colour doesn’t just like nice, it makes an ordinary car look better & an attractive car beautiful.

Pimento definitely fulfilled that requirement…
(📸: IG a/c flemingmotorsales)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 16h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:23 Leyland White

Yes, BL or rather Leyland Cars really did offer a colour named after themselves.

Interestingly, it didn’t last very long as an option...

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 18h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:22 Damask Red

Formerly a BMC colour, it returned in the early ‘70’s for Austin Morris (& MG) cars & was a subdued shade in an era of vivid hues.

Here’s Autocar’s long-term Maxi 1750 sporting it which was delivered with ‘an apple in the left hand heater duct’…
(📸: Autocar)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 19h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:21 Pageant Blue

This late ‘70s Tahiti Blue replacement was lighter & more contemporary plus it looked great on a Princess 2…
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 19h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:20 Triton Green

Arguably the most extrovert of the SD1 colours, Triton Green arrived with the new top-of-the-range V8-S in July 1979.
The model didn’t last long - replaced by the Vanden Plas in Oct 1980 & neither did the colour.
Btw, Solihull-made TR7/8s got this as well…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Absolutely…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Know Your BL Colours:
No:19 Paprika

Austin Morris had Blaze & Rover had this vibrant shade in the early ‘70s.

Unpopular with buyers (offered for only two yrs), an upholstery & trim option with the same name was offered on Austin Morris cars in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s.
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

Locally assembled Austin Morris cars in NZ also used this colour…
(That might also include Triumph so clarification would be great)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you so much for the kind words…

jerry from tom and jerry is standing on a stage and says thank you

ALT: jerry from tom and jerry is standing on a stage and says thank you

media.tenor.com

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Factoid: The Talbot Horizon had numerous UK market limited editions over its life including the memorably named Summertime Special, but it had to start somewhere & it did in May 1980 with this one, the Special (note the usage of the Marketing Department’s ‘friend’ - adhesive tape)…
(📸: Motor)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Factoid: The unmistakable gold alloys of the short-lived Rover V8-S.

Of course, Platinum-coloured V8-S cars had them in silver, but you had to ‘go gold’ or ‘go green’ (watch this space) for these hued alloys...
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Know Your BL Colours:
No:18 Champagne

Well, it sounds better that you drive a champagne-coloured car as opposed to a beige one…
(📸: IG a/c plankhond)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 17 Bronze Yellow

One of BL’s 1st ‘showroom friendly’ Austin Morris (& MG) colours introduced in 1969, this found favour with sporty models like the Austin/Morris 1300 GT (one of three initial colour options available - Flame Red & Glacier White were the others)…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 16 Tahiti Blue

BL’s blue for Austin Morris cars (& Triumphs) in the mid-‘70’s, this replaced Teal Blue & was chosen by my Dad for his 1st Princess (note the generous panel gap & the brat (me) obscuring the wedge)…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 15 Turmeric

Another of the Rover SD1 launch colours (& another ‘tested’ on the P6), this was chosen as the main colour to promote the car in its launch ad & serves as an early reminder this stunning looking car celebrates its 50th birthday next year…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: Austin’s 1952 range ad for the London Show has plenty of ‘factoid worthy’ info like that the A30 ‘Seven’ was their 1st monocoque or that the A40 Sports was made by Jensen & based on the replaced A40 Devon…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: The ‘restrained revolution’ - this teaser ad was the way Citroën announced the new DS to Autocar readers back in 1955, Paris Salon visitors saw the car & the future 70yrs ago today…
(📸: Autocar)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Midas disappeared when BL introduced a raft of new SD1 colours for 1980, but not before it had its ‘swansong’ on the short lived V8-S which complimented the gold shade with some matching alloy wheels for the ultimate ‘smooth’ touch…(2)
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:

No:14 Midas

One of the SD1’s best known colours, this was one of several metallic finishes offered from launch (unlike the P6 which only had one model, a limited edition 3500 VIP, offered with a metallic option)…(1)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:

No:13 Richelieu
A deep red, this SD1 launch colour was offered from Oct 1975 on late Rover P6s to test the new paint plant & gain experience of the thermoplastic painting process.

Alas those cars gained a reputation for 'lifting' paint which proved prophetic for the SD1…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:

No:13 Richelieu
A deep red, this SD1 launch colour was offered from Oct 1975 on late Rover P6s to test the new paint plant & gain experience of the thermoplastic painting process.

Alas those cars gained a reputation for 'lifting' paint which proved prophetic for the SD1…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No:12 Blaze

Along with Flame Red one of the showroom friendly Austin Morris colours introduced by BL, this was in stark contrast with the rather ‘sedate’ shades offered by BMC…
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No:11 Flame Red

This colour along with Blaze really signified the dramatic new colours BL introduced to Austin Morris after their creation. It’s also one of BL’s best colours too imho.

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