New Trends in Car Colors
Henry Ford famously said that a customer could have a Model T in any color they wanted, so long as it was black.
That idea went overboard quickly as competition came in, and painting cars and getting cars in specific colors has been part of the American automotive experience since the 1910s.
Every decade or so, the preferences for colors in cars shifts, as a new generation of 20-somethings buy their first cars and want something that doesn’t look like a parental hand-me-down. Plus, paint manufacturers are working hard on sprucing up the old tried and true color combinations.
There are, of course, the usual pieces of advice: Lighter colors are more comfortable in sunnier climates, and visibility is important. However, here’s the latest wash of new colors in cars:
Pearlescent Neutral Tones
Where white used to be relegated to delivery trucks and rentals, a new wave of pearlescent finishes are giving it a bit of an appeal to work from. It’s now the most popular car color in America. Usually this is done with a three-layer paint job, a base white, a pearlescent over layer, and a clear coat. This type of finish is also being used for black (with subtle nebular effects) and gold. Even beige is getting this sort of treatment.
Metal Is Metal – And Looking Older
Conversely, cars painted the traditional silver have become a bit overexposed, and fewer people are getting their cars in that hue. It’s still popular, but it’s slumping fast as people look for a color that’s a bit more distinctive.
Going Outside The Box
The vast majority of cars are done up in neutral tones, because cars tend to be long term purchases, and nobody wants to get stuck with something that could be charitably called "diaper contents yellow." More innovative use of the color palette tends to happen in smaller cars, where a bright shade won’t overwhelm the way it would if, say, a Suburban was painted Midlife Crisis Red.
Expect to see more earth and nature tones in cars in the next two years, as the market shifts to smaller cars – with the occasional case of Lime Green Envy or Safety Orange to make your eyes water.
Whatever color of car you choose, remember you can buy an extended car warranty for it directly online from Warranty Direct and save bundle of money!
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Filed under: Buying a Car
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