Bel Air colors and paint codes

12 factory colors.¹² The color names are confirmed by two sources¹².

The twelve one-color exteriors on GM's 1955 sheet (revised 10 June 1955, when the spring colors were added); the sheet does not single out the Bel Air. Codes are Over-Drive's; it lists colors GM's sheet does not have here (Skyline Blue, Copper Maroon, Autumn Bronze, Anniversary Gold). No source we have counts cars per color. On the Bel Air the rear-fender molding insert was Winter White. 9 of the 12 names also stand in Over-Drive's list with the same spelling; it writes «Seamist Green», «Indian Ivory» and «Shadow Gray», and GM's own two-tone sheet uses both «Shadow Grey» and «Shadow Gray».

Sixteen two-tone combinations on GM's sheet (our count). On the Bel Air the first color went on the roof, deck, pillars and part of the rear quarters. Wikipedia says nineteen; see the ruling.¹³ See the ruling.

The 1955 page →

11 factory colors.⁴⁵ 10 of the 11 color names are confirmed by a second source⁴⁵.

Eleven of the twelve one-color exteriors on GM's 1956 sheet were offered on Bel Airs (our reading of its model chart); the twelfth, Calypso Cream, was for the One-Fifty only, and not every color was offered on every Bel Air model. Codes are Over-Drive's, which has none for Tropical Turquoise, Harbor Blue or Inca Silver, and lists a 698 Twilight Turquoise that is not on GM's sheet. No source we have counts cars per color. 10 of the 11 names also stand in Over-Drive's list with the same spelling; not there: Harbor Blue.

Fifteen of the sixteen combinations on GM's sheet were offered on Bel Airs (our reading of its model chart); Onyx Black over Calypso Cream was for the One-Fifty only. Several of the fifteen were limited to certain Bel Air models: Adobe Beige over Matador Red, for one, only to the Sport Sedan, Sport Coupe and the two wagons. On the Bel Air the first color filled the roof, pillars, rear deck and the panel between the two side moldings.⁴one source

The 1956 page →

16 factory colors.⁶⁷ 14 of the 16 color names are confirmed by a second source⁶⁷.

GM's 1957 sheet for the Series 2400 Bel Air: sixteen colors, four of them (Coronado Yellow, Canyon Coral, Dusk Pearl, Laurel Green) on the convertible only. Codes are Over-Drive's: it prints two codes each for Inca Silver and Tropical Turquoise, calls 821 just «Dusk», and has none for Larkspur Blue. No source we have counts cars per color. 14 of the 16 names also stand in Over-Drive's list with the same spelling; not there: Larkspur Blue, Dusk Pearl.

Fifteen combinations for the Bel Air on GM's sheet (our count): the first color on the roof and pillars, the second on the rest of the car.⁶one source

The 1957 page →