In Yer Face Colour... What Stands Out?
scootz - 4/9/11 at 11:44 AM
I had originally wanted to go with a predominantly white colour scheme for the BMW reverse-trike with blue and red accents a la the BMW F1 car
styling.
Buuuuuuuut... this thing is going to be tiny and I want - sorry NEED - to be seen by other motorists, so I'm wondering if there are any colors
that are proven to stand-out more to the human eye than any other?
I remember the local Fire Service arguing that white stood out better than the red, but then it came out that white was cheaper than the red! The
Police then started moving towards silver as they claimed that the white offered no real benefit... then it came out that white ex-Police cars were
fetching bugger-all at auction and the silver was much more desirable!
You just can't trust the authorities these days! 
I saw a Dyno-Rod van the other day and it nearly blinded me! Day-glo orange anyone? I'm fine with that, but are these colours not pretty
unstable and fade badly? Has paint technology moved on and sorted this?
Lotus's's's's's's's Krypton-Green is another in-yer-face paint...
Any other suggestions?
I normally avoid 'look-at-me' colours on a car, but I think it's safe to say that our types of toys attract eyes anyway. Also, I
deeply regret not picking the colour I wanted for my Exige (I got Storm-Titaniium instead of the Orange as my missus reckoned the Orange screamed
"FLASH W*****"!!!).
As always... all comments welcome... particularly those with pictures and RAL codes
scootz - 4/9/11 at 11:47 AM
Hmmmm... wikipedia tells me that 'chartreuse' is the most visible colour to the human-eye... that's not a kick in the pants away from
Lotus Krypton Green!
Ninehigh - 4/9/11 at 11:55 AM
This reminds me of a (formerly) local breakdown company and the Goldwing (or similar) they had. It stopped being used when the rider smacked a guy
because he "didn't see you"
Only the bike and rider were clad in the flourescent yellow worn by builders, roadworkers and the like, on a sunny day in June.
Thus I think even a flashing blue paint with accompanying 150 decibel klaxon would be visible enough
However that colour's not bad
mark chandler - 4/9/11 at 11:55 AM
I worked for BT when they went from horrible yellow to silver/grey vans, within weeks they started to have to add reflective decals to make them stand
out.
Either make the whole thing bright or add some reflective stripes!
You do not notice kids on pushbikes wearing hoodies, but do notice people in reflective jackets.
scootz - 4/9/11 at 11:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
You do not notice kids on pushbikes wearing hoodies...
I aim for kids on pushbikes wearing hoodies!
David Jenkins - 4/9/11 at 12:11 PM
I remember an article in Custom Car (Lord, that was a long time ago!) where they drove a car in dayglo orange - they reckoned that it *attracted*
other motorists, as their eyes got fixated on the super-bright car.
Might be a consignment of geriatric shoemakers*, but it doesn't sound far wrong...
* i.e. a load of old cobblers
Coopz - 4/9/11 at 12:28 PM
lamborghini Orange or Kawasaki green with black detailing for me!
zilspeed - 4/9/11 at 12:59 PM
BMW Motorsport colours.
White with a touch of dayglo to the blue and red highlights.
That'll be seen well enough.
RK - 4/9/11 at 01:14 PM
You are in fact Scottish, aren't you? White, because it is "cost effective", and then you can add day glo vinyl stripes or whatever
suits you, for visibility. Easily changeable. In your case, you can make a sign saying "For Sale" on it, in bright letters.
scootz - 4/9/11 at 01:29 PM
iank - 4/9/11 at 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I remember an article in Custom Car (Lord, that was a long time ago!) where they drove a car in dayglo orange - they reckoned that it *attracted*
other motorists, as their eyes got fixated on the super-bright car.
Might be a consignment of geriatric shoemakers*, but it doesn't sound far wrong...
* i.e. a load of old cobblers
I've also seen it stated that people unconsciously steer towards bright colours, can't remember where, but it wasn't in Custom Car.
tomprescott - 4/9/11 at 02:04 PM
How about flip paint? Then you have a range of colours that might grab attention....
I would steer well clear of silver and white for visibility, I've seen a couple of cars go straight into silver/white cars on the motorway when
there was rain, if the lights aren't on they can almost completely disappear in the rain!
I think candy green is quite nice...
norfolkluego - 4/9/11 at 03:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tomprescott
How about flip paint? Then you have a range of colours that might grab attention....
I would steer well clear of silver and white for visibility, I've seen a couple of cars go straight into silver/white cars on the motorway when
there was rain, if the lights aren't on they can almost completely disappear in the rain!
I think candy green is quite nice...
But......... the insurance industry will tell you that statistically white cars have (proportionally) the fewest accidents
franky - 4/9/11 at 03:44 PM
When I change mine in the future it'll be to this...... you couldn't miss it!
http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/BMW-Art-Car-at-Le-Mans-Main.jpg
Would look good on yours too.
David Jenkins - 4/9/11 at 04:38 PM
That might just confuse other people, rather like this...
iank - 4/9/11 at 05:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
That might just confuse other people, rather like this...
Already done on unannounced cars that are being road tested.
e.g. 
Maybe that pattern in mixed dynarod orange and chartreuse? 
Ninehigh - 5/9/11 at 11:28 AM
And when all the vehicles become electric it can play the Awooga Waltz too
ChrisW - 5/9/11 at 11:39 AM
How about Triumph Roulette Green, also used as a special colour by Caterham.
My MR2....
Finished!
Chris
[Edited on 5/9/2011 by ChrisW]
welderman - 5/9/11 at 01:09 PM
DEVILS BRIDGE 27TH
MY ORANGE
jossey - 5/9/11 at 01:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Coopz
lamborghini Orange or Kawasaki green with black detailing for me!
i agree!!!
kevmcdo - 5/9/11 at 01:42 PM
Have to agree on the Kawasaki green.
When I put my car into the local paint shop to get my car painted it sat on the forecourt for a week without as much as a second glance from most
folks passing bye ( at that stage it was silver with orange wings and nose cone ), once it was painted Lime green there was a notable increase in
interest from passer bye's.
The guys from the paint shop had to push it behind other cars before there was an accident due to passing cars slowing down to check it out.
Since then the guys have sprayed their own race car the same colour as a result 
tomprescott - 5/9/11 at 02:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by norfolkluego
quote:
Originally posted by tomprescott
How about flip paint? Then you have a range of colours that might grab attention....
I would steer well clear of silver and white for visibility, I've seen a couple of cars go straight into silver/white cars on the motorway when
there was rain, if the lights aren't on they can almost completely disappear in the rain!
I think candy green is quite nice...
But......... the insurance industry will tell you that statistically white cars have (proportionally) the fewest accidents
Forgot to add that when it starts raining I shut my eyes
Seriously though, that strikes me as odd - maybe I'm the only person but in heavy rain the whites and the silvers seem far less visible to me
than darker colours if they don't have their lights on.
On the insurance front, would flip paint up your costs? One because it may be more expensive to touch up minor scratches etc. and two because it seems
that a lot of boy racer yobbos like it so potentially a statistically higher chance of a crash? Just a thought...
Have to say I like the black/white diamond car.
People would probably notice if you just did super shiny polished ali......they probably wouldn't like you much though when the sun was out.
lococost - 5/9/11 at 06:38 PM
pink all the way!
People WILL see you coming!
(then they'll point at you, then they'll laugh)
