Lowlites, Splitties, Thous and Millions Lowlites, Splitties, Thous and Millions
Lowlites - Splitties - Thou's - Millions

History of the Minor

Colour Codes

The following information has been taken from 'Morris Minor - The Complete Story' by Ray Newell. The book contains all sorts of previously unpublished information including the following much-awaited colour codes. I have spoken to Ray himself and he has given me permission to reproduce the information here.

As Ray says in his book, although the actual paint codes used are presented here, care must still be taken to ensure you get the correct colour for your restoration. A number of the early colours will be particularly difficult to get exactly right as the base colours and tinters have been discontinued.

It is also important that you refer to both the paint code and the name when talking to paint suppliers as a number of colour names used by British Leyland vehicles, including the Minor, were re-used on later Rover vehicles. Flame Red for instance was used on commercial Minors between 1970 and 1973, and was later re-introduced by the Rover Group in a slightly different shade of red.

Series MM
Colour Introduced Discontinued BMC Code ICI Code
Platinum Grey Sep 1948 (501) Sep 1950 (63326) N/A *3 0123
Romain Green Oct 1948 (510) Sep 1950 (63489) N/A 0095
Black 1 Oct 1948 (528) - *2 BLK *1 N/A
Maroon 'A' Dec 1948 (949) Jun 1950 (49717) RD8 2473
Mist Green Sep 1950 (63542) Jun 1952 (151267) N/A 2383
Gascoyne Grey Sep 1950 (63617) Jul 1952 (153743) N/A 2783
Thames Blue Sep 1950 (63706) May 1952 (147638) N/A 2382
Clarendon Grey Jun 1952 (149038)   - GR6 2508
Empire Green Jul 1952 (151845)   - GN22 2509
Birch Grey Jul 1952 (154129)   - GR3 2758
Maroon Feb 1953 (177640)   - RD8 2473
*1 Black continued in use on saloon and convertibles until 1970
*2 A dash denotes that the colour continued in use on 803cc Series II models.
*3 N/A = not available
Cars were finished in cellulose paints prior to RHD#2117 and LHD#5855 on two-door saloons and RHD#3871 and LHD#6255 on tourers.
Cars after this were finished in either synthetic or Synobel paint.


Series II
Colour Introduced Discontinued BMC Code ICI Code Notes
Maroon - Feb 1953 (184201) RD8 2473 Used on approx 400 cars
Black - - BLK N/A Used throughout
Clarendon Grey - - GR6 2508 Used throughout
Empire Green - Apr 1956 (426894)     Saloon/convertible
    Sep 1956 (448714) GN22 2509 Traveller
Birch Grey - Oct 1954 (289575)      
  May 1956 (430282) - GR3 2758 Resumed use for saloon/convertible
Smoke Blue Oct 1954 (290385) Feb 1955 (316731)     Saloon/convertible
  Oct 1954 (289798) Feb 1955 (313418) N/A 3306 Traveller
Sandy Beige Feb 1955 (319579) May 1956 (433334)     Saloon/convertible
  Feb 1955 (313543) Sep 1956 (448560) BE15 6187 Traveller
Dark Beige May 1956 (430352) - GN12 5107 Saloon/convertible
Sage Green May 1956 (427459) - GN5 3116 Saloon/convertible
A dash denotes that the colour continued in use from Series MM models and/or onwards to 948cc Minor 1000


948cc Minor 1000 (Series III)
Colour Introduced Discontinued BMC Code ICI Code Notes
Black -   BL1 N/A Used throughout 948 production
Dark Green Sep 1956 (449129) Feb 1959 (695275) GN12 5107 Saloons/Convertibles/Travellers, also on 698997 (one-off)
Clarendon Grey Jan 1959 (694645)   GR6 2508 Also on 695733 (one-off)
Birch Grey Sep 1956 (449269) Jan 1959 (694239) GR3 2758 Saloons/Convertibles/Travellers, also on 699014 (one-off)
Sage Green Mar 1959 (708537)       Saloons/Convertibles
  Feb 1959 (693808) Mar 1959 (704301) GN5 3116 Traveller
Cream Sep 1956 (449236) Apr 1958 (608041) YL5 2450 Not used on Travellers
Torquoise Oct 1956 (449553) Jan 1959 (695191)     Also on 698996 (one-off)
      BU6 2618 Not used on Traveller
Pale Ivory Apr 1958 (608663) Feb 1959 (695162) YL1 3487 Not used on Traveller
Frilford Grey Jan 1959 (692882) Jul 1960 (847831) GR5 3167  
Pearl Grey Jan 1959 (692902) Jul 1960 (847250) GR10 3299 Not used on Traveller
Clipper Blue Jan 1959 (693589) Oct 1961 (934932)     Saloons/Convertibles
  Jan 1959 (693589) Jul 1960 (846941) BU14 3300 Traveller
Smoke Grey Feb 1959 (695314) -     Saloons/Convertibles
  Jul 1960 (846951) - BU15 3301 Traveller
Yukon Grey Jul 1960 (847937) Nov 1961 (939211) GR4 2824 -
Old English White Jul 1960 (848109) - WT3 2397 Blue trim fitted to some early cars
Porcelain Green Jul 1960 (851256) Oct 1961 (934714) GN17 5091 Not used on Traveller
Lilac Dec 1960 (1000000) Dec 1960 (1000349) RD17 3467 Used on Minor Millions only
Dove Grey Oct 1961 (934892) - GR26 3346 Not used on Traveller
Rose Taupe Oct 1961 (934900) - GR27 6185 -
Almond Green Oct 1961 (935214) - GN37 3483 -
Highway Yellow Oct 1961 (936910) Jul 1962 (979650) YL9 3480 Not used on Traveller
Trafalgar Blue Aug 1962 (981731) - BU37 6189 Not used on Traveller until 1098cc
A dash indicates that colour continued on from Series II or into 1098cc period.
In cases where a different starting/finishing car number or date has not been quoted for the Traveller, it may be assumed that the introduction or discontinuation of a particular colour occured at the same time as on the saloon and convertible.


1098cc Minor 1000 (Series V)
Colour Introduced Discontinued BMC Code ICI Code Notes
Black Nov 1970 (1287903)       Saloon
  Jul 1969 (1257121)   BL1 N/A Traveller
Smoke Grey Nov 1970 (1288358)       Saloon
  Jul 1969 (1257326)   BU15 3301 Traveller
Old English White Jan 1968 (1208986)   WT3 2379  
Dove Grey Jan 1968 (1208363)   GR26 3346 Not used on Traveller
Rose Taupe Dec 1967 (1207908)   GR27 6185  
Almond Green Nov 1970 (1288024)       Saloon
  Jul 1969 (1257418)   GN37 3483 Traveller
Trafalgar Blue Nov 1970 (1288377)       Saloon
  Nov 1967 (1205081) Jul 1969 (1257371) BU37 6189 Traveller
Maroon B' Oct 1967 (1200480) Jul 1969 (1257425) RD23 6573 Traveller
Peat Brown Oct 1967 (1200534) Nov 1970 (1288376)     Saloon
  Jul 1968 (1227264)   GR30 6198 Traveller
Snowberry White Oct 1967 (1200773) Nov 1970 (1288281)     Saloon
    Jul 1969 (1257181) WT4 3012 Traveller
The chassis numbers for Travellers relate to those assembled at Cowley. Paint codes for Adderley Park assembled Travellers are listed separately.


Adderley Park Travellers and Commercials
In the period between 1969 and 1971, Travellers and commercial vehicles were also built at the Adderley Park plant in Birmingham and were finished in a different range of colours as shown below. Note that production records from the Adderley plant were destroyed so chassis numbers for the introduction and discontinuation of paint colours are not available.
Body Colour BMC Code  ICI Code 
Cumulus Grey GR29 8780
Glacier White NMA/059 4309
Bermuda Blue BU40 2843
White NAB/206 3738
Aqua JMA/060 7932
Lime Flower HMA/029 7968
Bedouin SAA/004 7855
Teal Blue JMC/018 7918
Azure Blue N/A 7660
Yukon Grey GR4 2824
Everglade Green GN42 7152
Damask Red CMA/099 4808
Persian Blue BU39 2351
Connaught Green GN18 3302
Flame Red CMB/061 3442
Antelope BLVC/007 7894


Thanks again to Ray Newell for doing all the research and allowing me to reprint it here. Be sure to check out his new book Morris Minor - The Complete Story'.