Colour scheme question

[Steverat]

I am shortly to start restoration of an early 50s A10 (bolt on gearbox) for a friend. We are planning what finish to give it. Does anyone have info about the range of finishes offered in those years? I confess I find the Golden Flash gold colour unattractive.

[RoyC]

I am shortly to start restoration of an early 50s A10 (bolt on gearbox) for a friend. We are planning what finish to give it. Does anyone have info about the range of finishes offered in those years? I confess I find the Golden Flash gold colour unattractive.

Enter your year & model here to see what colours were available.   -    http://www.rsbikepaint.com/en-gb/colours.php#makeid=20&modelid=476&prodyear=1957

[JulianS]

Basically the alternative to beige was black.

Below from 1950 brochure.

[bsa-bill]

I confess I find the Golden Flash gold colour unattractive.

Yes me too, my Gold flash is Gold of a more modern vehicle, ( Susuki I think, would have to check with the shop that got me the paint), it's a mixed colour they got for me (very reasonable price).
It looks good, not to garish but more to today's taste then 50/60 s.
Purist will pull their hair out but I think it's quite allright to go for what BSA would be using if they were still producing bikes, it's your bike make of it whatever pleases you.

pic my bike plus two grandkids

[Greybeard]

I don't like the GF gold either. Black for me.

[Simon59]

I'm going for gold in my restoration (or more accurately beige). After all, it is called a Golden Flash... I think that the Gold was mostly for the US market whilst the UK preferred the more traditional black. They both look great!

[Butch (cb)]

When I finally got around to sorting mine out some years back I decided I wanted it the same (non std) colour that it was when I was riding it around in the 70s. So perhaps perversely I had that colour matched by my painter to get it just so. I'm not carrying much original tinware so it is only the tank in this colour - and kind of a maroon that they were likely using on other of their bikes at around the time. 

By the same token, even though I had the speedo completely refurbished I kept he original clock face - I wanted to be looking at the same one from back then.

All depends on how original you want to be and personal tastes of course.

[muskrat]

G'day Steve.
Black for me too. Tell us the exact year for full details.
While your at it tell us a bit about yourself and bike in the Pictures, Stories & Introductions https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?board=13.0
Cheers

[BSA_54A10]

Well I will go against the grain.
I really like the original golden beige.
What most get wrong is it was painted over a black base coat with a semi translucent beige ( not gold )
Wally Gibson did his like that and it is stunning, the black comes through giving the beige a really deep look and a slightly green tone.
Ken Thompson, an original 50 A10S owner ended up doing the same with his because all the attempts at modern colour matching cam out looking garish where as the original finish is pleasently understated.
latter they went to a full flat beige over a cream under coat and it lost all of the depth & looked like a filing cabinet.

[duTch]

 

............. it lost all of the depth & looked like a filing cabinet.

           

[Steverat]

G'day Steve.
Black for me too. Tell us the exact year for full details.
While your at it tell us a bit about yourself and bike in the Pictures, Stories & Introductions https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?board=13.0
Cheers

Gday Musky
Yes I think we are going for black. Its a 1951 bike, I'll post some more in the intros folder as you suggest, thanks

[kiwipom]

I don't like the GF gold either. Black for me.

hi guys, Gold looks OK to me, i prefer Chrome/Black but its personal preference, it,s like wine: if you like it it,s a good one, cheers

[orabanda]

I sourced the colour from Polly Palmer (a small sample), then had it matched locally.

Richard

[Steverat]

Thank you for all your replies and the smashing photos, really impressive. Josef (the owner) is considering black frame and forks with gold tinware as the most appealing to his eye. I can’t make up my mind now we have to make the decision. From talking to my painters I do know that the gold will be a lot more expensive -and more risky too of course. Even if it is done well, I think it will be more difficult to keep looking nice. Powder coat is out of the question because of the difficulty of matching with the spray painted parts, so everything gets dearer when going for the “full gold” option. Bike is arriving imminently and I shall be asked for my preference since the paint & chrome has long lead time and the bits need to start that right away. Then I can concentrate on fettling the drive train and have it ready when the chassis comes back. It’s going to take me several months I think.

[Greybeard]

I've read that the Paint BSA used was not really 'gold', as in a metallic paint. I believe the colour was actually more like beige.