VW Paint Colours - Club VeeDub

VW Paint Colours

Volkswagens sold in Australia have used a combination of unique locally produced colours for Australian-made VWs, together with German colours for imported models. The Volkswagen Australasia Ltd factory in Clayton, Melbourne, first produced cars from CKD kits in 1954. The paints were first supplied by Balm Paints Australia (British Australian Lead Manufacturers), who also had a factory in Clayton. They were bought out by Dulux Australia Pty Ltd in 1964. They produced a large range of Australian colours not seen on German/US models. The Clayton VW factory was the first car factory in Australia to use full-immersion dipping and four-layer baked enamel finishes. Ford and GMH did not use this system until the 1990s.

The colours listed below cover all Australian-produced and Australian-sold Volkswagens from 1954, when Australian Volkswagen assembly began, to 1988. These are sourced from numerous old Balm colour cards, Dulux Auto Shades catalogues and other references. The years indicate when a colour was introduced, and may continue on after the assigned year. If your colour does not appear in your given year, check a few years either side. Note that because they are standard Dulux colours, they do not have equivalent VW Australasia Colour Codes until 1961.

Unless indicated, each year refers to Australian-produced colours. Karmann Ghias were fully imported for local sale from 1959 to 1968. These use German paint colours and are indicated with ‘Imported’. These are Karmann-VW colours and may differ slightly from the typical VW colours used on Wolfsburg-built cars of the time (which were not sold in Australia).

Note also that the local Australian paint range includes Nissan and Volvo paint colours from 1968 to 1976, as these other makes were also assembled in the Motor Producers Ltd factory in Clayton in this period. If your local paint suppliers cannot find these colours under ‘Volkswagen’, try looking under ‘Nissan/Datsun’ and/or ‘Volvo’.

All Australian Volkswagen assembly ceased in March 1977. All Volkswagens sold in Australia since 1977 have been fully imported, so these are all marked ‘Imported’, and normal German VW colours will apply. The T3 Transporter was the only VW model available in Australia from 1982-1989, so some colours indicated may not have actually been imported and sold here.

Dulux Australia has undergone a number of changes of ownership since the mid-1980s, and they actually stopped making automotive finishes for a number of years. They have only just returned to the automotive paint market - visit the Dulux AutoRefinish page for more information. We have been unable to determine specific Dulux or Volkswagen paint codes on Australian-sold VWs since the late 1980s. For late model VWs, you should consult your Volkswagen dealer.

Colour Name	Dulux Colour No.	VW Colour Code
1954
Belgrave Blue	7372
Clayton Green	7371
Glenburnie Grey	7368
Gypsy Grey	7369
Mandalay Ivory	7370
Pigeon Blue	7854
1955
Belgrave Blue	7372
Clayton Green	7371
Glenburnie Grey	7368
Gypsy Grey	7369
Horizon Blue	7575
Pigeon Blue	7854
1956
Coastal (Mandalay) Ivory	7946
Coastal (Inverloch) Ivory	7886
Gunyah Grey	7883
Horizon Blue	7575
Manly Tan	7940
Mountain Blue	7884
Pigeon Blue	7854
Surf Green	7941
1957
Boronia Brown	2265
Commercial Blue	7522
Gunyah Grey	7883
Gulf Green	2084
Manly Tan	7940
Summer Blue	2266
Surf Green	7941
Surfers White	2348
1958
Alabaster	3933
Boronia Brown	2265
Commercial Blue	7522
Gunyah Grey	7883
Manly Tan	7940
Palm Green	7852
Sand Green	7853
Summer Blue	2266
Tasman Blue	9632
1959
Alabaster	3933
Boronia Brown	2265
Commercial Blue	7522
Mango Green	9819
Manly Tan	7940
Palm Green	7852
Sand Green	7853
Seagull Grey	9818
Summer Blue	2266
Tasman Blue	9632
1960
Ceramic Green	9911
Commercial Blue	7522
Mango Green	9819
New Alabaster	0095
Paprika	0048
Slate Blue	9853
Strato Blue	0049
1961
Beryl Green	4288
Gulf Blue	4285
Misty Grey	4234
Pastel Blue	4284
Pearl White	4291
Pigeon Blue	0377
Ruby Red	4286
Turquoise	4287
1961 Imported
Anthracite Grey	4697	L469
Lavender Blue	4701	L397
Pacific Blue	4696
Pampas Green	4702	L384
Paprika Red	4699	L452
Sea Blue	4698	L360
Sierra Beige	4700	L490
1962
Beryl Green	4288	1.3.603
Gulf Blue	4285	1.3.503
Nimbus White	9828	1.2.900
Pigeon Blue	0377
Ruby Red	4286	1.2.303
Steel Grey	4759	1.3.005
Turquoise	4287	1.2.602
Yukon Yellow	3013	1.2.701
1962 Imported
Anthracite	4905	1.3.101
Anthracite Grey	4697	L469
Bermuda White	4802
Beryl Green	4288	1.3.603 (L478)
Blue White	4803	289
Gulf Blue	4285	1.4.503 (L390)
Lavender Blue	4701	L397
Nimbus White	4753	1.2.900
Pacific Blue	4696
Pampas Green	4702	L384
Paprika Red	4699	L452
Pearl White	4804	L87
Pearl White	4927	1.3.003
Pigeon Blue	0377
Porcelain Green	4805	L480
Ruby Red	4286	1.2.303 (L456)
Sierra Beige	4700	L490
Steel Grey	4759	1.3.005 (L328)
Turquoise	4287	1.2.602
Yukon Yellow	3013	1.2.701
1963
Anthracite	4905	1.3.101
Beryl (1500) Green	5195	L511
Beryl Green	4288	1.3.603
Blue (1500)	5193	L390
Gulf Blue	4285	1.3.503
Misty (1500) Grey	5194	L469
Pearl White	4927	1.3.003
Ruby Red	4286	1.2.303
Turquoise	4287	1.2.602
White (1500)	5263	L87
1963/64
Bahama Blue	6043	1.3.509
Birch Green	6032	1.3.607
Gulf Blue	4285	1.3.503
Polar White	6030	1.3.903
Ruby (1500) Red	5265	L456
Ruby Red	4754	1.3.303
Smoke Grey	6033	1.3.013
Turquoise	4287	1.2.602
1964/65 Imported
Baltic Blue	8412	L539
Fontana Grey	8414	L595
Nutria Brown	8382	L575
Polar (Pearl) White	8381
Safari Beige	8380	L563
Sea Sand	8413	L568
1965/66
Bahama Blue	6043	1.3.509
Birch Green	6032	1.3.607
Fontana Grey	8484	1.3.017
Panama Beige	8485	1.1.803
Polar White	6030	1.3.904
Ruby Red	4754	1.3.303
Sea Blue	8483	1.3.510
1967/68
Birch Green	06032	1.3.607
Delta Green	01292	613
Lotus White	01290	909
Neptune Blue	05271	L50K
Paradise Gold	10088	713
Ruby Red	04754	1.3.303
Savannah Beige	01749	804
Savannah Beige (low gloss)	05781	749
V.W. Blue	01289	505
Wheel Grey Metallic	06535
Zenith Blue	01291	518
1967/68 Imported
Grey Silver Metallic	15272	L693
Silver Metallic	15273	L96D
1968/69
Diamond Blue	11235	523
Kings Red	11234	308
Lotus White	01290	909
Regatta Blue	10089	520
Savannah Beige	01749	804
1970
Aluminium (wheels)	12110
Antarctica White	12330	911
Ascot Green	12011	615
Clementine	12013	12
Honey Brown	12016	201
Kings Red	11234	17
Pampas Yellow	13015	715
Safari Beige	12014	805
Space Blue	12015	524
1971
Aluminium (wheels)	12110
Antarctica White	12330	911
Bahia Red	13234
Clementine	12013	12
Honey Brown	12016	201
Lime Glow	13235
Moss Green	09819	616
Pastel Blue	13173	525
Regatta Blue	10089
Royal Glow	13244
Shantung	13174	717
Signal Orange	13014	716
1972
Antarctica White	12330	911
Avocado Green	13176
Gemini Blue	13975
Honey Brown	12016	201
Mustard	13974
Radar Red	13973
Regatta Blue	10089	520
Wattle	13971	CLR719
1973
Antarctica White	12330	911
Flipper Blue	13979	CLR529
Grasshopper Green	13976
Kalahari Tan	13980	CLR312
Mustard	13974
Radar Red	13973
Regatta Blue	10089	520
Wattle	13971	CLR719
1974/75
Citrus Red	15805	CLR313
Crystal White	15453	CLR914
Flipper Blue	13979	CLR529
Kalahari Tan	13980	CLR312
Martini Olive	15803	CLR622
Maya Majestic	17418	CLR723
Mellow Yellow	15816	CLR721
Olive Metallic	17293	CLR624
Quartz Metallic	17294	CLR030
Riverina Orange	17644	CLR722
Saluki Brown Metallic	17645	CLR204
Wattle	13971	CLR719
1975/76
Antarctica White	12330	911
Blue Green Metallic	30005	CLR625
Bronco Brown	17868	CLR205
Copper Metallic	30004	CLR206
Harbour Blue (Taubmans)	S5-4304	CLR530
Maya Metallic	17418	CLR723
Quartz Metallic	17294	CLR030
1977 Imported
Bahai Blue	30431	L50A
Bali Green	30434	L62A
Brocade Red	30430	L32A
Dakota Beige	30433	L13A
Diamond Silver Metallic	30428	L97A
Marino Yellow	30438	L20A
Mars Red	30435	L31B
Miami Blue	30429	L51C
Neptune Blue	30436	L50K
Ocean Blue	30439	L57H
Panama Brown	30432	L12A
Pastel White	15521	L90D
Polar White	30426	L90A
Riyad Yellow	30427	L11A
Senegal Red	30437	L31A
Sumatra Green	30087	L61B
Taiga Green	30440	L63H
Timor Brown Metallic	30424	L97F
Viper Green Metallic	30105	L98B
1978 Imported
Alpine White	30831	L90E
Andorra Blue	30961	L56Y
Bahama Blue Metallic	30893	L99F
Castle Yellow	30963	L12Y
Malaga Red	30960	L30C
Manilla Green	30964	L63Y
Marino Yellow	31326	L21H
Mars Red	30435	L31B
Nubis Red	30962	L31Y
Viper Green Metallic	30832	L96N
1979/80 Imported
Alpine White	30831	L90E
Azores Metallic	31368	LA5V
Colibri Green Metallic	31366	L99Y
Diamond Silver Metallic	30428	L97A
Florida Blue	LA5A
Inari Silver Metallic	31365	L94A
Indian Red Metallic	31364	LA3V
Lemon Yellow	31350	LA1D
Light Orange	31446	L20B
Lime Yellow	31367	LA1B
Mexico Beige	31532	LE1M
Santos Green	31351	LA6A
Viper Green Metallic	30832	L96N
1982 Imported
Agate Brown	35000	L86Z
Aswan Brown	34696	H8B
Bamboo Yellow	34695	H1B
Brilliant Orange	34693	20B
Ivory	34697	567
Liana Green	34694	H6A
Pastel White	34692	90D
Saima Green	34698	H6B
Samos Beige	34699	H1N
1983 Imported
Damuso White	35134	H9D
Escorial Green	35132	T6A
Kopenhagen Blue	35817	LY5B/K3
Kurilian Blue	35028	H5T
May Green	35133	TB6
Medium Blue	35131	H5G
Monaco Blue (LT)	35029	A5D
Nevada Beige	LA1N/B6
Polaris Silver Metallic	39595	LA7V
1984 Imported
Capri Blue	38093	LK5E
Ice Green	LA6E/M1
Marine Blue	38092	AB5
Merian Brown	35673	A8A
Timor Beige	35659	H8T
Turquoise	LA6T
1985 Imported
Fels Grey Metallic	38385	LK7V
Kalahari Beige	38462	LH8T
Mahogany Metallic	38383	LB8Z
Marsala Red	38463	LH3D
Stein Grey Metallic	38384	LY7U
Tizian Red Metallic	38386	LB3V
1986/87/88 Imported
Flash Silver Metallic	39133	LP7Y
Kopenhagen Blue	35817	LY5B
Mint Green	LY6B
Mocha Brown	LH8V
Savannah Beige Metallic	39132	LH1V
Surf Blue	LD5B
Turkish Blue	L59P