MSCC FEBRUARY 19 FIVE FOR FRIDAY: FIVE REASONS WHY IVORY IS A BETTER COLOR CHOICE THAN WHITE

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Ivory is a close relative of white in the grand scheme of color choices, but it is a better choice for several reasons in our opinion here at MyStarCollectorCar.

We decided to pick five reasons why ivory runs ahead of white in many vintage ride paint scheme decisions.

JIM SUTHERLAND

The first reason is the suitability factor. White is suitable for vehicles that serve the public in some fashion. Emergency and utility vehicles top the list in this department-and it begs the question: When was the last time you saw an ivory police car? White is a color designed for high visibility, so it is well-suited for vehicles in traffic conditions where people can associate white vehicles with their appointed duties.

The second reason is practical since ivory is darker than white and may not be quite as visible to the eyeball under certain conditions, but ivory may be a better choice because so many public service vehicles have white paint jobs. Therefore, ivory should factor into the paint equation for car guys if they want to avoid any visual connection between their prized collector vehicle and a city dump truck.

The third reason for ivory? It is a richer color than white and enhances the overall look of a vehicle. Solid colors are an excellent choice for many retro rides because of their style and body lines. Ivory brings out the best in many old school vehicles for this reason and should run at (or near) the front of the pack when it comes to custom color choices. 

Solid color choices are a critical component of an overall plan for vehicles because some solid color paint schemes do not work well on certain vehicles. Ivory is less likely to be a poor choice on a retro ride because it is neutral enough not to overwhelm onlookers, yet distinctive enough to blaze its own path on a vintage vehicle.

What is the fourth reason ivory can be an excellent color choice for a vintage ride? Ivory is a classy color that gives an upscale vibe to most older vehicles, including vintage trucks. It is brighter than beige and not as antiseptic as white because ivory is a ‘tweener in the paint department. The overall effect is a richer color shade that does not seemed bleached-out right from the paint gun like white-plus it’s a lighter, less bland color than beige.

The fifth and final reason for ivory is practical: Ivory is a better “hider” color compared to other colors such as black. Any small particles of road dust will be painfully obvious on certain paint schemes-particularly darker shades-a grim fact that many car guys encounter whenever they trot out vintage rides for shows and cruises.

Ivory paint jobs provide better camouflage for these small particles on vintage rides and unshackle their owners from car dusters so these cats can enjoy the show and spend less time detailing their vehicles at the show. Most car guys will also recognize this rule of thumb: “Where there’s rain there are rain spots”, a brutal precipitation fact of life at many shows that requires a major redo on the dark-painted vintage ride’s detailing after the downpour. Not so much with ivory by comparison.

It may true that not every vehicle looks good in ivory, but we at MyStarCollectorCar believe it should run at the front of the paint job pack for many car guys.         

Jim Sutherland

BY: Jim Sutherland

Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section. 

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