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