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MG MGA - British racing green

My dad was telling me that it was often traditional to see British cars painted a dark green that was almost black. When I look at this page, I don't see any.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccmga/gallery/1600_colours.shtml

But there are three types of green on this page:

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/MGA/mgapaint.html

Which green was he talking about and would it look appropriate on a 1962 MKII?

Thanks
DL Henderson

Mr. Henderson,
It is a dark green, and there are numerous shades of it, but for a close approximation click on this:
www.astonmartinracing.com/content/allsites/images/SebringTest6_4c47e6ad-fd10-4f3b-a6a1-0289eb580e48.jpg
regards
Archie
archie

The green you are talking about is normally called British Racing Green or just BRG. It stems from back in the days when each country had a recognized color for international racing. Like Archie said there are numerous shades, but none of the MGA greens comes even close to BRG. I have seen MKII MGA's painted BRG, and think they look good.
Jeff Schultz

As Archie says, there are many shades of British Racing Green. The Aston Martin race cars are a good example of BRG. The Jaguar D Type racing cars seem too dark.
However, why not use the MG BRG? It was not a standard color at Abingdon for MG's, but they used it on many Austin Healeys that were built at Abingdon. Of the 2110 mga twin cams built only 2 were painted BRG at Abingdon, having been done to special order.
The Sebring competition MGA's are shown on the factory records as Green, but it does not say BRG, but I believe it was.
BRG was a standard factory color on MGA's built in Australia.
BRG looks terrific on a MGA, but do not use the dark version.
There is a photo of one of the MGA Twin Cams painted at Abingdon at:

http://users.tpg.com.au/bobles/Register/Main/2414_YM_2.html


Mick
Mick Anderson

Right here on the BBS foto thread are pictures (57) today and more every day or so. There are 5 BRG cars in the pictures. As for the appropriateness of the color, even though it was not a "correct" MGA color it is well accepted and age appropriate. Follow this link.
http://users.pandora.be/mga_world/MG_A_Forum_Members/album/index.html
R J Brown

See here for some of the shades: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_racing_green

My BRG (picture 52 on RJ's link) is Jaguar Hen Green from the 1960s.

Steve
Steve Gyles

"In the days of the Gordon Bennett Cup Count Eliot Zborowski, father of inter-war racing legend Louis Zborowski, suggested that each national entrant be allotted a different colour. Every component of a car had to be produced in the competing country, as well as the driver being of that nationality. The races were hosted in the country of the previous year's winner. When Selwyn Edge won the 1902 race for Britain in a Napier it was decided that the 1903 race would be held in Ireland, motor racing being illegal at the time in Great Britain, and the opening of Brooklands still 4 years in the future. As a mark of respect for their hosts the British cars were painted green. Initially this colour distinction only applied to the grands épreuves, but was later codified in the Code Sportif International (CSI) of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_racing_green


Ian Pearl

Thanks for the little history lesson, Ian. That might also explain how I seem to remember that the "original" BRG was more of an emerald green than the darker hues we usually associate with BRG.

Derek Nicholson

It seems to me, that since there were several shades that were considered "british racing green" back in the day, that the normal MGA factory green colors have as much claim on correctness as any other shade of BRG.
Del Rawlins

For a list of all the national racing colours have a look at http://www.teammiata.com/libs/race_colors.htm

Anyone fancy painting their car in Egyptian colours?
Malcolm Asquith

I seem to remember Jim Clark and Graham Hill racing BRM engined cars in the Tasman Grand Prix (before Australia had real Grand Prix!) in the late 60s at Sandown, Melbourne. These car were definitely British Racing Green literally!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

This seems to be typical of the BRG I seem to see on MGAs. In fact it's the same colour as mine. Except mine has lots of stone chips and scratches.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150047154769

TTFN

Derek Nicholson

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2006 and 16/10/2006

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