What Specs for Roman Purple Colour?

Lorenzo, I think that we've put it as clearly as we can. All the documentary, photographic and anecdotal evidence points to them having bean the gold with black edge type on all the pre-Mk5 750s (all the bikes with short silver clockholders). However, it's tempting fate on a forum such as this to use the word 'never'. It's not possible to say that Nortons or one of their overseas dealers NEVER sold a purple bike with single colour gold decals. I think it most unlikely. What is possible is that a replacement or guarantee tank (they were supplied without decals) could have had a different sort applied by the dealer. However, Norton did not list single colour gold decals until 1973 by which time the purple 750s had been discontinued (Shame !)

Nice pictures by the way, B+B. I'm becoming rapidly bored with my flying fag packet colour scheme. I need some more sparkel in my life !

79x100 said:

I need some more sparkel in my life !

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Come to the Dark Side, My Son :mrgreen:

FWIW, when I was restoring a 69 S model, after sanding through all the layers of paint applied over the years, it was all silver flake. I talked to Brian Slark, and he said that they were all silver base with flakes and Norton used a tinted clear coat for a color.

.. thank you to All..

Switching to the black scheme with the golden pinstriped 'D':
do you think the decal is plain gold or gold with black border?
.. from the 1972 ad, it seems just plain gold with no border.. but perhaps it is not showing because it is black on black?

Apologies in advance for shamelessly stealing and reposting images from other forum members here but I like your bikes.....a lot! I do like these colors ('cause there's a lot of variation) very much and did debate for some time whether to paint my Candy Apple Red Commando in this color. To my eye, the fireflake purple is a very 70's correct color and looks great on a Commando!

Sanding back the Blue Meatalflake fibreglass tank revealed B I G Flakes of Silver , some - maybe half appeared 1/4 inch by something - though not all at the initial surface .

Presumeably the colour coat & metal flakes are intermingled in the Gel Coat , as the first ( or second over clear ) layer in the mould . Id advise viewing a original , in no matter
how faded or abused condition - before attempting to replicate .

http://www.mmimarine.com/mmi/upload/han ... 042400.pdf " To spray the older large metal flake use a " :

Dune Buggy period Metal Flake site , http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/BodyRefinishing

apparently this has something to do with it . http://www.metalflakecorp.com/ :wink:

" Problems are picking the right base coat, and finding a spray gun that will handle this stuff. As soon as the flakes are mixed with the clear it settles to the bottom of the cup, and if you do manage to keep it in suspension the tip size and pressure required to spray them make for problems. " http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthrea ... ber=475405 sounds like you need to find a very old hippy who did it in the day , to get it right . :lol:

Nice pictures by the way, B+B. I'm becoming rapidly bored with my flying fag packet colour scheme. I need some more sparkel in my life !

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Dont we all! Just redone my JP scheme in emerald green (with a touch of gold mirra). I chickened out on the full flake job and just cleared the basecoat. Go for it 8)

That's my fireflake roman purple tank that you took a picture of at the rally ;-)

I'm the owner of the purple 750 commando with the gold decal (no black outline) ...

Re The copied picture of my '70, when building this bike I was lucky enough to purchase a new old stock side cover in purple which we were able to use as a paint match.
AL

Whereas these days you can always just go to the local HD Dealership and inspect their current range of 'Hard Candy' colors.

Hard Candy Voodoo Purple

Look a bit familiar ?

Along with green, red, blue, and silver and (a wishy washy looking) gold.
All looking like they have just been borrowed from Nortons colour card.
Not that one maker has a monopoly on such colours...