What Paint Color Would You Put Back In Production?

As car enthusiasts, many of us despair at the sea of monochrome cars that flood our modern streets. Against such a mediocre backdrop, color makes a car stand out. They help highlight the magic curves penned by the designers, and can reflect the owner’s taste and personality. To that end, I ask you: What car color would you put back into production?

For me, the answer comes from my roots. I grew up in the shadow of the Holden factory in South Australia. Whenever a new Commodore came out, it wasn’t long before I saw them on the streets, many of which were emblazoned in the latest hero color of the moment. The most memorable of all was a striking shade called Hothouse Green.

The color debuted in 2002 with the launch of the VY Holden Commodore. Bright, metallic, and with surprising depth, it was known internally by the paint code 870J. It was available on all the performance models, and looked stunning on the V8-powered SS and the bonkers Maloo ute.

As is typical for hero colors, it didn’t stick around forever. Future high-performance Commodores appeared in a range of other shades, but none that left quite the same impression, at least on my budding automotive mind. It also didn’t trickle down to the lower-end models, which were still primarily sold in a range of silvers, dull blues, and maroons. In any case, the color had enough cultural impact that it became a popular shade in the tuner and muscle scenes. I’ve seen earlier generation Commodores resprayed with shiny Hothouse Green paint jobs, as well as a particularly nice Honda Integra DC2. The striking metallic worked well for show cars that were trying to make a visual impact.

Regardless, Holden wasn’t the only company putting out great colors in the early 2000s. In particular, Ford had some shockingly good colors available back in that era, as well as via its subsidiary, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV). The BA Falcon introduced a range of bold solid colors, often without metallic components, and the trend continued with the BF generation. Colors like Octane and Breeze were instantly eye-catching and were far more interesting than the dull fleet-like colors of generations past.

Ford’s boldness saw it diverge from the mainstream, but with great effect. The rich, saturated colors on its fleet of brawny muscle cars put the brand’s vehicles right back in the public eye, at a time when the Australian arm was eager to recover from the ugly, unappealing Falcons of the New Edge era. The color served a purpose, and many buyers were more than happy to pick up their new Falcon in a daring shade.

I’d love to see all these colors come back. I can see Ford’s solid colors working well on cars like the Mustang, and maybe even the Mach-E. Meanwhile, I think Holden’s Hothouse Green would look particularly sharp on something like a new Chevy Blazer. In any case, you’ve heard my opinion; now it’s time to share yours. What classic color would you bring back, and what car are you sticking it on?

Top graphic image: Holden