harleyKmodel

Hi All,

while I am still searching for the color code of the 58-59 "calypso red", I was wondering what colors have been used for tank emblems. Many of the early emblems have used red or white in the emblem and it would be logical from a design point of view, to use the same color for the emblem as for the "red" or "white" options. Anyone knows more? Looking at original paint panheads, it seems, that the emblem and the gas tank use the same "red".
Now, the red option changes from 59 to 60 but the emblem was used in 59 and 60? As 58 the calypso red was available, a designer would eventually use the 58 red for the emblem as it was used in 59 as well?

thanks!

Here are paint codes for calypso red

Hi Dave,

Thanks a lot!! Now: is that "a" Calypso red or "the" 58/59 Calypso Red?

Cheers,
Ralf

It's "the" color. I got it from Loren C, who matched it with a OEM part. He applied it to his 100 point 58XLH.

Wow ... Amazing! Thanks so much!

I would have thought THE Calypso Red was the one applied by the factory in 1957... ( or in OEM paint tubs...)

Same for chrome, nickel, parker or whatever other OEM finish.

Any other stuff is a pale erzatz and should be a 50 points reduction if your AMCA judges knew anything, but obviously they dont.......

Patrick

patrick, you are completely right, even a re-paint with OEM paint would not be "the" calypso red, as different painting techniques and painters will get a different finishes. Thats why I am re-using almost any original part that was on the bike. Many parts needed to be fixed or the finish re-done -- as the frame has been fillered and "high-end finish painted" before (my fault) and I can not even distinguish which color the tank had when it was mounted, I need to live with "fake" finishes. Would love to own an all original survivor, believe me. Somehow my 59XLH is a survivor, as it survived me driving it the last 26 years -- but the XLCH oil tank has to go and I though a "59 correct color" would be nice.

From that aspect Dave helped me a lot.

Let me start this by saying Chuck is colour blind -- so red isn't in my world.

However, I do have original paint emblems on my 59 XLH. I bought a CRUSHED 1960 tank more or less just for the original emblems. They had been inside and out of the sun for decades . . .and whilst I can't tell the exact shade -- they are considerably darker than the repos now on the market.

I'm sure some colour change has taken place over the past 60 years . . . but I know for certain my emblems are not "bright" -- they are "deep" compared to the repos.

I've no idea how that compares to the Calypso Red . . . again, couldn't tell you if I was staring at this red or that red -- I only know bright or dark when it comes to these shades

This is an early 1957 tank I have, with OEM badges and small patch of OEM paint left behind since the 57' OEM cork spacer, alloy rivets/steel holders were still there when I bought it last year...

Anyone can see the red on the badges is darker than the red of the paint...



Patrick

Thanks, Patrick.

My 1960 original paint tank was red/white -- and I hadn't thought of the comparison photo -- but yes, my original paint emblems are darker than the tank paint red.

Can't believe I didn't think of it like that . . . but here's a photo. It's hard to tell the shade change here -- but the tank was a few shades "brighter" than the emblems.