Classic Chevrolet 210 Paint Colors & Factory Codes (1955–1957)
Every original factory paint color offered on the classic Chevrolet 210 (1955–1957), with official manufacturer paint codes, hex approximations, and rarity notes. Use the paint code to order a color-matched sample from a restoration supplier.
The Chevrolet 210 (Two-Ten) shared the full Tri-Five paint palette with its upmarket Bel Air sibling across 1953–1957, so a 210 could be ordered in nearly any of the era's signature factory colors. Each model year brought its own GM paint codes and names: 1955 introduced shades like Onyx Black, India Ivory, Sea Mist Green, Gypsy Red, Coral and Harvest Gold; 1956 added Crocus Yellow, Matador Red, Dusk Plum and Tropical Turquoise; and 1957 rounded out the run with Surf Green, Sierra Gold, Canyon Coral and Adobe Beige. Solid single-tone finishes were standard, but the Tri-Five era is best remembered for its bold two-tone treatments.
Two-tone combinations were where the 210 really came alive, typically pairing a body color with a contrasting roof and side-spear panel — India Ivory and Imperial Ivory were by far the most popular accent colors, lifting everything from Matador Red to Tropical Turquoise. As the mid-trim model slotted between the basic 150 and the flagship Bel Air, the 210 offered most of the same color and two-tone choices at a more accessible price, which is a big part of why so many survive on the restoration and show circuit today.
Sources:
classicindustries.com (1955–1957 Chevy solid colors and two-tone paint codes)
paintscratch.com (1956 Chevrolet OEM color/code cross-reference)
★ Rare / Desirable Colors
Standard Colors
🔧 Restoration Tips: Finding & Matching Your Original Color
- • Find the original paint code on the cowl trim tag, mounted on the right side of the firewall under the hood; for 1956–1957 the three-digit number is followed by a letter (A = solid, B/C/D/E = a specific two-tone scheme).
- • Match colors to the correct model year before ordering paint — many Tri-Five names (Onyx Black, India Ivory, Harbor Blue, Matador Red, Tropical Turquoise) carried over between years but were assigned different GM codes each season.
- • For two-tone cars, confirm both the body and accent codes against a factory chart so the roof, side spear and body are restored to a genuine factory-offered combination rather than a guess.
- • Original lacquer formulas have no exact modern equivalent; have a reputable supplier cross-reference the GM code to a current basecoat/clearcoat and always spray a test panel, since aged originals and reproductions can shift noticeably in tone.