Original Factory Colors
Classic Chevrolet Bel Air Paint Colors & Factory Codes (1955–1972)
Every original factory paint color offered on the classic Chevrolet Bel Air (1955–1972), with official manufacturer paint codes, hex approximations, and rarity notes. Use the paint code to order a color-matched sample from a restoration supplier.
No car captures 1950s optimism like the 1955-1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, the legendary "Tri-Five." Chevrolet leaned hard into color: solid finishes such as India Ivory, Onyx Black, Gypsy Red, Surf Green and the cult-favorite Tropical Turquoise were joined by an explosion of two-tone schemes that defined the era. The most iconic combinations paired a light cove or roof color (almost always India/Imperial Ivory) against a saturated body color, so a single base hue like Sierra Gold or Canyon Coral could appear in a dozen different two-tone guises. These pastel-and-chrome combinations are central to the Tri-Five's identity and remain the first thing collectors look for today.
When the full-size Chevrolet was completely restyled for 1958, the Bel Air shifted from flagship to mid-range trim beneath the new Impala, and its palette evolved with the wider Chevrolet line. Bright 1950s pastels gave way to deeper metallics and corporate fleet-friendly solids: Snowcrest/Ermine White, Tuxedo Black and Roman Red recur year after year, with codes like 900 (black) and 936 (white) carried across the early 1960s before GM adopted two-letter cowl-tag codes later in the decade. By the final years the Bel Air was largely a budget full-size sedan sharing the standard Impala/Biscayne color chart, a quiet end for a nameplate whose Tri-Five colors still dominate show fields. Sources:
classicindustries.com (1955-57 Chevy solid colors, two-tones and paint codes)
autocolorlibrary.com (factory color chips and codes, full-size Chevrolet)
★ Rare / Desirable Colors
★ Rare
Coral
626
#e8927c
1955
Solid coral/salmon, 1955. A scarce and now highly desirable 1950s pastel.
★ Rare
Harvest Gold
630
#d9b461
1955
Solid gold, 1955. Less common period color.
★ Rare
Cashmere Blue
683
#a7bdd1
1955
Solid soft blue, 1955. Late-availability color, less frequently seen.
★ Rare
Regal Turquoise
598
#3fa39b
1955
Solid turquoise, 1955. Vivid mid-50s hue.
★ Rare
Copper Maroon
590
#5e2f2a
1955
Solid dark coppery maroon, 1955.
★ Rare
Autumn Bronze
592
#8a6233
1955
Solid bronze, 1955.
★ Rare
Crocus Yellow
695
#e8cf63
1956
Solid bright yellow, 1956. Bold, less common.
★ Rare
Tropical Turquoise
749
#3cb7ab
1956
Solid turquoise, 1956. Iconic mid-50s turquoise, very desirable.
★ Rare
Twilight Turquoise
698
#1f7d77
1956
Solid deep turquoise, 1956. Paired with Tropical Turquoise.
★ Rare
Dusk Plum
693
#5b3a52
1956
Solid plum, 1956. Rare and distinctive.
★ Rare
Aztec Copper
709
#9a5a36
1956
Solid copper metallic, 1956.
★ Rare
Sierra Gold
805
#c79a5b
1957
Solid coppery gold, 1957. A signature '57 color, often two-toned with Imperial Ivory.
★ Rare
Tropical Turquoise
799
#3cb7ab
1957
Solid turquoise, 1957. One of the most iconic '57 Bel Air colors, frequently with Ivory.
★ Rare
Laurel Green
823
#5f7d54
1957
Solid medium green, 1957.
★ Rare
Canyon Coral
801
#e0826e
1957
Solid coral, 1957. A beloved '57 pastel, often with Imperial Ivory.
★ Rare
Coronado Yellow
803
#e8d268
1957
Solid yellow, 1957. Bright and uncommon.
★ Rare
Dusk Pearl
821
#9a8f93
1957
Solid mauve-gray, 1957.
★ Rare
Anniversary Gold
925
#caa55d
1958
Metallic gold, 1958. Marked Chevrolet's 50th anniversary year.
★ Rare
Tasco Turquoise
915
#3fa6a0
1960
Solid turquoise, 1960 full-size.
★ Rare
Palomar Red
948
#7c2f3a
1964
Metallic deep red, 1964 full-size.
★ Rare
Goldwood Yellow
943
#e3cd6e
1964
Solid yellow, 1964 full-size.
★ Rare
Tripoli Turquoise
KK
#2f8f93
1968
Metallic turquoise, 1968 full-size.
★ Rare
Cordovan Maroon
NN
#4d2630
1968
Metallic maroon, 1968 full-size.
Standard Colors
Onyx Black
585
#16181a
1955
Solid color, 1955 Tri-Five. The classic black, popular as the dark half of two-tone combos.
India Ivory
593
#f3ecda
1955
Solid creamy ivory, 1955. The single most common two-tone roof/cove color on Tri-Five Chevys.
Shoreline Beige
591
#d8c7a3
1955
Solid warm beige, 1955. Frequently paired with Neptune Green in two-tone.
Skyline Blue
588
#8fb8d6
1955
Solid light blue, 1955. Often combined with Glacier Blue for two-tone.
Glacier Blue
589
#c9dbe6
1955
Solid pale blue, 1955. Common upper/cove accent color.
Neptune Green
587
#3f6b54
1955
Solid deep green, 1955. Paired with Shoreline Beige in popular two-tone.
Sea Mist Green
586
#bcd1bb
1955
Solid light mint green, 1955.
Gypsy Red
596
#8c2a2c
1955
Solid deep red, 1955. A signature Tri-Five red.
Shadow Gray
594
#8d9094
1955
Solid medium gray, 1955.
Onyx Black
687
#16181a
1956
Solid black, 1956. Code changed from 1955.
India Ivory
694
#f3ecda
1956
Solid ivory, 1956. New code 694; the dominant two-tone light color again this year.
Nassau Blue
691
#2f4a7a
1956
Solid deep blue, 1956. A standout 1956 hue, often two-toned with Harbor Blue.
Harbor Blue
692
#7fa3c6
1956
Solid lighter blue, 1956.
Pinecrest Green
688
#6f8f5a
1956
Solid medium green, 1956.
Sherwood Green
690
#2f5135
1956
Solid dark green, 1956. Often paired with Pinecrest Green.
Matador Red
697
#9c2226
1956
Solid red, 1956.
Calypso Cream
750
#f0e3b8
1956
Solid soft cream, 1956.
Inca Silver
752
#b9bdc0
1956
Solid silver, 1956.
Onyx Black
793
#16181a
1957
Solid black, 1957. Code 793; timeless on the iconic '57.
Imperial Ivory
794
#f2ead4
1957
Solid ivory, 1957. The classic light color for '57 two-tones and coves.
Surf Green
797
#a9c79c
1957
Solid light green, 1957. Often paired with Highland Green.
Highland Green
798
#39603f
1957
Solid dark green, 1957.
Larkspur Blue
795
#4b6f9e
1957
Solid medium blue, 1957.
Harbor Blue
796
#2c4570
1957
Solid deep blue, 1957. Paired with Larkspur Blue for two-tone.
Matador Red
802
#9c2226
1957
Solid red, 1957.
Colonial Cream
800
#f0e6bb
1957
Solid pale cream, 1957.
Adobe Beige
806
#ddcaa6
1957
Solid warm beige, 1957.
Inca Silver
804
#b9bdc0
1957
Solid silver, 1957.
Onyx Black
900
#16181a
1958
Solid black, 1958 full-size restyle. Bel Air now mid-range below new Impala.
Snowcrest White
936
#eef0ee
1958
Solid white, 1958. Common base for two-tone full-size cars.
Rio Red
923
#a31f29
1958
Solid red, 1958.
Cashmere Blue
910
#9fb6cc
1958
Solid light blue, 1958.
Tuxedo Black
900
#16181a
1959–1962
Solid black, full-size 1959-1962. Code 900 carried across these years.
Ermine White
936
#eef0ee
1959–1962
Solid white, full-size 1959-1962. Code 936 carried for years; most common base color.
Roman Red
923
#a31f29
1959–1962
Solid red, full-size 1959-1962. Code 923.
Jade Green
905
#4f7b58
1960
Solid green, 1960 full-size.
Fawn Beige
938
#cdb893
1960
Solid beige, 1960 full-size.
Tuxedo Black
900
#16181a
1963–1964
Solid black, full-size 1963-1964.
Ermine White
936
#eef0ee
1963–1964
Solid white, full-size 1963-1964.
Daytona Blue
916
#2f4d86
1963–1964
Metallic blue, 1963-1964 full-size.
Silver Blue
912
#9aa9bd
1964
Metallic silver-blue, 1964 full-size.
Meadow Green
905
#5f8a5e
1964
Metallic green, 1964 full-size.
Bahama Green
908
#2f6b52
1964
Metallic dark green, 1964 full-size.
Saddle Tan
932
#8a6a40
1964
Metallic tan, 1964 full-size.
Tuxedo Black
AA
#16181a
1968
Solid black, 1968 full-size. GM switched to 2-letter cowl-tag codes (AA) this era.
Ermine White
CC
#eef0ee
1968
Solid white, 1968 full-size. 2-letter code CC.
Fathom Blue
EE
#26456f
1968
Metallic deep blue, 1968 full-size.
Grotto Blue
DD
#5f86b0
1968
Metallic medium blue, 1968 full-size.
Matador Red
RR
#9c2226
1968
Solid red, 1968 full-size.
Butternut Yellow
YY
#e3cb6c
1968
Solid yellow, 1968 full-size.
Grecian Green
HH
#4f6f3a
1968
Metallic green, 1968 full-size.
Ash Gold
GG
#bca268
1968
Metallic gold, 1968 full-size.
Palomino Ivory
TT
#e6dcb8
1968
Solid ivory, 1968 full-size.
Tuxedo Black
#16181a
1969–1972
Solid black on final full-size Bel Air years; exact 2-letter code varies by year - verify against the cowl tag.
Classic White
#eef0ee
1969–1972
Solid white on full-size 1969-1972 Bel Air (US sales ended 1975; mostly fleet/Canada late). Code varies by year - verify on cowl tag.
🔧 Restoration Tips: Finding & Matching Your Original Color
- • Find the paint code on the cowl/firewall tag (also called the body or trim tag), riveted to the driver-side firewall or under the hood. The number after the word PAINT is the factory color code; a trailing letter (A for solid, B/C/D/E for two-tone) tells you the combination.
- • Tri-Five two-tones are coded as combinations, not single colors. A code in the two-tone range (e.g. 1955's 599-685 band) specifies exactly which body, roof and cove colors were applied. Decode the full combination before ordering paint - the same body color appears in many different two-tone codes.
- • Paint codes were reused and renamed year to year. Onyx Black is 585 in 1955, 687 in 1956 and 793 in 1957; India Ivory jumps from 593 to 694. Always match the code to the exact model year - never assume a name carries the same number across years.
- • On a restoration, check surviving original paint in protected areas - inside door jambs, under the trunk lid, behind kick panels and on the firewall - to confirm the true factory color before respraying. These spots fade far less than exterior panels and are the best reference for an accurate, period-correct match.
About these colors:
Color names, factory paint codes, and production years are cross-referenced from established
marque references and owner registries. Hex codes are approximate digital representations of
factory paint — vintage automotive paint was never defined as a hex value, and original enamel
fades over time. True paint colors depend on age, sun exposure, refinishing history, and
production batch variation. For an accurate match, always mix by the factory paint code — not
by the on-screen swatch — and verify against an original paint chip or a professional
color-matched sample before purchasing paint for a restoration.