A65 Thunderbolt Colour

[Mike Farmer]

 

Hi I have an A65 Thunderbolt 1963 in the latter stages of restoration. Thanks to Mr Foden, it is listed as having left the factory finished in red. Looking at the tank it has been several colours over the years and that's if its the original tank.

So was there only one "red" in that period. If so can anyone kindly tell me what the colour was, a paint code if possible and a supplier.

Assistance much appreciated.

Mike

[Bess]

Hi Mike,
            I thought the Thunderbolt was introduced in Sept 1965.

Try here for Royal Red:

http://www.rsbikepaint.com/en-gb/colours.php#makeid=24&modelid=715&prodyear=1966

Best wishes...

[Mike Farmer]

 

What you say may well be true about dating, however my bits of paper call it Thunderbolt so I guess that's where I ma with it. Thanks for info on colour.

Mike

[bikerbob]

The actual name of the paint is Flambouant Red they also did a Flambouyant Blue. I do not know if RS paint Royal Red is a match for Flambouyant Red it may well be. As regards your model name Thunderbolt from your post it seems that you have contacted Steve Foden about your bike if you have a dating certificate it will give you the model name from the frame number and that is what it is.  This reminds me of the first BSA that I restored way back in 1995 I bought what I was told was a Gold Flash in bits and I restored it as a Gold Flash and registered it with the DVLA on age related plate as a Gold Flash I had a dating certificate from the VMCC stating that it was a 1957 engine and 1957 frame but no model name which was accepted by the DVLA. I then joined the BSA owners club and applied for a dating certificate giving photos and describing it as a Gold Flash, when it arrived I was surprised to find that the frame was from a Shooting Star. It was then explained to me by Steve Foden that you can call a bike whatever you like and if you can get it registered in that name well OK but as far as the BSA owners club is concerned the bike model is identified by the frame number and in my case it was a Shooting Star and always will be. I might add that I kept that bike for 16 years and the new owner was given all the details about the bike including both dating certificates, I did run into him some 4 years later and he was still pleased with the bike but he has now fitted it with his own version of an electric start which he demonstrated to me quite an impressive thing.

[Mike Farmer]

 

Thanks for that. Indeed that's the way I always understood it. As for the colours; we shall have to explore a bit. Its not my bike so not my decision.

Mike

[ChrisG]

Roy Bacon's book of the unit twins shows a picture of a 1964 Thunderbolt (US market only). It has the small 2 gallon tank. It's described in the text as A65T/R so maybe they called it the Thunderbolt for the US and Rocket for Home & General Export?
The picture is in black and white so no help with the paint colour I'm afraid. I did see an original A50 Star in George Yeomans place many years ago. That was Flambouyant Red and looked the part.
Another route is to write to Polly Palmer. He is still listed as the Tech Consultant for Paint colours and finishes and his advice is second to none.
Failing all that, ask the owner what colour he wants and be damned with total originality!

[Mike Farmer]

 
Thanks for all the replies.

The point about them being "Thunderbolt" for US market is probably why this one is listed as such. It was originally a US export.

About the colour----the jury is still out. As it really belongs to my son I think that he will choose a shade to suit his own wishes.

Mike

[JulianS]

The flamboyant colours were described as metallic red over gold or blue over gold in the US catalogue for 1963.

The US service bulletin below explains a bit.

[Bess]

Hi Mike,
             Looks like you have a Thunderbolt Rocket. Nice bike, I used some of the design features on the A65 I'm riding now.

Best wishes...

[Mike Farmer]

 
I sincerely doubt that its actually still anything like an original Thunderbolt as it left the factory. I would guess that numerous parts have been changed for whatever was available. Never fret----it sounds good.

Mike

[MTB40]

Hi everybody and I would be really grateful if someone more knowledgeable than myself could confirm whether light metallic blue was an original colour for this model in the mid 1960s? With thanks and regards, Matthew