When I told people that one of the things we'd be doing in the US this summer was moving the car I'd kept in storage for ten years, they'd assume that it was some valuable vintage model (Nope. 1994 Saturn.) or that it had inestimable sentimental value (Meh. Not really.) What they never guess is that I keep it because it is bright aquamarine blue.
It makes me smile just to look at it.
One of the trends I've noted with alarm over ten years of US visits has been the gradual contraction of the automotive palette down to one color: silver.
DuPont's annual car color preference report has documented the lamentable rise of silver (AKA Metallic Gray, Truffle Mica(!), Ocean Mist, Light Platinum, Cognac Frost, Titanium Chromaflair, Alabaster Metallic, Polished Metal) from nowhere to #1, a position it has held in a steely deathgrip every year since 2000. Until last year, when it was replaced by (wait for it) white. Or in Europe, black.
Color preferences were relatively conservative long before 2000. (Why is it that most people say their favorite color is blue, but blue has never been anywhere near the favorite color for cars?) But the silver streak was unprecedented in the 54 years that DuPont has tracked colors. (Guess what color it beat out for the top spot in 2000. Green. Do you even see green cars anymore?)
I don't know why the silver boom. Maybe people became more concerned about safety. We don't want metaphorical animals anymore, but literal cages. Maybe it's more supply-driven. Some people complain that variations of silver are the only option available without placing a more expensive special order.
But whatever the cause, I wish it would stop. Maybe it's because I always loved Hot Wheels (And is it just me or is that the best 50 Cent video ever?), but I think color is one of the best parts of the car. A few years ago, I saw an immaculate bright metallic pink convertible town car at a gas station in Oakland. I still regret not taking a picture.
An interestingly colored or decorated car (if you have a car in the first place) is almost a public service. Not surprising that Dutch people would appreciate that. This group encourages people to pimp their bikes so that "everyone that you come across can enjoy your cheerful radiance. People look at you and smile. That feels good!" It's snarky because it's true.
And it doesn't have to be that bright. Oh no. Look at these car color combinations from the Twenties and Thirties. Aren't they great? I would love to see some of those on the road. But today, only the Beetle and the Mini are showing the flag at all for color. Even Saturn has abandoned us.
But there are still some people resisting silver. (Some are more bitter than others.) I hope we all live to see the production innovation that makes it possible to pick custom car colors as easily as wall paint.
Comments