Cars have been available in a range of colors since the first Model T rolled onto the market. It was only later, from 1914 to 1926, that the Model T was available in just one color—black. Henry Ford is often quoted as proclaiming that “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” Supposedly, black paint dried faster than any other paint of the time and thus led to cars roll.
Before it was cool.
Of course, the full range of colors is available today. In fact, a couple of urban legends have been spawned by the idea that a car’s color is indicative of the owner’s personality. While there is no evidence that insurance companies use automobiles’ colors to determine insurance quotes, it’s still a common assumption along with the idea that red cars are more likely to get ticketed by police officers.
You may be wondering, what is the most popular car color? For seven years, silver was the most popular car color. It was seen as both a high-tech color and one that was safe for resell—not as many people would be turned off by a silver car as would be turned off by, say, a green car.
Buyers in 2007, however, broke the mold by buying more white cars than cars in any other color. Why? Well, it’s been said that a high-tech color like silver isn’t popular anymore. I disagree. I don’t think silver is a high-tech color anymore. Looking at the popularity of iPods, iPhones and other Apple products, I’d say white is going to be the color of technology for some time.
In 2007, nineteen percent of cars manufactured were white. Twenty-two percent of luxury cars were white. Eighteen percent of all cars were silver and sixteen percent were black.
Of course, given years of popularity, silver cars will still outnumber autos of other colors for awhile.
Source: DuPont 2007 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
RED HELL YEAH BABY RED… DASS HOW WE DO IT DOWN HERE… YEEEEYAAAAAHHHH…
WHERE AWL MUH B’z AT?? HOLLA.. IF YOU BLOOD THROW IT UPPPP….!!! ~5~
actually the first model T’s (1909) did come in colors other than black. It was not till 1913 or 1914 that balck only was offered.
bright lime green is the color for me
ALl cars should be BMW and all BMW’s should be black…
Oxford study shows Buying SIlver means you have “naked ambition”, red means you “need attention” black means you like to “intimidate” people, brown means you don’t care what people think, etc.
Figures America would be land of “naked ambition”
SILVER IS WAY TOO BORING & PREDICTABLE….UGHHH……I DONT KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE , BUT I DRIVE A 2006 RED JAGUAR & I LOVE IT !!!…APPARENTLY SO DO OTHER PEOPLE–IM ALWAYS GETTING POSITIVE COMMENTS ON HOW GREAT THE CAR LOOKS & HOW THEY LOVE THE RED ….ITS A FUN COLOR –ESPECIALLY FOR A HIGH END CAR…TOOK ME A LOT OF SEARCHING TO FIND A RED JAGUAR —(THEY ONLY MADE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THEM)…..AS FOR PEOPLE WHO DRIVE SILVER CARS, WHITE CARS, BLACK CARS, TAN CARS,AND BLUE CARS —YOU ARE A VERY BORING PERSON ……ZZZZZZZZZZ
I have seen one red jaguar, late model, and it did not look good. Red is a horrible color for a jaguar. It just doesn’t fit the car – they made so few jag’s in red because only a total uneducated loser would buy a red jaguar. White,black and silver on high end cars look elegant. Red looks like white-trash.
The only time I would buy a black car is if I own a funeral home. I drive a SLK350 and looks nice in silver. Silver is the corporate color of most luxury German cars. If I drive a Ferrari, it should be definitely Ferrari Red. Wundava.
Well it all depends on the car you have because certian cars look good like my 2002 Bmw M3 SMG fully loaded with 20k worth of mods looks awesome in white but my hyundai tibroun looks good in red
I own a Mercedes and it is Black. When i use the synthetic polish that i got from a factory rep., it shines better than new. My Benz has won more championships or best in shows than you can count. It is a National Champion Custom Class Benz, and the Judges ask what i use to make it shine so well. Black is sexy, classy, and sporty, not to mention Luxurious. Henry Ford said it right, BLACK is the only color, or maybe Black with a metalic subsrate, like Mercedes Benz Obsidian Black. That is real nice too. So, GO BLACK.
lol..red does looks good on a ferrari!And red on other normal SUVs and others look like white trash!
i like purple tho..something different..or even a chocolate brown..a hazel orange..
something out of the ordinary.
WHITE apparent..is a total popular color in the middle East…its so arabic.
I own a Red car and I like the color. I also like Black for certain cars. I’m a Blonde so I look good in those colors! I’ve had a lot of cars in just about every color.
Black is the most modest colour and silver the most basic, like the base metal. Silver is only really cool when the car, or gadget, is new or cutting edge. Silver is far too garish after the first generation and sells poorly in the second hand market. America is just weird for liking white cars! Must be something to do with the Model T Fords all being black. It’s been nearly a century now, get over it America!
I have an electric blue Jaguar convertible with a white interior. Talk about cool, different and interesting!
I love the 60’s where you had cars of psychedelic colors, flowers, peace signs, tie-die looks… exhibited purely personal feel. NOBODY else would have a car like yours. Personal expression as at no other time in history. Now THAT was the real deal!
if i drive Mclaren d
if i drive Mclaren F1 dn probably like to bein a black .black is the most modest n self spoken colour about ur personality.
Jaguar Black.
Ferrari Red.
Mercedes & BMW Silver.
Skoda Silver.
Toyota Sedans Silver or White.
Hyundai Sedans White.
Corvette Black.
It’s not fair to say a color is the most popular when it’s really just the most popular of the hideous colors offered by car companies. I am sick to death of all cars being black, white, grey (I’m counting silver as grey) or some beige thing that’s a combination. Bring back some real colors!!
I’m Anna Katherine Carter and i totally disagree cuz you see red cars everywhere
i love yellow or hot pink. outta the basic ‘colours’ i prefer black. White looks dirty easy and silver cars use mettalic paint which costs more to fix if it gets a scratch/s.
You can not use white or black as a color because there not a color
my trucks white, so i was a bit surprised when i saw this