THE COLOR REFERENCE / ORIGINAL-BODY 911
Metallic Green appears among the 1973 911’s special-order colors. Following its paper trail leads to a wider palette, two different blues, and a factory folder that gives the same yellow two sets of numbers.
THE SEARCH / 1973
Metallic Green was one of the reasons the present owner bought this Swiss-market 911 S. Establishing where the color belonged in Porsche’s palette took longer than admiring it.
The useful distinction is in two German headings: Serienfarben, the standard colors, and Sonderfarben, the additional factory selection. Metallic Green sits in the latter. A buyer could step outside the standard palette and still choose a color with a name, a swatch and a place in Porsche’s literature.
The 1972 factory special-color folder gives it four names: Grünmetallic, Metallic Green, Vert métallisé and Verde metallizzato. Peter Morgan’s reference lists it among the special-order colors for 1973. The factory paint matrix also records it for that year. The sources agree on its special-order status, but use different numerical references.[1]
Porsche’s multilingual 1973 folder includes Oxford Blue among the standard colors. Morgan’s table for the same year places it in the special-order list. The preceding year’s factory special-color folder gives it another pair of ordering references.
Then Albert Blue appears in Porsche’s later paint-year matrix, marked for 1973 as well. Albert Blue and Oxford Blue have separate paint codes. Both appear in the directory, with the classification given by each source.
Signal Yellow introduces a smaller, more stubborn puzzle. On the 1973 folder’s swatch panel, its Coupé reference is 5252. In the same folder’s ordering table, it is 7272. Sepia Brown makes a similar switch, from 5454 to 7474.
The discrepancy appears within the factory folder itself; the reason remains unresolved.
THE NUMBERS / PAINT AND ORDERS
The 1972 repair-paint sheet pairs Metallic Green’s paint reference, 224, with 8383 for the Coupé and 8310 for the Targa. These numbers belong to different columns: the paint reference identifies the finish; the ordering references distinguish the body styles.
Porsche’s later matrix carries 224 into its 1973 column. Morgan’s 1973 table uses 230. Several other metallic colors also have different codes in the two sources. The comparison table keeps those entries side by side, with the year of each ordering chart attached.
Each entry identifies its source and chart year, so the different references can be compared directly.
CHASSIS 9113300826
On the car, the finish follows the long hood and the curve of the rear quarters. Daylight brings out a brighter green; workshop lighting gives the same panels a deeper, cooler appearance. The change is easier to see in the photographs than in a printed square.
Inside are black leatherette, finely ribbed Kordsamt seat inserts, electric windows and an original black headliner. The roof lining has prompted a search of its own. In the cabin film, Bob’s clue to its age is the pattern of the material—and how recently that pattern had become available again.
Compare the paint in different light →
Follow the black-headliner story →
FIND A COLOR
Search by name or code, or choose a color family. Source coverage and classification notes · Compact table
Swatches are illustrative screen colors; use a physical sample for paint matching.
29 colors shown.
Standard / 1973
Hellelfenbein
French: ivoire clair
Italian: avorio chiaro
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Bahiarot
French: rouge bahia
Italian: rosso bahia
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Seeblau
Standard in Porsche’s multilingual 1973 folder; special-order in Morgan’s 1973 table. The 1972 special-color folder uses 3535 Coupé / 3510 Targa.
French: bleu de mer
Italian: blu lago
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Blutorange
French: orange sanguine
Italian: arancio sangue
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Vipergrün
French: vert vipère
Italian: verde chiaro
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Aubergine
French: aubergine
Italian: melanzana
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Hellgelb
French: jaune clair
Italian: giallo chiaro
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Signalgelb
The 1973 folder’s swatch panel gives 5252 / 5210; its ordering table gives the 7272 / 7210 values shown here.
French: jaune signal
Italian: giallo signal
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideStandard / 1973
Sepiabraun
The 1973 folder’s swatch panel gives 5454 / 5410; its ordering table gives the 7474 / 7410 values shown here.
French: marron sépia
Italian: marrone sépia
1973 Standard Colours, ordering table, PDF page 4. Paint reference: Porsche paint-year matrix, section 3.3.2, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
gulforange
French: orange gulf
Italian: arancio gulf
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
fraise
French: fraise
Italian: rosso fragola
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
signalorange
French: orange signal
Italian: arancio signal
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
elfenbein
French: ivoire
Italian: avorio
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
irischgrün
French: vert irlande
Italian: verde irlande
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
buschgrün
French: vert arbuste
Italian: verde oliva
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
lindgrün
French: vert tilleul
Italian: verde tiglio
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
hellgrün
French: vert clair
Italian: verde mare
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
glasurblau
French: bleu émail
Italian: azzuro cristallo
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
gulfblau
French: bleu gulf
Italian: azzurro gulf
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
flieder
French: lilas
Italian: viola ametista
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
olive
French: olive
Italian: oliva
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
beigegrau
French: gris-beige
Italian: grigio-oxford
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
schwarz
French: noir
Italian: nero
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
goldmetallic
Morgan’s 1973 table uses 144 for this name; the factory matrix lists 133 / 140 in its 1973 column.
French: métallisé doré
Italian: oro metallizzato
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
grünmetallic
Morgan’s 1973 table uses 230 for this name; the factory matrix lists 224 in its 1973 column.
French: vert métallisé
Italian: verde metallizzato
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
blaumetallic
Morgan’s 1973 table uses 334 for this name; the factory matrix lists 324 in its 1973 column.
French: bleu métallisé
Italian: blu metallizzato
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
geminimetallic
Morgan’s 1973 table uses 335 for this name; the factory matrix lists 330 in its 1973 column.
French: métallisé gemini
Italian: metallizzato gemini
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideSpecial order / 1973
silbermetallic
Morgan’s 1973 table uses 936 for this name; the factory matrix lists 925 / 936 in its 1973 column.
French: gris métallisé
Italian: grigio metallizzato
Special-order classification: Morgan, 1973 table, printed page 60. Names and body-style order references: Porsche 1972 Special Colours, PDF page 8. Factory paint code: Porsche matrix, 1973 column.
Source guideFactory matrix / 1973
Albertblau
The matrix records Albert Blue for 1973. The 1973 multilingual standard folder names Oxford Blue instead. Albert Blue is retained here as a separate factory-record entry.
| Color | Selection | Factory paint code | Morgan 1973 code | Coupé order | Targa order | Order chart year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Ivory | Standard | 131 | 131 | 1111 | 1110 | 1973 |
| Bahia Red | Standard | 022 | 022 | 1313 | 1310 | 1973 |
| Oxford Blue | Standard | 329 | 329 | 4848 | 4810 | 1973 |
| Tangerine | Standard | 018 | 018 | 2323 | 2310 | 1973 |
| Emerald Green | Standard | 225 | 225 | 3838 | 3810 | 1973 |
| Aubergine | Standard | 025 | 025 | 4040 | 4010 | 1973 |
| Light Yellow | Standard | 117 | 117 | 6262 | 6210 | 1973 |
| Signal Yellow | Standard | 114 | 114 | 7272 | 7210 | 1973 |
| Sepia Brown | Standard | 415 | 415 | 7474 | 7410 | 1973 |
| Gulf Orange | Special order | 019 | 019 | 6161 | 6110 | 1972 |
| Rose Red | Special order | 024 | 024 | 3333 | 3310 | 1972 |
| Signal Orange | Special order | 116 | 116 | 1440 | 1410 | 1972 |
| Ivory | Special order | 132 | 132 | 4646 | 4610 | 1972 |
| Irish Green | Special order | 213 | 213 | 1515 | 1510 | 1972 |
| Leaf Green | Special order | 218 | 218 | 7777 | 7710 | 1972 |
| Lime Green | Special order | 226 | 226 | 6767 | 6710 | 1972 |
| Jade Green | Special order | 227 | 227 | 6868 | 6810 | 1972 |
| Glacier Blue | Special order | 326 | 326 | 6666 | 6610 | 1972 |
| Gulf Blue | Special order | 328 | 328 | 3636 | 3610 | 1972 |
| Royal Purple | Special order | 341 | 341 | 6969 | 6910 | 1972 |
| Olive | Special order | 414 | 414 | 3939 | 3910 | 1972 |
| Beige Gray | Special order | 622 | 622 | 7575 | 7510 | 1972 |
| Black | Special order | 700 | 700 | 1010 | 1010 | 1972 |
| Gold Metallic | Special order | 133 / 140 | 144 | 8888 | 8810 | 1972 |
| Metallic Green | Special order | 224 | 230 | 8383 | 8310 | 1972 |
| Metallic Blue | Special order | 324 | 334 | 8484 | 8410 | 1972 |
| Gemini Metallic | Special order | 330 | 335 | 8686 | 8610 | 1972 |
| Silver Metallic | Special order | 925 / 936 | 936 | 8080 | 8010 | 1972 |
| Albert Blue | Factory matrix | 325 | — | — | — | — |
DOCUMENTS AND NOTES
This first edition covers the 1973 original-body 911 records: nine standard colors in the multilingual factory folder, nineteen further names from Morgan’s special-order list, and Albert Blue from the factory matrix. Oxford Blue appears in both classifications, so the special-order filter includes it. The resulting 29 names account for all 31 codes marked for 1973 in the matrix; Gold and Silver each have two codes. These are reference-list counts, not production totals.
The four-digit special-color ordering references shown here come from the 1972 factory folder. Their year is displayed on every entry. The standard-color order references come from the 1973 folder. Regional brochures and RS-specific selections require their own comparison.
Morgan’s 1973 table gives Gold 144, Green 230, Blue 334, Gemini 335 and Silver 936. Porsche’s matrix marks Gold 133 and 140, Green 224, Blue 324, Gemini 330, and Silver 925 and 936 for 1973. The records establish these differing references; determining a particular car’s paint formula requires the car’s paint identification and the relevant paint-system records.
For Signal Yellow, the 1973 swatch panel gives 5252 / 5210, while the ordering table gives 7272 / 7210. Sepia Brown is 5454 / 5410 on the swatch panel and 7474 / 7410 in the ordering table. The directory displays the ordering-table values and retains the alternatives in each entry. The reason for these discrepancies remains unresolved.
Metallic Green’s special-order classification is documented. The sources gathered here provide no color-by-color production total. This car’s original order records may explain its individual specification; the palette alone cannot establish how many similar cars were built.
The multilingual factory folder supplies nine standard-color names and their Coupé/Targa ordering references. The ordering table is on PDF page 4; page 2’s swatches differ for Signal Yellow and Sepia Brown. This edition includes Oxford Blue. Regional brochures can show a different selection.
Open the original sourcePrinted in 2002, section 3.3.2 marks 31 paint-code entries for 1973, covering 29 names. Gold and Silver each appear under two codes. It supplies the directory’s factory paint-code column and includes Albert Blue. The matrix records years of use; it does not label standard versus special-order colors.
Open the original sourceThe 1973 color-schemes table on printed page 60 lists eight standard and twenty special-order colors, referencing charts 1000.14 and 1001.14. It supplies the special-order classification here. It places Oxford Blue in the special list and gives different codes for several metallics. Those entries are preserved alongside the factory matrix values.
Open the original sourceThe adjacent-year factory folder supplies the special-color names in four languages and body-style order numbers. These are labeled 1972 throughout the directory. The repair-paint sheet on PDF page 17 connects Metallic Green 224 with 8383 / 8310. This document explains those references in their own year.
Open the original sourceThe 1972 color reference presents the preceding year’s nine standard and twenty special-color choices, with their original ordering references.