Trying to determine if the color used on the 60's/70's Ferraris coils has been consistent. Is there a specific 'Marelli Red' that has been identified for those years? Thanks for any input.
Does anyone have color pics of the coils that were taken in-period? Since coils can be a wear item, modern pictures are not surprisingly "all over the map" regarding colors, and it is really hard to know if they are right even in cars that have not been restored...
There is in my opinion and observation no single 'correct' Marelli coil color. It varied in period and over time. I highly doubt there was some secret master formula for future restoration reference. More like the Marelli production manager directing: "Luigi, we are running low on coil paint, go mix another batch of red." or "Gino, Go to the paint supplier and order some red paint." Here are several reference photos: The first is a pure, new-old-stock original coil, likely early 1960's vintage, just unwrapped from the original brown wax paper, original paint. The second is the same NOS coil next to an original unrestored 'tootsie roll' Marelli coil from 1958, with original paint. Note difference. The 'tootsie roll' coil is more red. The third coil is from 1966 - this is a restored coil, but the paint was first well matched to the factory original paint on the coil, which was a much deeper red. Don't expect that someone was taking color pictures in period of coils, no one cared in period about coil colors. Original unrestored coils with original paint are the best references you will find, and they do vary considerably. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you. I think most of us will agree with your assessment. We have been many hours down this road with the Koni color; a similar story for sure.
I certainly concur with the opinions of lancia... Any in-period pics would likely be purely accidental; maybe a factory photo, or something. And no pic could be trusted for exact color; I was mostly wondering about gross color like "black" or "some kind of red" or "yellow cad" (all of which I have seen in cars that are claimed to be unrestored, and/or highly original). I would imagine that all of these might well have existed in period, though red seems to be less common in later cars... Mind you, I'm just a guy who spends too much time searching the internet for pictures; i.e., the bottom-line is that "I know nothing"...
I would venture a guess above assessments/comments apply to just about everything related to OEM finishes on vintage Ferraris, but unfortunately people today just fail to use common sense and logic. Somehow (too) many today expect internet and/or forums in it to provide easy spoon fed answers. Just the fact that Daytona was in production for about four and a half years, should make most realize that a lot of changes could've and likely did happened in that time frame.
the early daytona manual specs bzr201a coils which are brick red. but i think usa daytonas received different coils. anybody know which coil was paired up with the 101 large dinoplex? i think all euro daytonas had the bzr201a coils.
