While we could opine as to why exactly Porsche’s Macan seems to be the least ran when it comes to their Paint to Sample program despite being one of their ‘volume’ models, we’d prefer to take the middle ground and simply call it a shame. We’re fans of the Porsche Macan for a number of reasons, and one of our founders uses his for daily duty with great pleasure. So when a Macan pops on our radar having been graced by the Paint to Sample treatment, we’re happy to feature it here on Tailored Driver.
This particular Paint to Sample Speed Yellow Porsche Macan (VIN: WP1AA2A54RLB04475) provides a striking contrast from the grey, white, or black examples we usually see. One has to wonder if it was ordered as a companion piece to a different Speed Yellow Porsche in the original Tailor’s fleet- perhaps an older 911, or maybe even a 968 Clubsport.
Having covered just 7,744 miles and being a 2024 model year, it’s clear however that this was more of a Macan for the moment as opposed to a tenured companion. With the all-new EV Macan making it’s way through US dealers, we sure hope the replacement for this Tailored Driver shares an equally bold hue. Find more information about this Paint to Sample Speed Yellow Porsche Macan on Porsche Santa Clarita’s website, here.
Offered as a model year 2019 only option here in the US, Volkswagen Spektrum Golf R’s are incredibly hard to come by. Just 199 were produced, each of them bolstered by Volkswagen’s massive enthusiast crowd and tracked religiously by accounts like spektrum.only on Instagram, these cars are a one-way ticket to VW scene royalty.
This particular Spektrum Viper Green Metallic Volkswagen Golf R (VIN: WVWWA7AUXKW141398) sports a 6-speed manual transmission, and apart from PPF on the front half, silver mirror caps, and some wheel spacers, is advertised as being completely unmodified. Of note, Viper Green Metallic was actually the most common with 33 produced according to an interview with the model’s product planner.
This Spektrum Viper Green Metallic Volkswagen Golf R’s privilege of being ‘least rare’ doesn’t do a ton to soften the asking price though- at an asking of $43,990 with 41,271 miles on the clock, it’s still a pricey proposition. But for those who get it, this Tailored Driver could just be the perfect near-term commuter with little downside.
Foresight is a gift relegated to the precocious few, but the original Tailor of this Paint to Sample Grigio Telesto 911 GT3 Touring (VIN: WP0AC2A92KS149134) certainly had it in spades. You see, Porsche’s 991-generation GT3 Touring (and the 991R that preceded it) were always going to be future classics, and ticking the Paint to Sample box proved a way to maximize that ‘investment’ and its return. But choosing a Lamborghini color, especially one that created a high that’s still being chased by OEMs across the board to this day was an incredibly prudent choice.
Found at the Tailored Driver powerhouse Merit Partners, located outside of Atlanta, Georgia, we’re struck by just how timeless this build is. We’ll concede that Grigio Telesto is a more recent hit having been introduced on the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, but non-metallic slate grey has repeatedly proven itself to be a timeless classic. The interior is much the same story, with silver stitching, seat belts and hounds tooth inserts found in Porsche’s full bucket seats.
So if you’ve got $325,794 burning a hole in your pocket and some Delta miles that are otherwise unaccounted for, we think you should take the flight to Atlanta and give this Tailored Driver a loving home. Because much like the dive watch or a pair of Converse All-Stars, it’ll never go out of style.
See additional details about this Tailored Driver, here.
When the S3 finally made its way stateside in 2015, it served as a shot of adrenaline to many in the brand’s enthusiast scene. The S3 shared its size and underpinnings with the contemporary Golf R, making it the perfect alternative for those looking to get into something a bit more premium without being too large. It also didn’t hurt that the demographic for this car was eager to make a statement, making the S3 (and RS 3) a perfect candidate for Audi’s exclusive program.
The Audi exclusive Riviera Blue S3 seen here (VIN: WAUB1GFF0J1078846) is one such example, and what a statement it makes. This particular one also features an aftermarket exhaust, intake, and from what we could find by using Google to search the VIN, an APR software tune. In total, this S3 is a potent package, making it compelling to say the least.
Those who agree can find this Tailored Driver currently on offer at Haus of Imports in Lemont, Illinois for an asking price of $27,500. Find more information about this Audi exclusive Riviera Blue S3, here.
Continuing in our series of cataloguing factory colors is this vintage Jaguar Color Guide dated April 1969. While these would have been standard colors, it’s fascinating to look back on both what was offered and perhaps have vintage colors such as these resurrected for modern specifications.
The book reads:
“The color finishes illustrated and combinations described are those which will be available from April 1969. Jaguar Cars Limited reserve the right to alter or withdraw any color finish without notice. The patters are intended to serve primarily as a guide and whilst they approximate closely to the actual colors used, they should not be utilized for the purpose of paint matching or for any other purpose where complete accuracy is essential.“
Paint colors Include: Cream, Warwick Grey, Ascot Fawn (maybe the most Jaguar color name ever), Willow Green, Dark Blue, Black, Sable, Light Blue, Regency Red, British Racing Green, Pale Primrose and Signal Red.
Here we go again with the broken record- Car dealerships can be absolutely awful at marketing their cars. It’s in part why we started Tailored Driver, hoping to shed light on vehicles that are uniquely built with secret menu paint colors, interior finishes and other custom touches when the dealers themselves are frankly unable to. This Tailored Driver is one such vehicle, which features Audi exclusive touches both inside and out.
Found at Audi Norwell in Massachusetts, this relatively tame looking S6 (VIN: WAUHFBFC9JN084206) is much more special than you’d expect. Finished in Audi exclusive Northern Lights Blue Metallic (Z7R) and featuring Audi exclusive Night Blue deviated stitching, not to mention the extended leather covering the center console, knee panels and seat bases, we’d guess at time of ordering upwards of ~$15k in Audi exclusive touches were applied. If that’s the case, the dealer simply calling this car “grey” is at best an oversight, and at worst pure laziness.
Priced at $43,900, we think this is all the money for any S6 of this generation, especially one with a knock on the CarFax, and lacking the ultra cool optional Akrapovic Titanium exhaust. Regardless, we’re just happy to be able to feature it here on Tailored Driver.
Hat tip to Chris of Parts by Topher on Facebook for help with verification. See all the details of this Audi exclusive Northern Lights Blue Metallic S6, here, and additional photos on AutoTrader.
While we sadly are not able to verify, this Tailored Driver screams “Auto Show special.” It’s a relatively simple concept- a manufacturer needs to maximize eyeballs in a competitive environment, so they swing for the fences. This is generally even more apparent in large markets events that are manufacturer supported, with shows like Miami and LA being the best examples. If that is indeed the case with this BMW Individual Austin Yellow (austingelb; metallic; B67; BMW) 435i, we say it’s a job well done.
Painted in the aforementioned BMW Individual Austin Yellow paint, more commonly seen on the F80 generation M3, this 435i (VIN: WBA4B1C55GG241995) is a fairly divisive proposition. Apart from the color, BMW simply calling this a 4-series rather than a 3-series was something that rattled the enthusiast community. Thankfully, BMW quickly put that fire out by unveiling the new 4 series with it’s controversial grille.
Getting back on topic, we’re big fans of Austin Yellow and the similar Phoenix Yellow that precedes it, and while Ivory White leather isn’t at the top of our list, we think the build works incredibly well. This Tailored Driver has covered approximately 34,000 miles since new, and is currently on offer at Hollywood, Florida’s Godspeed Motors for an asking price of $25,995. See all the details about this BMW Individual Austin Yellow 435i, here.
Like a deer in lights – that was probably the best way to describe my state of mind in 2009 when I’d been prepared to order an Audi exclusive S5 Coupé. Audi’s V8 coupe marked the four rings’ return to a two-door gran turismo, one Volkswagen Group design boss Walter De Silva to this day claims was his favorite design of all time.
Back then, I was editor of the Audi-focused blog Fourtitude.com (merged into its sister website VWvortex long ago by its current publishers), and my focus was the Audi brand specifically. Our publication was granted an Audi each year on long-term loan in order to generate year-round content and see duty at car shows. After seeing the always unique lineups at auto shows in Geneva, Paris and Frankfurt, I’d pitched Audi to consider granting me access to Audi exclusive tailoring for the car. They agreed and sent me an order guide. Now, it was time to pick that color and frankly I was at a loss. There were just so many choices.
As I weighed my options, I’d decided to stick to known Audi colors, and had two opposing concepts forming in my head. One option looked backward to something classic, and the other looked forward towards modernism and Audi’s future.
Option #1 leaned the GT nature of the then-new S5 had me thinking of the recently retired Goodwood Green. That slightly darker take on classic British Racing Green had shown up on cars like the TT 3.2 VR6, B5 RS 4 in Europe and B6 S4 here in the USA. I envisioned it with tan leather (or brown if they’d let me dip into custom leather colors) and wood or aluminum trim. Creating a rendering in photoshop, I remember it looking like a baby Bentley Continental GT, a car that had also recently come to the fore thanks to the Volkswagen Group.
Option #2 went a totally different direction. The also-recently-introduced mid-engined R8 Coupé had a very distinct light blue metallic paint that mimicked the Le Mans concept on which the R8 was based. Jet Blue (1Y1Y) looked even better in the renderings. I went further in my pursuit of a tailored spec by choosing the stock Pearl Silver Silk Nappa Leather that was also a launch options for the S5. Combined with carbon fiber, the cockpit was fresh and modern with a high-tech feel that suited the Audi well.
Looking back at it, the pricing for Audi exclusive paint in those years was incredibly reasonable. On the car’s build sheet, the Jet Blue Metallic paint is listed at $1,300 and another $1,200 Audi exclusive order fee. That’s only $2,500 for special paint in that model year.
In my year of time with that car (VIN WAURV78TX9A003802), on loan as it was from Audi of America, it served as daily driver and constant show car. Its understated nature gave it more of an “if you know you know” status than any in-your-face color would have.
A friend who worked with executives at Volkswagen Group gave it the best back-handed compliment. “It looks like something a board member would order,” she said. While I’m not sure it would have been her choice, ordering something avant-garde like a senior executive with a large company car budget and access to whatever they wanted seemed like a solid compliment to me.
A few years later the car popped up at Audi North Scottsdale on trade and I was tempted to try to pick it up given how unique it remained, though a friend at the dealer informed me it was having some issues with an aftermarket theft tracking system that had been installed so I ultimately never bothered.
Searching the VIN today shows it made its way to California where in 2019 it appears to have turned up at a Copart auction with the front clip missing, likely due to a light front end collision. Shots of the interior show the exceptionally light-colored Pearl Silver leather looking a bit dirty and worn, while the wheels are refinished in black. IT asold at that auction for just $1,350. It shows up looking repaired and looking a lot better at a used car lot in Sacramento with a salvage title. Where it is today remains unknown.
With this new Color Chart series, we’re aiming to catalogue even more paint colors from various periods. First up is this 1994 and 1995 model year mix from Audi labeled as Lifestyle colors and they’re an interesting mix of often intense colors.
In 1994 and 1995, Audi was on the ropes. Porsche was about to launch the RS2, which was very special indeed, but Audi as a brand was challenged to come up with a freshened range of cars that could rekindle the market attention that had waned since the retirement of the original “ur” quattro.
Audi exclusive was in its infancy, and special colors like these had been chosen by the brand’s design team as something special to juice sales and interest in the cars. A contact from that time who worked at the Simi Valley Design Studio even suggests studio chief J. Mays had ordered his own company car in Inca Yellow as seen in this chart.
Though the fantasy of the tailored automobile is likely that of an exotic sportscar or super luxurious grand touring sedan, the reality is that most of us live life in a more practical daily driver. Car manufacturers like BMW recognize this, creating do-it-all products like the X3. If you need performance, you might choose the X3 M Competition, and if you’re also discerning you might choose a tailored BMW Individual specification like this Pyrite Brown Metallic (pyritbraunii; metallic; P86; BMW) example.
If you’re impatient, don’t want to wait for a custom build or wish to enjoy the benefits of some depreciation, you could go one further and try to locate a specification like this on the used market – even better the certified pre-owned market. That’s exactly how this 2,260mi specimen (VIN: 5YM13EC02R9W97255) sits at BMW of Murray, Utah.
You can find more on this listing over at BMW of Murray’s website HERE. Looking at that listing, including Competition Package, Executive Package, and Driving Assistance Professional Package, all listed with specific content broken out, we’d just like hat tip BMW and their dealerships for making evaluation of their cars that much easier. There’s no word salad of options mixed in with mundane equipment like “leather seats”. Ads like this make it easier for savvy shoppers who know what they’re looking for to quickly identify the specification details of the car. Although, the listing still says “Special Order Color”
So how’d we know it was Pyrite Brown? We’ll share a secret with you. The car was posted by a moderator on the BMW Individual market and discussion group over on Facebook (HERE). We’re still waiting for car dealers to start listing paint names in their ad listings. Until then, groups and forums such as this one help enthusiasts locate tailored cars and we can’t thank them enough.
