SUMMARY: Might Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi) be the ultimate color for four rings cars wearing an RS badge? Well, we know it is pretty much the original. The color first launched as RS Blue when it first appeared on the Porsche-built and developed RS2 Avant. It would later reappear in the B5 S4, first-generation S3 and remain a favorite for S and RS applications and special editions through to today. The “RS Tribute Edition” take not the RS 6 Avant, itself a tribute to the RS2, remains one of the most sought-after of the C8 RS 6 models sold in the U.S.A.
Nogaro Blue is a pearl effect blue that seems to hat tip the pre-war national French Blue made iconic in that era when raced on the likes of the Type 33 grand prix cars. Rumor has it that Audi designers in the Simi Valley design studio sprayed out a marine blue in a request back to the factory for company car specification, which inspired the development of RS Blue.
Don’t confuse that with Porsche’s Maritime Blue, a 90s Carrera Cup color of the same era popular on the 911 Carrera RS (type 964) and 968. The timing, Porsche DNA and and their similar appearance would suggest they might be the same code by another name, but park them next to each other and you’ll see a difference.
There’s no doubt white on white, i.e. white body with white wheels, was definitely popular at Porsche in the 1980s. Cars like the 968 Clubsport were even coming white-on-white into the 90s. Then, the practice went largely underground for years until more recently. In the 2000s, the look was largely gone, so when we stumbled across this Porsche 911 GT3 (type 997), we were drawn to go pull our pre-iPhone DSLR camera out of the car and snap a few shots.
The location was the old Porsche Zentrum Stuttgart. At the time, it was located right next to the Porsche factory grounds, and later demolished to make way for the building of the current Porsche Museum and factory expansion. In 2009 though, it was a cool welcome area just across the street with cars like this (and note that Carrera GT one floor up) to draw you in for a look.
Near as we can tell, this car is Carrara White (carraraweiß; metallic UNI; LS9R, 2Y; Porsche), with the option of color-matched wheels. No, we didn’t misspell it. Carrara White oddly gets the “a” while Carrera in the Porsche 911 lineup is spelled with an “e”. Vowels aside, Carrara White is not an especially special color and has been pretty standard fare in the 911 lineup for decades, years that included the 997 era. What caught our eye though was the white on white configuration was looking fresh. No doubt it was as simple as ticking the color-matched wheel option but we still appreciate the specification. In addition to the 80s nod, white has always been a reference to to motorsport. More than just body-in-white references, white was the original national German racing color prior to the arrival of the Silver Arrows from Mercedes and Auto Union.
We don’t know whatever came of the car. It was in the Pre-Owned inventory at the Porsche Zentrum and we were just passing through doing car tourist things on a circuitous route to that year’s Frankfurt IAA Motor Show. The photos stuck though because it’s just such an iconic and timeless look.
Chelsea Truck Company and KAHN® are thrilled to present the Series II Expedition, a strikingly aggressive and adventure-ready evolution of the INEOS Grenadier inspired by their Classic Widebody Defender.
When INEOS debuted the Grenadier in 2023, it quickly built a strong following by filling the gap left by the New Defender, capturing the hearts of both rugged off-road enthusiasts and style-conscious drivers seeking functionality wrapped in sophistication. While the Grenadier has proved itself in performance, we at CTC saw room for more—something bold, dramatic, and distinctive.
Seizing this opportunity, we tapped into our intensive experience and history of customising classic Defenders, blending these timeless design cues with the Grenadier’s modern yet enduring lines. Chelsea Truck Company worked in collaboration with KAHN® to develop the prototype, ensuring it meets the highest standards of joint creativity and craftsmanship.
The result? The Series II Expedition—a bespoke transformation that reimagines the Grenadier with dramatic flair, creating an exclusive experience unlike any other. This launch marks the first of our fully in-house, custom conversion programmes for the INEOS Grenadier, pushing boundaries of design and luxury.
The goal was simple yet ambitious: elevate the Grenadier to a level of refinement and sophistication unmatched by any factory offering. Adopting an OEM+ philosophy, we have enhanced the vehicle’s design, comfort, and usability without sacrificing its legendary off-road capabilities. The Series II Expedition is designed to make a commanding statement wherever it goes, with a broader, more imposing stance and a distinctive, luxurious presence.
The Series II Expedition redefines the Grenadier’s utilitarian image with refined styling, superior design elements, and unparalleled comfort. This vehicle has exclusive exterior enhancements, RS-Forged deep concave wheels, a suspension lift, 37-inch tyres, and a bespoke Italian Nappa leather interior, and is built to conquer any environment with style and power. More than just a Grenadier, this transformation creates a dominant force, ready for any adventure while commanding attention at every turn.
The Series II Expedition Prototype is available now at £93,999.99 and offers an unrivalled set of exclusive features.
Exterior Specification:
Exposed Carbon Fibre Dakar Central Lamp Grille with integrated ‘X’ Masks
3-Piece Front Outer Grille
3-Piece Front Bumper Valance in Carbon Fibre
40mm Wide Wheel Arches in Exposed Carbon
Wide Wings with integrated Bolt Apertures in Exposed Carbon Fibre
Bonnet Mask with integrated LED Light in Exposed Carbon Fibre with CTC Branding
Large Upper Roof Wing
3-Piece Rear Bumper Valance in Carbon Fibre
Chelsea Truck Co. Hard Spare Wheel Cover in 3D Military Textured Matte Black Paint
Taillight ‘X’ Masks
100mm Crosshair Exhaust System In Satin Black
Electric Side Steps with LED Lights and CTC Branding
30mm Suspension Lift
FRONT 9×20″ G22 RS-Forged Light Alloy Wheels in 3D Military Textured Matte Black
REAR 9×20″ G22 Deep Concave RS-Forged Light Alloy Wheels in 3D Military Textured Matte Black
37” All Terrain Tyres
Colour-Coded Roof Rails
3D Military Textured Matte Black Colour Coded Paint
3D Military Textured Matte Black Contrast Roof
Exposed Carbon Fibre Details
Interior Specification:
Front Sport Seats Upholstered in Vermillion Red Nappa Leather
Rear Seats Reupholstered in Vermillion Red Nappa Leather with CTC Branding
Front and Rear Door Panels Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
Front and Rear Door Tops Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
Centre Armrest Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
Passenger Grab Handle Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
Handbrake and Gaitor Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
Drive Select Gaitor Reupholstered in Nappa Leather
The Series II Expedition combines bold design with exceptional performance and craftsmanship, offering a truly unique driving experience.
Elevated in both luxury and functionality, this vehicle is built for those who demand the ultimate in adventure and refinement.
Okay, this one may be wishful thinking. Ferrari Verde Abetone (verdeabetone; non-metallic UNI; 690; Ferrari) over Cuoio leather is one of the coolest Ferrari colors and coolest greens going, a status entirely cemented when Eugenio Amos (@automobiliamos) repainted his F40 in the color. Searching to find any Ferrari in Verde Abetone in order to get the color on our blog, we ran across this 2012 Ferrari 458 (VIN: ZFF68NHA3C0187902) listed on ClassicCars.com. When we search Lamborghini Houston’s pre-owned inventory currently on their own site, we’re not finding it.
So, the ad may be dated (listed as “brand new” on their site). A shame. We’re still running the story though, just in case it’s still available and to get the incredible Verde Abetone (translating to Deep Green) searchable in our site.
Most of the time, Audi exclusive orders are “sold orders”, meaning they’ve got an eager buyer waiting on them who carefully chose their specification. Sometimes that buyer is unable to take delivery, and sometimes these tailored cars get ordered for inventory. We can’t say we know the back story on this RS 6 Avant performance (VIN: WUA1DBF21RN905489) in stock at Audi Englewood in Englewood, NJ.
How do we know? Audi Englewood’s Andrew DeTerlizzi posted the car in the Audi Exclusive Classifieds / Listing Spotters (USA) user group on Facebook. We could see the car along with actual photos of the car on Audi Englewood’s website (HERE), but until Andrew posted it we weren’t sure of the exact color of purple. Now, thanks to him, we can confirm it’s Merlin Purple (merlin purple; pearl effect; 4B / LZ3W / Z3W; Audi). Thanks to Andrew for posting it in the group (a regular haunt of ours), and his confirming the final color.
Here’s what we know about the car. It’s an RS 6 performance (basically all MY2024 RS 6s short of the GT are), and features Black Optic Package, Executive Package, and Audi Guard Protection Kit. It’s listed with an MSRP of $151,355. We have not contacted the dealer to verify if any dealer markup is involved.
SUMMARY: It may say “Vintage” in the name, but MANUFAKTUR Vintage UNI (vintagblau; UNI; LU-934; Mercedes-Benz) is technically modern. Yes, it seems to hark visions of powder blue W115 or W123 E-Classes of the 60s and 70s… or maybe Gulf Blue racing liveries, but it’s decidedly different and decidedly modern. Mercedes-Benz rolled out this blue uni color as one of the colors in the palette of its modern era MANUFAKTUR tailoring service, offering a very unique look that’s both timeless and throwback.
In a world of neutral cars painted every shade of grey and silver, how are there not more green interiors? In our opinion, a bold-colored interior such as red, blue and especially green take a neutral tone car from forgettable to must-have. It’s on that theme that we’re directing your attention to RM Sotheby’s upcoming Münich auction and this Graphite Grey (graphit grau; non-metallic UNI; DB 190; Mercedes-Benz) over green 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (VIN 198.042.7500672).
1957 was the first year of production for the 300 SL Roadster, with 554 produced that year. The car is finished in its factory shade of Graphite Grey, paired with reupholstered dark green leather. This roadster is a North american specification car acquired by the Germany-based consignor in 1986.
More information is provided by RM Sotheby’s, including confirmation that the green interior isn’t original. It reads:
“A copy of the original delivery card details that chassis 198.042.7500672 was finished by the factory in Graphite Grey, while the interior was trimmed in optional Cream leather. Arriving in the USA on 25 November 1958, a Becker Mexico radio and whitewall tyres were also selected.
According to Eric Le Moine’s 300 SL registry, chassis 198.042.7500672 was owned on the West Coast by Mr Tom McBurney of Santa Barbara in California. Fittingly for a Roadster, it remained on the state’s coastline, being acquired in 1974 by financier Mr Alfred T Moret in Carlsbad. This example was then bought by The Aumann Collection, who imported the car to Germany in 1986 to add to an illustrious collection.
Subsequently reupholstered with the current dark green leather, the car is fitted with its matching-numbers body, chassis, and 3-litre straight-six engine. Please note that it appears as though the front chassis crossmember has been replaced at some point in the car’s life, but all other numbers match.
Further complemented by a history file, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster could be returned to its factory colour combination by its next owner. Alternatively, the car is ready to be enjoyed in its current form by virtue of offering the ultimate droptop driving experience.
Exclusive Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative celebrates the iconic sportscar and marks 50 years since the end of E‑type production in 1974
Just two of these Works Bespoke commissions have been created, inspired by the original Commemorative Editions
Each of the two cars are individual, collectible automotive gems, featuring hand‑crafted finishes and exquisite detailing
Jaguar Classic has collaborated with luxury jewellery designers Deakin & Francis to adorn the interior with mother of pearl, silver and 18ct gold – merging decades of British design heritage and exuberance into automotive masterpieces
For updates from Jaguar Classic, follow @jaguar.classic on Instagram
Coventry, UK – Fifty years since the last Jaguar E‑type rolled off the production line, two rarefied Series I Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative models have been exclusively created for a loyal, discerning client in Southeast Asia to celebrate the iconic sports car.
Each example carries references to key moments from E‑type history, from the blueprint of its inception to the last Series III models. Celebrating the style and sophistication of the original with new, precious details, the two beautiful vehicles are the finest examples of Works Bespoke creations by Jaguar Classic.
The pair of Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative creations bring the E‑type story full circle, inspired by the final 50 Commemorative Editions from 1974 – and they will be the only two examples ever to leave the Jaguar Classic workshop.
The Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative vehicles are the ultimate expression of E‑type, with a unique hand built specification making each one a truly individual collectors’ item. Every detail – inside and out – receives the careful attention of the dedicated Jaguar Classic experts, with upgrades meticulously orchestrated over more than 2,000 hours.
“With E‑type Commemorative, our Classic team set out to improve on an already near‑perfect design. As the original creators of E‑type, we are uniquely positioned to subtly integrate both aesthetic and engineering enhancements borne out of decades of knowledge, skill and passion. The unique specification and our collaboration with renowned jewellers Deakin & Francis has resulted in a machine as close to driveable precious metal as it is possible to conceive.” – LENNARD HOORNIK, CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Timelessly crafted with unparalleled finishes
The two Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative vehicles are both drophead coupes, in one‑of‑one specifications. One is finished in Signet Green, while the other is Opal Black – both updates of original colour schemes from 1974.
The elegant exterior is matched by a timeless interior, featuring Bridge of Weir tan leather seats hand‑woven and stitched in the Jaguar Classic trim shop – with matching black and tan leather trim. This uniquely tactile woven finish has never been made available at Jaguar Classic before and blends traditional skills and design inspiration with a contemporary aesthetic.
Bespoke elements adorn the interior, with an anodised aluminium centre console bearing a unique engraving of a genuine early Series I E‑type blueprint sourced from within the archives. The blueprint was previously displayed alongside E‑type at the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), with the anodised aluminium centre console becoming a hallmark of each E‑type produced at Jaguar Classic.
Custom jewellery
Setting the Jaguar Classic E‑type Commemorative vehicles apart is jewellery adorning the interior and exterior of each model by Deakin & Francis. England’s oldest manufacturing jeweller has been crafting masterpieces over seven generations, since its inception in 1786.
A collaboration of passionate craftspeople bridging local industries, each E‑type Commemorative is adorned with mother of pearl, hallmarked solid silver and 18ct gold details.
In the same spirit as Jaguar Classic, the renowned silversmiths live and breathe their time‑honoured craft, working locally to exacting standards in nearby Birmingham’s legendary Jewellery Quarter.
At the front, the motif bar badge is finished in silver with guilloche mother of pearl and an 18ct gold Growler icon, while at the rear, badges are enamelled sterling silver.
Inside, the steering wheel horn push is finished in silver with an 18ct Growler badge and mother of pearl inlay, while a sterling silver gear knob with mother of pearl and 18ct gold Growler detail provides decadent tactility.
“Deakin & Francis is proud to be a part of this inspiring collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover Classic, bringing together two of Britain’s most iconic heritage brands. Such a partnership reinforces each brand’s complete commitment to superior quality and celebrates a shared passion for pushing boundaries in design and craftsmanship, while offering our discerning customers a truly one‑of‑a‑kind experience.
“Techniques honed by Deakin & Francis, which have never been seen before in the automotive world, have been seamlessly integrated into these incredibly rare vehicles. Together we have created two extraordinary classics that blend the artistry of Deakin & Francis, with the expertise of Jaguar Land Rover Classic.” – HENRY DEAKIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEAKIN & FRANCIS
The exquisite detailing extends to the instrument panel switches, which are finished in knurled silver with a hallmarked silver bezel. This attention to detail extends to the key cover, which is finished in silver with matching mother of pearl and 18ct gold.
Technical specification
Under the elegant bonnet of each E‑type Commemorative is the famous 3.8‑litre engine, now with Electronic Fuel Injection and a Jaguar Classic five‑speed manual gearbox. This combination delivers the perfect blend of driving engagement and everyday usability.
Making the vehicles even more suited to use in the 21st century, they are fitted with a discreet Jaguar Classic Bluetooth radio and heated windscreen, providing modern comforts while retaining all the character and authenticity of an E‑type interior.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information on the full range of cars, services, parts and experiences offered by Jaguar Classic, visit: www.jaguar.com/classic
SUMMARY: A modern reformulation of a classic color, Oak Green Metallic Neo (oakgrünneo; metallic; M6E; Porsche) harks Porsche’s Oak Green Metallic of the 80s and 90s that was offered in that period as a standard though remained rare. Today’s reformulation, thus the “Neo” in Porsche parlance, appears to be close but not exact. It was a standard launch color for the Porsche Macan Electric and the launch photo spec for the 992.2 GT3 Touring, so not widely seen in person at the time of this writing. Those familiar with the original who have seen it in person report it has a bit less gold tones and metallic flake than the original.
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Below is a gallery of several cars painted Porsche Oak Green Metallic Neo.
At the time of the Audi RS2 Avant built by Porsche for the brand of the four rings, Audi exclusive wasn’t really a fully formed service yet and custom paint, while it occurred, was few and far between. Fortunately, Audi did offer plenty of color options despite the rarity of the Porsche-built Avant, and Ruby Red (rubinrot; pearl effect; X6; Audi) was one of those colors.
Most enthusiasts, even in North America where the car was never sold from new, are familiar with the RS2 and likely have seen it in more common colors like RS Blue Pearl Effect (M8, now Nogaro Blue), Laser Red (H1), Polar Silver (D1), Ragusa Metallic green (Y7).
Eleven paint colors were offered in all, and it’s probably surprising that Ruby Red (a.k.a. Rubinrot) wasn’t more popular. It’s not far from Porsche’s Arena Red, another dark metallic red from the 964 and 993 era made famous in the iconic “Kills Bugs Fast” print advertisement.
Despite the Porsche association and the popularity of Arena Red, not many RS2s were ordered in Ruby Red. So, when one ops up on the internet in what looks like a private party sale (seen here on Autoscout.de) we think it’s worth calling out.
Notably, this car has reportedly logged 119,000 km (73,943) miles, which appears to be well below the mileage we typically see on RS2 Avants. It also appears to be largely stock, another rare occurrence in the used RS2 market. For collectors, this one would be notable in any color due to these factors.
Notably, it does appear to show some wear on the driver’s seat grey Alcantara surface. The listing (translated in full below) also indicates a respray by the car’s original owner in Germany. All-in-all though, that’s not much… so long as the notoriously low resolution photos typical on European mass car sale sites like Autoscout are accurate.
The full listing with translation by Apple can be seen below:
In the rare original color ruby red *Repainting would be done at the previous owner in De *Grey/Wise Alcantara Equipment.( In this color / equipment combination there should only be 4 pieces) *with Austrian individual approval year 2020, DE first delivery *Engine, chassis, brakes ……. Series, no tuning!
Selling for time reasons because I also ride a motorcycle! It’s too bad that it usually just stands, in the last 4 years I haven’t driven 1000 kilometers with it! Only recently (2024) a large service would be carried out such as B. timing belt change, engine oil + filter etc…. with invoice.
First contact only possible by mail and if you are seriously interested you can leave me your phone number! I will then contact you personally by phone or Whatsapp. After contacting us, even more photos and a tour video can be sent via WhatsApp. Will only be given to real lovers / connoisseurs or collectors who know their way around and appreciate a vehicle!
Preferred sale in Germany, vehicle should remain in Austria if possible. Always remember, the vehicle is already 30 years old (oldtimer) and of course has normal signs of use.
Please only contact us if you are seriously interested and have a suitable financial background. Possible exchange as a down payment if it is an everyday car such as an Audi A1/S1 or A3, from year of construction 2013 with a maximum of 150.tkm (each 2.0 liter engine: from 150hp diesel or from 190hp petrol) If you are seriously interested, simply make an offer and if it is reasonable, I will contact you at short notice. Mfg Markus
