Metallic Orange Paint Solution

I've gotten a bunch of email from others looking for the orange metallic paint that's used on the R5... as far as I could discover, it was officially called "Mandarin Orange" and was used on the 71 and 72 R5s... see these documents:

1971 R5B (656k PDF) - Mandarin Orange over white
1972 R5C (756k PDF) - Mandarin Orange over black

You'll need the free Adobe Reader to view and print these files. Thanks again to Don Q for this info.

Well, after rooting around a little on the r5yamaha Yahoo! Group, I found a response posted by the always-helpful Ed:

There are no codes! House of Color has paint that will get you there. here is a link:

http://www.hokpaint.com

I have restored many early Yamahas and the orange you need is a candy shot over a silver base (fine grain) black is black as long as all the black body parts are the same black . I.ve gotten a dead on match to this color on my 71 R5 and I've matched the candy red on my 65 YDS3 and the candy blue on my 66 YM1 using these paints. the color varies depending on how soft or heavy you spray it on.Thats how candies work,all the metalics are in the base coat and the color coat is translucent so more = darker. I hope this helps. Ed

So there it is... no quick and easy bottle touch-up for me. O well - hopefully this info can get in the hands of some more people who need it by posting it here.

Looking for the Orange Metallic Paint

Mike wrote in to inquire about the metallic Mandarin paint on his (and my) bike:

Saw your site and your great old bike. I have an old U7A scooter with the orange paint. I would like to do some cosmetic painting and I wonder if you could tell me where you got your paint; if you did.

Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck finding any official paint... so I thought I'd turn the question loose on you guys... anyone tracked some down?

Message from France

Xavier wrote in from France:

Hello,
Thanks,
Your website is great.
Go on this way.
Here's a pic of one of my RDs.
I love those bikes.

And here is Xavier's beautiful example: