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[Rodders]

Can anyone help me with this? I've just embarked on restoring a 500 Twin, shipped to Gibraltar in December 1955. According to the log book the colour was Green metallic. Would this be the Olive Green option or I'm wondering whether the standard Polychromatic Grey has been mistaken for metallic green. I say this because the casquette (which may be original) looks to be more like grey. Would anyone have any pictures of twins in both these colours so I can decide which to follow? Many thanks.

[Mark M]

Rodders, 1955 was the year that Enfield were preparing for their big re-design for the 1956 season and it has become clear that they were trying lots of different colours and styles. There were a lot of optional colours for 55 so you may well have one of these. I know green was an option for 1955 (some 500 Bullets were done in this colour,) but I don't know if it was a flat colour like the 250 Clipper or a metallic. I have seen the metallic green somewhere but can't place it at the moment. Are you a member of the REOC? The Club holds the original Factory Despatch Records and could confirm this for you. Sounds interesting!

REgards, Mark

[Colin F]

Yes,i have some pics of a '55 Twin 500 in green metallic,same as the Bullet green.
colin

[Rodders]

Thanks guys. Yes I have joined the Club. Very helpful in confirming the pedigree of the frame from the dispatch records - this was before I recovered the Gib log book. Unfortunately the records don't show any colours. Colin, any chance you could send me the photos?

[Mark M]

The Factory records sometimes show the colour, especially if it is a "non standard" one but obviously not in this case. Keep us updated, the 500T is an unusual bike and in that green would be really interesting. Of course when it's finished you'll get all the "they never made them like that" types!

REgards, Mark

[Exile]

I went looking for images out of curiosity.. not many to be found and mostly black and white.. but I found this.. I don't know if it's a resto job..

[Rodders]

Many thanks, Exile. That's the best colour photo I've seen yet. As Mark said it would seem this bike was produced during a transitional year. I can recognise many of the features in this photo (the rectangular air filter box for a start. But this one has the later headlight casket and according to the log book had a dual seat which was an option just being introduced. Thanks again. Regards Rod

[Colin F]

Sure no worries,what's the email address?

[Rodders]

Hi Colin, my email is [email protected]

Many thanks,

Rod