Petrol Blue, Signal Yellow, or Rubystar? The Elferspot team’s favorite colors

Anyone who works with Porsche listings every day inevitably encounters a remarkable variety of colors. And the color often determines whether a Porsche stays in our memory or not. We associate some paint finishes with a particular model series, others with a personal experience. At Elferspot, almost our entire work life is about different Porsche models, their specs and of course colors. At photo shoots and events, and while working on new magazine articles, we see Porsche, after Porsche, after Porsche – Sounds like heaven, right?

But some shades make us stop and take a closer look every time. They are not always the famous colors that immediately catch the eye. Hence, I asked my colleagues which Porsche colors they like best and what stories they associate with them. Our selection ranges from shades first offered on the Porsche 356 to modern finishes from Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur.

Some favorites received two votes, while a few others even sent us searching through the color archives. You can do the same on Elferspot, by the way: Our text search lets you look for specific colors. Enter Guards Red in the search bar, for example, and you will see all Porsches currently listed on Elferspot in this classic shade of red. If you are waiting for the right car in said color, you can save your search in the Search Agent, as well.

Markus Klimesch has been driving his favorite color for years

For Elferspot founder and CEO Markus Klimesch, Petrol Blue Metallic is the clear favorite. His own Porsche 911 SC in this shade has been “part of the family” since 2016. Porsche offered Petrol Blue in the late 1970s on models including the 911, 924 and 928. Depending on the light, this dark metallic paint shifts between lighter and darker shades of blue; in direct sunlight, it develops a subtle green sheen.

Petrol Blue fascinates me every time. The color changes with the light. In bright sunlight, the subtle green sheen makes it particularly special.

Markus Klimesch, founder of Elferspot

Markus’s second choice is Meridian Metallic, an exceptionally rare shade from the early 2000s. It formed part of the color palette for the 996 and 986 and is a silver with a platinum sheen. His third vote goes to Carmine Red 009, a color closely associated with the 991.2 Speedster. His choices span from a restrained, nuanced metallic finish to a bold red that looks especially striking on newer Porsche models.

Vehicles listed on Elferspot in Carmine Red

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Lukas Berger discovered his love for Zyclam Red Pearl Effect by chance

As a co-founder and marketplace specialist, Lukas Berger works with Porsche models from every era every day. He is particularly interested in their different colors and the stories behind them. Ivory tops his list. “The color was already available on the Porsche 356 and was later revived on a wide range of models through Paint to Sample,” Lukas explains. Its light solid shade remains a rare sight. “It polarizes and certainly will not appeal to everyone. That is precisely what makes it interesting to me. On a 992 GT3 Touring, Ivory emphasizes the contours, air intakes and sculpted surfaces of the body particularly well.”

Lukas now regards Olive Green as almost the default choice among historic Porsche colors. The shade is once again being ordered more frequently through PTS, although the original solid paint remains a rare sight. He is delighted whenever he comes across a car finished in it. Olive Green works particularly well for him on a 911 G-Model or a 991.2 GT3 Touring. Lukas generally prefers solid and pearlescent finishes to classic metallic colors. Fjord Green and Dark Sea Blue also appeal to him. He is particularly drawn to shades associated with the 356 and revived for later models.

Zyclam Red Pearl Effect is simply beautiful and changes dramatically with the light. It ranges from dark red to almost black and can even take on a velvety red appearance.

Lukas Berger, co-founder of Elferspot

His most personal choice remains Zyclam Red Pearl Effect. Although Lukas had already seen countless Porsches, the rare shade had barely registered with him. When he bought his own 944, the color was incidental rather than a deciding factor. Today, it is one of his absolute favorites. “Zyclam Red Pearl Effect is simply beautiful and changes dramatically with the light. It ranges from dark red to almost black and can even take on a velvety red appearance,” he says.

David Fierlinger encountered his Linden Green favorite again years later

Colors affect David Fierlinger on an emotional level and, as a photographer, present him with different challenges. This has given him a particularly close relationship with Porsche’s extensive color palette. His first choice is the classic solid shade Signal Yellow. “I had to see it in person before I really appreciated it,” David admits. “The color looks clean and direct, suits the shape of classic Porsches and emphasizes the air intakes and body details of modern GT models,” says the photographer.

Another of his favorites, Superior Red Metallic, is most impressive to him in direct sunlight. “That is when the paint develops a depth that many photographs fail to capture. I particularly like the color on a Porsche 911 Sport Classic.” The shade remains relatively unknown despite its distinctive appearance. In certain light, Superior Red develops an almost violet hue.

David’s most personal story is connected to Linden Green 226. Back when cars played a much smaller role in his daily life, he saw a 991 GT3 RS in this shade while working in Linz. Years later, he encountered the same car again. Linden Green looks decidedly extroverted on the modern RS, although David likes it even better on older Porsches. “It is a classic color that works perfectly on the 911 Carrera RS 2.7.”

Porsche colors remind Michaela Staudinger of home

As a key account manager, Michaela Staudinger works with many dealers on Elferspot and therefore also sees quite a lot of classifieds. Her first closer encounter with Ruby Star came through a listing for a car finished in Ruby Star Neo. The modern interpretation prompted her to explore the history of the original shade and its close association with the 964 Carrera RS in the early 1990s. This historical connection makes the striking color particularly special to Michaela.

Gentian Blue Metallic has a deeply personal meaning for Michaela. Gentian flowers remind her of her passion for the mountains and the alpine regions where they grow. Whenever she sees the color or reads its name in a listing, it immediately evokes a sense of home. The association now works both ways. “When I see a gentian in my garden or in the mountains, I automatically think of Porsche.”

Michi’s third choice also has a connection to her Austrian home. While preparing this article, she deliberately searched for rarer Porsche colors and came across a 911 reimagined by Singer in Verde Zeltweg Metallic. “Zeltweg is not far from my hometown and, for me, is closely associated with motorsport. The dark green also reminds me of the mountains and forests surrounding the circuit,” she says.

Susanne and Leni Klimesch prefer colors with depth

E-commerce manager Susanne Klimesch did not need long to choose her favorite: British Racing Green. “I just think the color is incredibly cool, whether it is on a new or an old Porsche.” Leni Klimesch, an assistant in the online store, prefers colors whose character changes with the light. Her first choice is Petrol Blue. This gives the color of Markus’s 911 SC its second vote within the team.

Leni’s second choice, Oak Green Metallic, is similarly versatile. In dim light, the paint appears almost black; under brighter light, it reveals its true green hue. Copper Brown Metallic gets her third vote. It adds a distinctly warmer shade to Leni’s selection and moves between bronze, brown and copper. It pairs particularly well with the color palette of classic Porsches.

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I found my own dream specification in Gran Turismo 3

When I first saw a Porsche 964 Carrera RS in Ruby Star a few years ago, I was instantly smitten. The intense shade fits the early 1990s perfectly and emphasizes the distinctive character of the 964 RS. Shortly afterwards, I configured a RUF RGT based on the Porsche 996 in Ruby Star in Gran Turismo 3. That was my dream specification. Ruby Star has caught my eye ever since.

I discovered Sienna Metallic while working on a magazine article. In photographs of a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0, the warm shade immediately caught my attention. Depending on the light, it shifts between red, copper and brown. The color strongly reminds me of BMW’s Calypso Red. An E36 Coupé in that shade was one of the cars I dreamed of in my youth. On the comparatively narrow Carrera 3.0, Sienna Metallic looks particularly elegant and works beautifully with chrome trim, black Fuchs wheels and the clean body shape of the early G-Model.

Find your Porsche in Sapphire Blue on Elferspot

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My third choice is closely linked to the beginning of my own Porsche story. After buying my first Porsche, a 924 S, I began to explore the brand more deeply in 2011. The 981 generation was unveiled the following year. Its proportions, lines and interior immediately appealed to me, with the launch color Sapphire Blue Metallic completing the picture. It remains one of my favorite colors. For me, no other shade represents the 981 and 991 quite as well. I still consider both model generations among Porsche’s most timeless designs.

Which Porsche colors are your favorites?

Ruby Star and Petrol Blue each received two votes in our internal poll. Above all, the selection shows how personal the subject of color can be. Lukas discovered Zyclam Red Pearl Effect through his own 944. Markus associates Petrol Blue with his 911 SC. My own connection with Sapphire Blue began with the 981 Boxster. David still remembers a chance encounter in Linz, while Gentian Blue and Verde Zeltweg remind Michaela of home in Austria.

Now we would like to hear your choices. Which Porsche colors belong in your dream garage? Tell us your favorites, ideally with the color code and the model on which each shade works best. Perhaps you will introduce us to a color that has escaped our attention so far.

© Photos: David Fierlinger, unless otherwise noted