1971 SS-Optioned Malibu
Paint Colors
No less than 15 solid colors and six 2-tone color combinations were offered in 1971. There were no SS=specific colors for 1971. The 1971 model year could still order special paint through the Fleet & Special Order (F&SO) process.(1)
Sales name often differed from the plant paint name and the sales name could vary between Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile A-body cars even though the plant paint name was the same. For example, Chevrolet's "Tuxedo Black" sales name was Buick's "Regal Black." Chevrolet's "Ermine White" sales name was Oldsmobile's "Provincial White." Same colors just a different sales names.
| Paint Number | Color | Sales Name | RPO Code (9xx) |
| 11 | White | Antique White | 904 |
| 13 | Silver | Nevada Silver | 905 |
| 19 | Black | Tuxedo Black | 919 |
| 24 | Medium Blue | Ascot Blue | 907 |
| 26 | Baby Blue | Mulsanne Blue | 976 |
| 42 | Light Green | Cottonwood Green | 910 |
| 43 | Medium Green | Lime Green | 922 |
| 49 | Dark Green | Antique Green | 911 |
| 52 | Yellow | Sunflower Yellow | 912 |
| 53 | (unk) | Placer Gold | 925 |
| 61 | (unk) | Sandalwood | 919 |
| 62 | (unk) | Burnt Orange | 915 |
| 67 | (unk) | Classic Copper | 916 |
| 75 | Red | Cranberry Red | 917 |
| 78 | (unk) | Rosewood | 918 |
Six two-tone color combinations were optional for $21.10.
| Paint Code | Upper / Lower Sales Name Colors | RPO Code (9xx) |
| 26 / 10 | Mulsanne Blue / Classic White | 956 |
| 43 / 11 | Lime Green / Antique White | 922 |
| 49 / 11 | Antique Green / Antique White | 911 |
| 53 / 11 | Placer Gold / Antique White | 925 |
| 61 /11 | Sandalwood / Antique White | 919 |
| 62 /11 | Burnt Orange / Antique White | 915 |
Convertible tops were available in two colors, white (A) and black (B). A vinyl top was offered in black (B), white (A), dark blue (C), dark brown (F) and dark green (G).
(1) Special order paint seemed to boom for the 1970 model year. As in previous years, any color available from any manufacturer could be ordered, typically at a cost of $125.00. Some plants will show a special paint car with either a blank space or a hyphen ( - ) in lieu of the standard paint number on their Fisher Body Number plates.. Van Nuys typically stamped the DuPont mixing formula on their Fisher Body Number plates such as 926-98371 for Carolina Blue.
See here for more on special paint.