Kreidler paint and colour codes: finding the original finish
Published on 7 October 2026 · 2 min read
In a restoration the colour is the first thing people notice and the last thing they think about. A slightly wrong shade is the difference between "nicely restored" and "original".
Where to find the original colour
Under the saddle and inside the tank. Areas that never saw sun or polish hold the original shade best. Look under the carrier and behind the toolbox too.
Under the current coat. Carefully sand a small patch somewhere inconspicuous. You will see the build-up: how many coats are already on and what the bottom one was.
In the parts book or brochure. Kreidler offered a limited range of colours per model and year. The clubs often hold colour charts and can help.
Having the shade matched
A paint shop can read a piece of original metal with a colour meter and mix the paint. Take along a part that has not faded — so not the tank, but something that sat under the saddle.
Note: old paint fades. A reading taken from faded paint gives a shade that is too light.
Preparation is ninety per cent
The spraying itself is the shortest part of the job.
- Everything off. Old paint, filler, rust. Blast or strip it, do not just sand it.
- Work out the dents. Filler should fill the last fraction, not the dent itself.
- Treat the rust. Any spot you leave will come back through the new paint within a year.
- Primer and flatting. This is where you decide how flat the final finish will be.
- Only then colour.
Decals and transfers
Most Kreidler tank decals and type markings are available as reproductions. Two things worth knowing:
- Apply them after the colour coat but before the clear coat if you want an original look. Under the clear coat they are protected and you see no edge.
- Check the position against photographs of an original machine. A decal two centimetres out is noticeable.
If you have it done
Ask about experience with classic two-wheelers. Thin, fifty-year-old panels need a different approach from a car door. Ask too whether they can mix the original colour or only work from a modern fan deck.
And if you spray it yourself
Work dust-free, at the right temperature, in thin coats with enough flash-off time between them. The commonest mistake is laying it on too thick in one go: you get runs, you have to flat them out, and you start again.
Parts for this article
- KREIDLER Stickerset transfer Florett 77.81.23e zwart/wit 120x30mm - €7.00
- Sticker gereedschapkast zwart/rood kreidler 27.77.03 - €4.00
- KREIDLER Nagel koperkleurig 00.55.13 voor embleem set 21114 prijs per stuk, voor set 6x bestellen. - €1.00
- Spaakset Kreidler 19 inch wiel 208mm chroom 36pcs - €21.00
- Spaakset Kreidler kleine naaf 183mm chroom 36pcs - €21.00
- KREIDLER STICKER RMC-S GOUD 145 x 30mm (1) - €2.00