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This isn't Mercuy's first time at color options. For 1957-1959 they offered the engines in at least 6 color options, including Sarasota Blue, Sandlewood Tan, Aztec copper, Tangerine, Charcoal, Emerald Green and even a Plum version, before settling on white until 1963. So the story goes, it was Carl Kiekhaefer's wife that felt that the inline 6 cylinder Merc dressed in all white and chrome looked to large and intimidating and convinced Carl to paint the engines black beginning in 1964 to down play the size of the engine and remained black ever since. In those days, it was all about styling and color that followed the automotive design trends. Fiberglass boats had fins and wild colors and the engines were to match the style so you something else towing down the road with your giant Chrysler station wagon and a boat and motor to match! Those boat and engine combinations are highly collectible now, especially if it still has the original Tee-Nee trailer with coil springs and baby moon hubcaps!