Actually, living in Arizona, this sort of thing is near and dear to us.  I read a study.  White cars stay cooler.  If it isn't white, it doesn't much matter what color it is.  In other words, beige cars get just as hot as black ones.  White reflects the most.  Maybe if it was chrome, but silver is not chrome.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe L. 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 9:52 AM
  Subject: Anyone ever try a Westy "Chrome Dome"

     A whole lot longer ago than I really care to contemplate I spent a sultry
  summer going through Marine Corps boot camp in South Carolina. On days when
  the sun really beat down and the temps climbed our tormentors would hand out
  "Chrome Domes". These were helmet liners painted silver to reflect the sun
  and (theoretically) keep our heads cooler than they otherwise would have
  been, thus allowing a continuation of the fun and games without the
  inconvenience of having too many collapsed bodies littering the area.
     Every now and then I look at the fiberglass top of my non-airconditioned
  Westy and wonder if a silver paint job would cool things down any better
  than the present white paint job. Anyone ever try this?

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