FWIW, and the original source is sketchy, there are actually data on the
question of vehicle color and interior temperature.  I haven't kept up, so
I don't know if anything more reliable is available.

Years ago I occasionally judged the AAAS high school state science fair in
Oklahoma.  One year a very bright and articulate young woman presented a
project in which she had the cooperation of a car dealer to measure
temperatures in the interiors of vehicles parked on the dealer's lot on hot
summer days.  The only four variables that made a difference were window
tint, hours in shade vs hours in sun, ambient temperature, and vehicle
orientation.  Her study was well replicated, as the lot was that of a very
large dealer.  She was able to replicate body style, interior color,
exterior color, interior finish (fabric, leather), orientation, and some
others that I do not remember.  She even had some vehicles with windows
opened one cm and others with windows closed, and that also did not make a
difference.  The vehicles were all Toyotas, so the results might not apply
to Vanagons 🕶😊.  Oklahoma has brutally hot summer sun🌞.  Results might
not apply in Canada 🌨.

I was surprised at the results.  We awarded the young woman a prize for her
division (physics) but not the top prize for the fair.

mcneely

On Tue, May 16, 2017 at 7:20 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> That's a good point. The original colour of the van was burgundy, and
> Simon was wondering about lighter colours as he was suffering with a hot
> van in Mexico . We exchanged photoshopped images of colour schemes before
> he made his final choice, some of the options mulled had more white.
>
> I'll have to ask him if he has noticed any change in van temps.
>
> Alistair
>
>
> > On May 16, 2017, at 6:47 AM, KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
> >
> > Looks great….and hot (black paint and dark red/orange == must park in
> shade) :)
> >
> >> On May 15, 2017, at 11:39 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> >>
> >> Good friend Simon and Maria are on three month trip in Mexico in hi top
> 91 syncro. They are in baja now, and during the last couple of weeks in la
> Paz had the van painted. I've posted pics of the progress on my blog, most
> recent ( finished painting and now half way up the peninsula) first but if
> you scroll down you'll see some prep pics.
> >>
> >> https://shufti.blog/
> >>
> >> Alistair
> >
>