Thunderbird
PPG1021-5 · #8C7B6C · LRV 21 — warm red-orange tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Nocturne8
- 2Roycroft Brass15
- 3Thunderbird21
- 4Dorian Gray39
- 5Mindful Gray48
What Color Is Thunderbird, Really?
Thunderbird reads as a warm red-orange tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Glidden PPG1021-5 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Thunderbird
Thunderbird works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
How Lighting Changes Thunderbird
With an LRV of 21, Thunderbird is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Thunderbird are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Glidden PPG1021-5 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Virtual TaupeSW 7039 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.0 | 20 | Color page → |
| Behr | Road Less-TravelledT18-07 · Behr | 0.9 | 21 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Everard CoffeeCW-150 · Benjamin Moore | 2.6 | 20 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Soft Rabbit Brown1002-9C · Valspar | 3.9 | 20.5 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | ThunderbirdPPG1021-5 · PPG / Glidden | 0.8 | 21 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Seasoned Wood441-5DB · Dutch Boy | 2.1 | 20 | Color page → |
Similar Glidden Colors
The nearest shades to Thunderbird within Glidden's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #8C7B6C in HSL space. Pair Thunderbird with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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