Sports Cars Keep Color Alive in a Gray Car's WorldPorscheIf Prince were alive today, he might have rewritten one of his biggest hits as Little Gray Corvette. According to a recent iSeeCars study, America's roads have become dramatically less colorful over the past three decades; gray passenger vehicles have surged in popularity by more than 500 percent since 1996, while red cars have seen their market share fall by more than 65 percent.The study analyzed more than 22 million used vehicles from model years 1996 through 2025 sold between January 2025 and May 2026. The results paint a rather dull picture. The grayscale colors of white, black, gray, and silver now account for 80.4 percent of all vehicles on the road, compared to just 47.3 percent in 1996. It seems today's buyers are increasingly choosing safe, neutral colors over anything that might stand out in a parking lot.ChevroletThankfully, sports car buyers are helping keep some color alive. While ROY G BIV are dominated by WBGS paints here as well, enthusiasts remain far more willing to embrace bold paint choices than the average car buyer: non-grayscale colors account for 36.2 percent of sports cars, nearly double the 19.6 percent market share they hold across the broader vehicle market.AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, the gray invasion is very much in effect. In 1996, just 3 percent of sports cars were painted that shade; today, gray is the most popular sports car color, at 21.2 percent. Red has moved in the opposite direction, falling from 23.4 percent of sports cars in 1996 to just 10.8 percent today.The good news is that several enthusiast-favorite colors are gaining ground amongst sports car buyers. Yellow was the biggest mover, increasing by 142.5 percent. Blue climbed 56.7 percent, purple rose 52.1 percent, and orange gained 38.6 percent. Meanwhile, silver—once one of the defining colors of the fast car world—has seen its popularity tumble by nearly 72 percent.iSeeCars.comThe takeaway seems clear: most Americans may be filling their driveways with increasingly monochromatic vehicles, but sports car owners still appreciate a little personality. If you're wondering where all the colorful vehicles went, you won't find them in the SUV aisle. You'll find them at your local Cars and Coffee.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State