The original five colours were three common simple ones (red, white and green) plus the amaranth (purple) and volcano (orange) these latter two were deemed special for the Japanese market although some stayed here. Lots of the Japanese Fs were later re exported in rust free condition as their increasingly ruthless MOT caused no second hand market there. Destinations were principally the Antipodes and Canada (not USA) with some making it back here. I think about 500 were made in volcano so amaranth was definitely the rarest.
A lot of manufactures do "hero" colours for new models these are never going to be popular colours as they're a bit to much out there of most buyers as your average shmuck isn't at all adventurous in their colour choices (Just look at all the boring whites, greys and blacks of the cars driving past) The purpose of hero colours is to be noticeable in order to stand out amongst all the other dull and dreary cars on the road, also to stand out in showrooms , on the stand at motor shows and to be photogenic in magazines and brochures etc.
Lets face it the graphics editor of a magazines report of a motor show will always go for the most interesting and eye catching, even outrageous and flamboyant picture, a boring grey, white or beige car is much less likely to win copy space.
They know hero colours wont be in demand but the marketing advantages of having them about boosts demand for the model in more conservative hues.
Hero colours often suffer in resale values when the car is "just an old car" until the car hits classic status and then the market flips and the cars in hero colours are the most sought after!
Volcano and Amaranth were the hero colours for the early release of the MGF, both didn't stick around for long after the cars release, as by then they'd done their job!
"Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"
There were 2035 F painted Amaranth (KMN), with the last one in that colour being built in September 1998. For comparison, there were 1121 painted Volcano.
There are approximately five Amaranth coloured MGFs in Canada, one of them being my December built 1995 F.
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