The bare aluminium look didn't work with the SAS scheme.  Though it probably saved money on fuel, the SAS blue was indistinguishable on miserable days like this one at LHR.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/130275500@N02">G B_NZ</a>
CC BY-SA 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/130275500@N02/28013910396/">SAS DC-9 LN-RLP at LHR</a>