Initally only available in black chrome, in 1986 a silver version became available. The camera division of Leitz was sold to the Wilde Co., and the Leitz name was replaced by "Leica".
Quite a number of limited edition of the M6 have been introduced, making it the Franklin Mint of cameras. These include, but are not limited to 1492-1992 Columbo, Year of the Rooster, M6 Titanium, M6 Platinum, M6J, M6H, and Leica Historical Society edition.