Ford colors

Thanks for the info. Decisions, decisions.

Wayne,
You could get the "real" paint colors mixed at an automotive paintshop, or parts stores that provide paint products. Most of the paint manufacturers will mix the old colors in the old type paints, such as emamels, not ACRYLIC) or old lacquers. However, they usually want a minimum order of a gallon.

What you can do is get the color "MIX" ratio and mix your own. Testors has a selection of the 50s era pastels in their Model Master paint series. They also have some variations of pastel colors in their small bottle series. You could use these and either lighten or darken them to get close to the color you want.

If you decide to mix your own keep in mind that the colors called for in the mix are "True" colors or "standard" colors, e.g. titanium white, cadmium yellow, etc.

I remember reading some time ago about a small operation that was making paint for model cars to match OEM colors. If I recall correctly the company was either in Illinois or Indiana. Anyone out there know anything about this. I know Testors just released a series of car colors, but from what I have seen so far the colors are for mid to late 60s, and early 70s, Muscle Cars.

As a side note the black/yellow paint scheme was very popular in 1956. There is a real
(1:1 scale) black/yellow 56 Crown Vic less than a mile from me. I stopped to get pictures a few years ago, but the owner refused my request and was nasty about it. You never can tell. Maybe it was something I said? Let us know how your Sunliner comes out.

Thanks guys, this is just what I was looking for. I even got the engine red last night at Hobby Lobby. When I was a kid, Revell put out a line of 1955 and 56 cars in 1/32, and I bought a lot of them. A couple of years ago, they re-released the 56 Ford and 56 Eldorado. The Ford is done in yellow plastic, and the reccomended paint job is black over yellow with matching interior. Last week, I was watching "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World" on AMC, and there was a Ford that was diamond blue overall, with a blue and white interior. It made me think about other combinations. Any reccomendations on where to get any of these colors other than an auto paint store?

Themage,

Thanks for the excellent references. As an added point of interest; Back then you could order a car to suit your tastes. Today, since about the mid 1970s, everything is a
"package" and there is very little you can do to "customize" your new car order.

Also note that the list does not include the "corporate" colors available at the time. These colors are intended for companies that order fleets of cars, such as the telephone company or a large construction company. These colors could be ordered by the individual customer for a small fee.

At meetings and contests of the "Nifty-Fifties Car Club" I frequently see Fords of the 50s and 60s vintage with documented factory (OEM) paint jobs that are not on the list of official combinations. It was also possible to get a Ford Crown Vic, Sunliner, or even a four door sedan or station wagon, with a "Thunderbird" V-8 (more power). Such personalized new car orders were, in fact, very common "back in the day".

Now, you either take the whole "package", or non of it. Progress?

Anyways, I hope someone finds this of interest or use.

Check out this site - has about all color chip charts for all years of most car brands.

http://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/search/searchpic.pl?1956-ford-pg01.jpg
http://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/search/searchpic.pl?1956-ford-pg02.jpg

Additional thoughts;

The straight six engines were a light green and the V-8s were red from 1953 through approximately 1964. I know this applied to the T-bird engines (55 through 57), that is the red color. I think the red color V-8s also applied to the upper end Fords as well, such as the Crown Victoria and the Sunliner. I'll have to dig through my pictures from the Ford 100th Anniversary Celebration and look at that model year.

Anyway, most of the colors for the mid to late 50s were pastels and non-metalic enemels. You will find some interesting color mixtures. You could have any color lower body with a white (cream) colored top side. You can also find a combination of black and light yellow, black and red, black and tan, and black with light (pastel) blue.

The two tone paint schemes make for an interesting model. Check them out before you make your final decision. I know that they are more work, but it is worth it.

1956! Think pastels!

Would this be good enough?

http://www.lovefords.org/tech/Vin/paint/ford/56_f.htm