Paint

The 5th box from the left on the top line indicates the Paint code.

EXTERIOR PAINT

		Ford Code	PPG Ditzler			Ford Code	PPG Ditzler
A	Raven Black	M1724	9300	U	Tahoe Turquoise	M1070	12745
B7	Frost Turquoise 1	M1734	12876	V	Emberglo	M1921	22610
D7	Acapulco Blue 1	M3077	13357	V7	Burnt Amber 1	M2066	22749
E7	Beige Mist 1	M2045	22711	W7	Clearwater Aqua 1	M1908	13073
F	Arcadian Blue	M1226	12854	X	Vintage Burgundy	M1632	50669
H	Sahara Beige	M1912	22528	Y	Silver Blue	M1269	13045
H7	Diamond Green 1	M2067	43575	Y7	Dark Moss Green 1	M2039	43567
I7	Lime Gold 1	M2041	43576	Z	Sauterne Gold	M1915	43433
K	Nightmist Blue	M1903	13076	4	Silver Frost	M1901	32520
M	Wimbledon White	M1619	8378	5	SignalFlare Red	M2025	71529
N7	Diamond Blue 1	M0921	11683	67	Pebble Beige 1	M1631	22249
P	Antique Bronze	M1910	22603	8	Springtime Yellow	M1955	81510
Q7	Brittany Blue 1	M1624	12843	-	Columbine Blue 2	MX700852	11666
R	Ivy Green	M1879	43408	-	Aspen Gold 2	MX7058815	81434
S7	Dusk Rose 1	M0835	50470	-	Timberline Green 2	MX7041278	42750
T	Candyapple Red	M2008	71528	-	Anniversary Gold 3		23072
					Playmate Pink 4		?
Notes:
	Ford assigned a 4-digit “M” paint code to production colors from the 1930s to the present. Special order fleet colors got 4-digit “WT” paint codes. All other colors usually brought over from other manufacturers, got 5 or 6-digit “MX” paint codes. Lists of Ford paint codes, are found in the Ford Special Paint Fleet books (picture below). Ford Paint Numbers were typically assigned in order, starting at 0001 in the 1950's and preceded by a M2J. By 1968, the numbers were in the low 3000s, preceded by the letter "M" and typically an "A" at the end for an exterior gloss finish. In 1977, they were up to the mid 5000s. It also appears that very early on Ford reserved some numbers for special order paints at first with 5 digit numbers and later, in the 1960's, with a series of 4 digit numbers preceded by the letters WT (non-standard special order paints having 5 or 6 digits and preceded by the letters MX). The special WT codes are divided up as follows WT0000s for whites, WT1000s for off whites, WT2000s for gray, WT3000s for brown and gold, WT4000s for red, WT5000s for orange, WT6000s for yellow, WT7000s for green, WT8000s for blue, and the WT9000s for purple maroon and pink. The metallic paints were 500 and above in each set. This special use of reserved color codes is still being used today. Special order paints other than the 1 or 2-digit build sheet codes listed above, would have had a blank Paint code. The color used would have been listed as the “M”, “WT”, or “MX” Ford Paint Code.  It would have been found in the DSO/FSO/PTO box (PTO standing for paint & tire special orders), and/or a type-written note on the bottom of the sheet.
1	These two-digit codes indicate 1967 colors that became available on 1966 models beginning January 1966.
2	High Country Special color
3	1 Millionth Anniversary Special Color
4	Special Order Pink, WT9036, also called Playboy Pink, was available as special order Mustang paint in 1967 (Ditzler #71617). Two other pink paints were common in the late 1960's on Mustangs but were not the same as special order pink WT9036. One of these, is the 1967 Mustang paint Dusk Rose, M0835, (Ditzler  #50470). Dusk Rose is a bit darker than Pink WT9036. The other pink is 1966 Playmate Pink which is lighter than Pink WT9036. In 1965, The first factory pink mustangs were released.  Known as “Playmate Pink”, they were done to match the 1965 Mustang given to Playboy Playmate Donna Michele, as reward for winning playmate of the year.  The color carried over to 1966, and the original pink cars were all special orders, with six digit DSO’s on the data plates, and a blank exterior color code. I’m searching for more information on 1966 Playmate Pink. 10/17/10 - Found three 1966 special order paint "pink" cars listed in Jim Smart's Mustang Production Guide Vol. 1. A Dearborn convertible dated 10B, DSO 510021 a Dearborn Convertible dated 24B DSO 738485 and a Metuchen coupe dated 18E DSO 178126. All three were 6-cylinders.

10/25/10

’66 cars were painted with single stage Ditzler Delstar Acrylic Enamel (PPG bought Ditzler), and online distributor TCP GLOBAL sells as close to the original Ditzler acrylic enamel as is currently made. The big difference is the old formula had lead in it. The acrylic enamel had a slight texture (“orange peel”) to it and was very glossy, but not a “wet” look. Modern base coat – clear coat technology was not used.

There are currently two versions of the factory paint process, in chronological order:

1.      Primer

a.       The underside of the car was sprayed with gun fixtures first, then the rest of the car was hand done where necessary. After that, sealer primer (usually gray) was used on all exterior facing surfaces, all pot metal pieces were only primed with sealer primer.

2.      Interior Color (dash, A-pillars and doors)

3.      Exterior Color

a.       Doors, trunk lid and rear valence were in place when exterior painted. Valence would have a couple, up to all of the top screws installed prior to paint depending on the assembly plant. Most cars had the quarter extensions installed prior to paint, most likely held off with washers or something.

b.      Light colored, and some darker colored cars had the pinch weld blackout. What is a pinch weld? The pinch weld is the part of the rocker panel where it is spot welded to the inner rockers and floor pans. It’s the piece that sticks down below the car, and if it is not painted black, makes the car look unfinished as it contrasts to the darkness under the car. It is not just the pinch weld that gets painted but some of the rocker next to it as well.

The pinch weld was blacked out prior to the front fenders going on.

4.      Engine Bay

This chronology was taken from Charles Turner’s comments at the Paint Sequence thread on the HiPo site: http://www.hipomustang.com/hpmx/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8817

It conflicts however, with the description of the 1965 Dearborn process that Bob Fria gives in his book Mustang Genesis. On pg. 152 he describes the paint process beginning with the engine compartment's black paint, then a light gray body primer (which was only used on the very, very early and pre-production cars. It was discontinued soon after initial use in favor of an epoxy red oxide), lastly the exterior body color. There was no mention of when the interior paint was applied.

Mr. Fria explains that the gray primer sealer was changed to red oxide after a "number of early cars" were built. It was determined that the gray didn't provide for the proper adhesion with the lighter colors of the new formula acrylic enamel paints due to an ultra-violet sunlight interaction. It's my understanding that the "first" Mustangs were painted with M30J (Non acrylic) Enamel, and this is indicated by the black background on the door tag. After 12/28/64, Ford made the switch to M32J Acrylic Enamel, and changed the door tag to a gray background to signify the different paint (Marti's Tagbook pg. 24). In 1966, the year I'm currently dealing with here in my blog, the door tag once again returned to the black background, and it signified the Acrylic Enamel. I'm not sure however, when the color of the primer sealer was changed, but Mr. Turner has found evidence of gray primer past January 1965.

12/28/10

I came across a site the other day that described the five available colors on 1966 Shelby 350’s:

		Ford	Ditzler
A	Raven Black	M1724	9300
M	Wimbledon White	M1619	8378
R	Ivy Green	M1879	43408
T	Candy Apple Red	M2008	71528
-	Sapphire Blue 1	M1905	13075

Note: Sapphire Blue was a Regular Production Color for the 1966 Thunderbird, and carried a paint code of G. While the color used on Mustangs was the same formula, the paint code would have been blank and a 6-digit DSO was used instead to indicate its special use. The color was also offered for regular Mustangs by some proactive dealers, as illustrated by the April 7th, 1966 Oakland Tribune ad below:

3/6/11
Most Mustangs were painted a single body color, but I came across one build sheet the other day that has two paint codes on it; one for the bottom and one for the top. The picture below shows a code A (Raven Black) for the bottom and code M (Wimbledon White) for the top.