Pelican Grey, Canadian and Export Cars

[Tinbasher]

Does anyone have a picture of a Model A in Pelican Grey? and long with the colours that where used for the moulding colour and stripe.

This colour was only used on Canadian cars and cars exported from Canada.

Thanks "The Old Tinbasher"

[fordfarm]

It is not in the new paint chip book

[Tinbasher]

That's right, because it's Canadian. There are approx. 16 different Canadian colours that aren't in the Paint guide.

So far we've been able to identify 3 of the original colours, Cameo Cream,( a stripe Colour)
Classic Blue and Hessan Red. 10 to Go. JP

[Bick in New Zealand]

John this raises an issue that I have been interested in for some time now. I have only seen one example of Pelican Grey. That was on a two owner '28 phaeton engine number CA8625 body number F359. When it was restored the owner repainted it a slightly lighter shade of grey. Of interest here in New Zealand period reports of the 'New Ford' list the colours as Niagara Blue, Arabian Sand, Dawn Grey, and Gunmetal Blue.
Of interest years ago I was chasing parts for my '30 phaeton, that had been trucked. I managed to locate two pairs of rear doors, that had been taken off cars in 1934 and put on the shelf. Both pairs still had the original paint on them, and the upholstery cards. One pair was Rose Beige, Seal Brown, Vermillion stripe. The other pair was Mount Vernon Green all over with a Gold pinstripe.

[Tinbasher]

Thanks Bick. Interesting The green with a gold stripe. I like it!!

[rackops]

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Resurrecting this old post as it just popped up in my google search for Pelican Grey.

I own a 1928 Phaeton that was originally equipped with CA8682 (not far from CA8625 that @Bick in New Zealand mentions). The car was restored in South Africa between 1984 and 1988, where it acquired this (in my personal opinion) fairly hideous paint job.

That said...I almost wonder if the fellow who restored it had an idea of the Niagara Blue and Pelican Grey version. Sadly, he's passed away so I can't ask him, but back in the 80s...maybe he actually tried to get the car to a scheme he thought was correct.

Through my digging on the car, I believe I've found the original color, which was Light Arabian Sand (and it would have had the corresponding "normal" colors for trim and pinstripe). I say that I "believe" to have found the color as that's the match in a couple of weep holes under the back seat...so I'm kind of grasping at straws!

I've corresponded with the fellow who found this car on a farm outside Perth in 1960, and his recollection of the car's color was "RUST", so not much help there! He restored it to what he chose for colors, which was Bronson Yellow with a Seal Brown belt (kind of yikes...)

The point of where I'm trying to go with this ramble of a post is that my wife and kids like the blue color, and would rather have me keep the car blue than go for the Light Arabian Sand. If I can somehow figure out if these were legitimately painted Niagara Blue (with or without the grey belt) I might just go ahead and make them happy.

Now to find a sample of Pelican Grey to see what I'm working with...

[Bob Bidonde]

Is it possible that a list of missing original paint colors can be addressed in this post. The idea here is to give it to the authors of the paint book for an addendum. So far in this post there are:
Pelican Gray
Cameo Cream
Classic Blue
Hessian Red

[Hankz]

I don't have anything on Pelican Grey for you, but I have a Tudor with an assembly plant stamp V1001. It has been repainted all black, sometime pre-'47 but firewall is blue. Maybe it offers some clues to your missing Richelieu Blue description. I saw a service bulletin when that color was introduced, and the description makes it sound alot like Lombard blue.

[Bick in New Zealand]

This is one of the few references I have come across for Pelican Grey.

[rackops]

Originally Posted by Bick in New Zealand

This is one of the few references I have come across for Pelican Grey.

That's actually really interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the car's only listed as being available in Arabian Sand or Pelican Grey...which, of course is interesting since in 1928, the Phaeton wasn't supposed to be Pelican Grey...let alone that as your "one of two options".

Second, I find it interesting because it shows the first Model As being delivered in July 1928. I'm assuming this ad is from New Guinea, so the date isn't surprising, but it is an interesting note in how long it took before cars reached to many spots in the world.

[rackops]

I wonder if the Ford color is close to the Chandler color?

[rackops]

Looks like Plymouth did the color also.

And ohhh...those prices!

[rackops]

Check this one out! May 1928 in Canada.

Oh, and the price comes with "teaching purchaser to drive"!

[Bick in New Zealand]

Interestingly I also came up recently with an article from 1928, that was referencing the new Tudor, and it described the colours as Niagara Blue, trimmed with Dawn grey, and Evergreen, trimmed with Pelican grey.

[Tinbasher]

All good inspiration!! I'll keep working on finding these Canadian Colours. Since this post we've found 2 samples of Evergreen and a Sample of Vernon Green on cars. We try to find three samples of each colour to varify that the colour is right.
Some of the research is interesting. The Cameo cream was used by Cadillac in 41 and then Gm used it right up into the 70's. Then they called it Butternut Yellow. But the same colour. You'll also notice that different companys used the same colour.

[jb-ob]

Tinbasher,

Keep digging. 1929 Ford 'Mountain Brown' returned in 1932 as 'Winter Leaf Brown Light'.

1928 Fordor window reveal color ' Pembroke Gray' was also found as a Chrysler color.

[rackops]

I look forward to what comes up. I'm personally curious about Evergreen...it seems to be a legitimate 1928 color for Canadian cars. If it can be recreated, I might go down that road in the restoration of my 28 Phaeton (I think green would be superb...my wife is partial to Dark Niagara Blue...at any rate, she's definitely vetoed Arabian Sand, which was the original color...ah well).

[rackops]

Spent some more time digging through newspapers online, both in Australia and Canada from the 1927-1929 time period. Some interesting stuff.

Here's a used Model A in Australia that was repainted in "buff and brown" with red spoke wheels. Nice!

[rackops]

Not color related, but I thought this was interesting. Apparently being "imported" from Canada was a selling point.

[rackops]

Here are a couple of mentions of colors from the Australian used car sections. First, a Fordor with maroon leather. Then, a Sports Roadster in "red and tan", and finally, a tourer in "grey duco".