1932 Factory Colors Thread

[monty_150]

I'm surprised this hasn't come up before, and believe me I've looked...

Let's see some pics of all different '32 models - roadsters, coupes, tudors, four doors in stock colors...with the moulding and pinstripes too

I found this list of colors...

http://www.tcpglobal.com/aclchip.asp...-ford-pg01.jpg



I'll kick it off, with this Washington Blue 5 Window (not my car)

[DavidG]

Maroon and black and the two Winterleaf browns.

[DavidG]

A better representation of the maroon color and metallic gold pin striping on the same car.

[Ian NZ]

This is our Washington Blue 1932 3/W Coupe with Tacoma Cream pin striping

[Ian NZ]

That did not work on that photo try again

[Pat/Ohio]

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Here is a Brewster Green with silver pinstripe Model B Roadster.

Pat

[NickJT]

I love Washington Blue but since it was already posted I'll go with this one:

1932 Ford B400 Convertible Sedan
Tunis Gray, Old Chester Gray, Tacoma Cream Stripe

[qmdv]

This brings up a question I have been turning over in my mind. I am building a 32 Highboy Roadster and was wondering what a colored body (other than black) and black frame and running gear would look like.

Tim

[monty_150]

My thoughts exactly, black is my fall back color, but it's always handy to actually see pictures of the different models in stock colors.

[T&A Flathead]

Is the color list provided correct? Ive seen another that listed cardoba grey too.

[Detonator]

Was the darker Winterleaf Brown only used on the molding?

[DavidG]

Yes, Winterleaf brown - dark was only used for the mouldings and rear wheelhouse exteriors. No, cordoba gray is a '34+ color, not a '32 color.

The photos cover all the colors except black and emperor brown, light and dark, which replaced winterleaf brown, light and dark, in September, 1932. The two Brewster green (light and medium) and Old Chester gray and Tunis gray colors were also available in the opposite order shown in the above photos.

[T&A Flathead]

Please post a picture of emperor brown light with dark reveal.

[jimTN]

MAC's has a color chip book that has mixing instructions etc. It is much better to see an actual car for perspective.

[DavidG]

I can't recall ever seeing a '32 with the Emperor brown colors, original or restored. The photos below are of three large period color chips (Acme Lead) of the three Emperor browns used by Ford on late '32s and on early '33s. The top and bottom chips are the light and dark versions used on late '32s and the center is the medium used on early '33s (discontinued in May, 1933).

While I believe the medium and dark color chips to be accurate representations of the original colors, I have serious reservations about the light color chip's accuracy as it seems to have a green caste to it (almost like what a light Tunis gray might look like).

[monty_150]

Emperor Brown



David G is this yours ??

[DavidG]

Monty 150,

That's a real nice woodie in your photo, but no, it is not mine. Mine is shown in my avatar and in the larger photo below.

[DavidG]

We all know that relying on paint colors from photographs is a tricky business at best, given all of the variables that may impact color in a photo. For example, in the photos of the two station wagons shown above, both photos would appear to have been taken at midday in sunlight. If all other things were equal, one likely would conclude that the two browns are not the same and that perhaps the first photo is indeed one of the Emperor browns (likely medium, the '33 color), which lack the umber tone of Winterleaf brown - light, which is evident in the color in the second photo.

According to the period Acme White Lead and Color Works' (Detroit, Mich.) formulas on the back of their large color chips, Winterleaf brown - light consisted of 16 parts "basic tinting umber", 4 1/2 parts "white", 1/2 part "basic tinting yellow", 1/2 part "basic tinting orange", and 1/4 part "basic tinting black" (total 21 3/4 parts). By way of comparison, their formula for Emperor brown - light consisted of 16 parts "basic tinting black", 13 parts "white", 5 3/4 parts "basic tinting orange", and 1/2 part "basic tinting orange" (total 35 1/4 parts). Clearly these two paint colors were distinctly different from one another.

When Ford replaced the Winterleaf browns with the Emperor browns in September, 1932, their instructions to the assembly plants was to continue to use the Winterleaf browns until the quantity of paint left in inventory was consistent with the remaining requirements for use on station wagons. There must have been a fair amount on hand beyond the requirements for '32 station wagons as Ford U.S. was still offering the color on '33 export models. This helps explain why surviving original examples of the Emperor browns on '32s are so scarce. It also suggests that all '32 station wagons were originally painted in winterleaf brown - light, except those sold to large fleet accounts which could specify any color they wanted as long as the type of paint met Ford's engineering specifications.

[Capn John]

Well, then what is the color code for Winterleaf Brown-Light?? and is a current formula available in modern paints? When was it's use started??
Thanks,
John

[DavidG]

The three-window coupe in the photo above is painted in single stage urethane from PPG using their catalogue color by name. Obviously it has been re-formulated several times from when it was manufactured as nitrocellulose lacquer. Your dealer may have to tweak the result from the PPG formula to get the right color. It was originally a '32-only color (and '33 U.S. exports).

[jimTN]

I can tell a noticable difference in the Washington Blue original color under the upholstery in my tudor than the paint chips in that it is a more clear, lighter blue color than the chips.

[FlatheadTed]

Good to see these pictures ,

[monty_150]

Okay, here are some I've found through google, but would much prefer to see members post picutres of their own cars still painted in the original color...

[monty_150]

Anyone out there ??

[jim1932]

More than happy to contribute the basic Black Tudor Model B Standard with out pin striping and with Tacoma Cream wheels .....

[Bick in New Zealand]

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Fabulous pictures Monty, loved the big format, where you can see the real deal. Thank you for posting.

[monty_150]

Bringing this back up, come on Deuce owners lets see some pics !!!

[whizzernick]

Originally Posted by monty_150

Anyone out there ??

I just love the pictures. HOW DO YOU DO THAT????
When I do a big picture it dosent get it or it wont post
thanks Nick

[34pickup]

I have a sort of related question to this paint thread.
When I first stripped my 32 5 window back in about 1975, under the black paint was what looked like original green. And the grille bars appeared to be original creme colored.
Did all the cars have painted grille bars? What colors were used? I don't often see them painted creme, I see a lot of stainless or chrome now.

[Andy]

I am going to save all the pictures!! Thanks to all. I was scraping paint off a 32 quarter panel in the 70's and hit orginal Washington blue. I stopped and still have it. I will have it scaned if I ever need to paint Washington blue.

[monty_150]

Originally Posted by 34pickup

I have a sort of related question to this paint thread.
When I first stripped my 32 5 window back in about 1975, under the black paint was what looked like original green. And the grille bars appeared to be original creme colored.
Did all the cars have painted grille bars? What colors were used? I don't often see them painted creme, I see a lot of stainless or chrome now.

The Grilles were painted a color named Sea Gull Grey

[qmdv]

Was there a special name attached to black. Or is it just plain black. The PPG store says that there is quite a few different blacks to choose from

Tim

[Capn John]

Original book pages for FORD paint

painref.com

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisp...n&info=&page=1

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisp...n&info=&page=2

[qmdv]

Interesting that they have a PPG paint code for everything but black. I did get a call back from a PPG dealer and he said that from 1928 to 1936 they used the same black. He said the paint code was 9300.

Tim

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by Capn John

Original book pages for FORD paint

painref.com

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisp...n&info=&page=1

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisp...n&info=&page=2

Why is the formula for the Lincoln Old Chester Grey different from the Ford?

And does this look like Old Chester? Looks lighter to me.

[DavidG]

The are the same paint color. Check out the cross reference chart on the far right on both pages and you will note that they both have the Ford part number, IM 1027. The Ford color chip page is in error and has the IM number for copra drab (1164) rather than IM 1027 and the chip looks like copra drab rather than Old Chester gray.


Adjudging colors from photos can be tricky, but based on your photo I would agree that it is lighter than the original Old Chester Gray. It is also 'grayer' than it should be as the original color was a light gray-brown. The photo below shows the original color in an area not normally exposed to sunlight (the rest of the body had been repainted black somewhere along the way). I Likely have better examples, but not where I am at present.


I've added another photo which if you make allowances for it being a flash photo taken in a garage will demonstrate the presence of brown in the color. This is of a car painted with nitro lacquer back in the 1960s when the Ditzler formula were still accurate.

[mike in tucson]

Gee, can someone organize a trip back in time to visit the factory and see all the neat colors rolling off the assembly line? Sign me up.... I want a window seat.

[Old Redneck]

Mu bucket of bolts is Washington Blue also. I kind of like black in a 3 window. but for now will leave alone. Just trying to get it as Henry built it. Got a long way to go.

[jim1932]

I have the paint chips but they all look dark.... maybe its just the light.

[hotrodA]

Great pics!! Anyone else have any to share? Especially the Blue Rock Green?
Is it similar to Rock Moss Green?

[DavidG]

Here's Blue Rock Green as well as the rest of the '32 colors, except the late Emperor brown light and dark.

[hotrodA]

Thanks!

[gotthard]

I wonder if this paint scheme is original. It is a 32 model b produced in late 33 in Europe.

[DavidG]

Unless my eyesight is failing that appears to be dark blue over maroon, both of which were paint colors normally offered by Ford in the '30s, but to my knowledge never together on the same car. It is an unusual color combination.

[Floyd]

A note for Jim1932 comment above. Color chips on a white background always look "way too dark"". Especially a small chip like those used in the color charts. In fact at first glance most of the colors look nearly the same, practically black. However when you spray out a large sample and it is not surrounded by a white border, the color appears to be a much lighter value ( aka shade). In the large photos shown earlier in this post, the Washington blue roadster looks like a beautiful blue happy color, which it really is. However on the small chip in the chart, it looks damn near black. I went through this for my Washington blue for my roadster. So Jim, your color chart is probably accurate!

[Steve/IL]

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DavidG,

If one had an original Ford paint chip brochure, would a modern automotive paint camera give an accurate break down of one of the Ford chip colors?

[DavidG]

Floyd,

I agree completely about the misleading shading of all paint chips, especially against a white background, and the smaller they are, the worse the deception.


Steve,

Not likely given the size of the samples in a typical paint color brochure page of the period. But, there are some larger samples of period color about four or five times larger than the typical 1" x 3" or so size and perhaps your idea might work in those cases. Of course the trick is to find the larger size examples. Not long ago there were about fifty excellent examples for sale on ebay covering what appeared to be Ford's 1930-34 color offerings. They appeared to be in mint condition and the colors seemed faithful to the original despite their age. Many of them went unsold so perhaps they will show up again.

[Steve/IL]

DaivdG,

Thanks,
Steve

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by gotthard

I wonder if this paint scheme is original. It is a 32 model b produced in late 33 in Europe.

Was that car also produced WITH that top chop like that? Beautiful looking car. I believe that paint scheme could kind'a grow on me. DD

[DavidG]

Consistent with the source of the photo, It appears to be a European tudor saloon (body by Briggs) with its flatter roof line and hence tighter radius upper corners of the windshield frame. Note also the Model A-like raised panel for the louvers on the hood side. Not obvious in the photo, but its doors are hinged at the rear.

[3ARDUN2]

Does anyone have a colour chip book showing the unique 1932 Canadian built Ford colours?

[DavidG]

The 1932 Ford of Canada colors were the same as those offered in the U.S. with one exception. The Winterleaf browns were not offered, but rather the carryover Model A color, Thorne brown (with black moldings) was offered instead. Sorry, but I do not have a Thorne brown color chip. The photo below is from the MAFCA website depicting the Thorne brown color. (The wheel and stripe color for the Canadian '32 cars in that color was Tacoma cream.)

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by gotthard

I wonder if this paint scheme is original. It is a 32 model b produced in late 33 in Europe.

I could only find this Model 'Y' painted in similar fashion. DD

[DavidG]

There were '32 two-tone color schemes offered in both the U.S. (other than the normal entire body/moldings only versions for all colors other than black) and Europe that can be documented in Ford's archives, but none of them involved different colors for the hood tops and hood sides.

In the U.S. the one-two tone combination was offered only in Brewster green light and medium and only on the sedans, Victoria, convertible sedan, standard coupe and sport coupe as the molding configuration on those bodies lent itself to a natural separation of the two colors. The upper body and all of the moldings were painted Brewster green medium and the lower body, hood, and the reveals around the windows were painted Brewster green light. Several examples are shown in the archives photos and sales brochure illustration below.

In Europe, the two-tone combination was limited to the two saloons (sedans). As with the U.S. examples, the color separation follows the molding pattern and only the moldings on the hood tops are painted the contrasting color. While likely limited as to color availability as in the U.S., which specific colors were offered remains to be documented. European examples are shown in the archives photos below.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by DavidG

There were '32 two-tone color schemes offered in both the U.S. (other than the normal entire body/moldings only versions for all colors other than black) and Europe that can be documented in Ford's archives, but none of them involved different colors for the hood tops and hood sides.

In the U.S. the one-two tone combination was offered only in Brewster green light and medium and only on the sedans, Victoria, convertible sedan, standard coupe and sport coupe as the molding configuration on those bodies lent itself to a natural separation of the two colors. The upper body and all of the moldings were painted Brewster green medium and the lower body, hood, and the reveals around the windows were painted Brewster green light. Several examples are shown in the archives photos and sales brochure illustration below.
In Europe, the two-tone combination was limited to the two saloons (sedans). As with the U.S. examples, the color separation follows the molding pattern and only the moldings on the hood tops are painted the contrasting color. While likely limited as to color availability as in the U.S., which specific colors were offered remains to be documented. European examples are shown in the archives photos below.

Is this an example of what you're speaking of David????

[DavidG]

Yes, but the main body color isn't a very good match for Brewster green-light and given the lighting, the dark color appears to be black and not Brewster green-medium.

For my tastes the end result is kind of busy looking because of the lighter window reveals. I don't think it was a particularly popular choice back in the day as two-tone survivors are extremely rare.

[hotrodA]

This is beautiful!
So, what is this color? Old Chester Grey? I can’t see the samples light enough to tell.
Thanks!
http://www.ssrfanatic.com/forum/atta...briolet-1-.jpg

[DavidG]

Looks more like Tunis gray; too dark for Old Chester gray.

[dan35]

I like all of them

[al's28/33]

any 32 would be a welcome prize in my garage, even "rust on rust"

[hotrodA]

Thanks, DavidG.