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EFV-8 Club Forum / 1940 Ford Discussion / original paint color

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Posted By Discussion Topic: original paint color -- page: 1 2     Wolfie 02-13-2011 @ 6:03 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 144 Joined: Oct 2009 I'm fairly sure that my 1940 was painted black orginally. I'm getting it ready to repaint and wanted to know if there is a way to tell from the serial number what the paint color was. Thanks! Stroker 02-13-2011 @ 6:19 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 The serial number is only an engine production sequence number, and won't tell you anything regarding color. If you want to verify the original paint color, you may have to do some "forensic" exploration. Places to look are numerous, but if it were me, I'd pull the headlight buckets, and look for evidence of the original color. I'm sure there are other places, and the name of the game is to try and find an area that would not be exposed during a re-paint. trjford8 02-13-2011 @ 7:34 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4202 Joined: Oct 2009 In addition to Stroker's suggestion you should look at the lips of the fenders when you unbolt them for painting. The firewall and underside of the hood are also places to check. The firewall is always body color. Usually when a car was repainted in a production type shop they rarely repainted the firewall to match a different color. Wolfie 02-13-2011 @ 7:47 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 144 Joined: Oct 2009 I have pulled some trim and shows a repaint. But taking the door dovetails and wiper towers off, it is black and looks original. It looks like it has been repainted twice with Mandarin Maroon, which I love, but I think it wouild be best to paint it the original color. I thought there would be a way of finding the original color other than forensic discovery. kubes40 02-14-2011 @ 6:41 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3370 Joined: Oct 2009 Wolfie, You've been offered good and accurate advise in regard to authenticating the factory paint color on your '40 Ford. In reality, as those guys have advised, there is no other way than 'forensically' to determine the original color. One advantage of no 'proof' is you may repaint any color you desire and no one could say it was incorrect. As long as you stay with an original color offering, the value won't be effected. I have the original order form for one of my '40 Fords that clearly depicts what color it was. That doesn't happen too often... TomO 02-14-2011 @ 7:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7243 Joined: Oct 2009 Other places to look for the original color are the areas under the window moldings and under the patent data plate. Tom 40 Coupe 02-14-2011 @ 11:35 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1646 Joined: Oct 2009 check the color of the underside of the floor pan. It may be red primer but it can also be the original color, unless the body was removed for a repaint and the underside of the floor was repainted at that time. Wolfie 02-14-2011 @ 7:45 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 144 Joined: Oct 2009 I have found additional evidence that the original color was black. I want to keep it as original as possible and thought black would be best. But I prefer the maroon and Kubes input was good. I'm starting to take trim off the car so still have time to think about it. alanwoodieman 02-14-2011 @ 8:16 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 864 Joined: Oct 2009 My first tudor 40 was apinted Mandarin Maroon, a color which I very much like. Back then the color was still in the Dupont commercial color book. My next two 40's were painted Lyon Blue. Still have the 40 wagon painted Lyon Blue- so this must be my favorite color, beside there are too MANY black 40's kubes40 02-15-2011 @ 7:00 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3370 Joined: Oct 2009 Good morning Wolfie, Most guys know I am a fanatic in regard to authenticity. However, in choosing paint color, I normally go for what I feel looks the best. I ALWAYS stay within the original offerings. I stay away from the maroon shades as it seems nearly every 40 convertible on the concourse is maroon. I like 'different'. I also stay away from black. Black is well, simply 'black'. I enjoy the definition between a black chassis / frame and a colored floor pan. It is, as you are well aware, a personal choice. I always advise a person RESTORING a car to stay within the original offerings as if they stray it will have an adverse effect on the ultimate value of the vehicle. I've seen otherwise beautiful restorations done in an unauthentic color with a catastrophic effect on value. Best regards to you, Mike "Kube" Kubarth This message was edited by kubes40 on 2-15-11 @ 9:33 AM

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