Original Color Match PPG Paint Codes
 

I had recently obtained from PPG the paint code for my 1956 F-250's original color - Meadow Green. After looking back over various threads, questions about original paint colors seem to pop up fairly regularly - at least among the stocker crowd.

The folks at PPG were so nice to work with the first time, I asked them to provide matching paint codes for all original Ford truck paint colors from 1951 through 1956. I've posted a chart on Earl's World (http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re..._Material.html) that shows the Year, Rating Plate Paint Letter Code, Ford Part Number, Color Name, and PPG paint code. PPG indicated that some colors are no longer available as a perfect match to the original, but provided current alternate "offset" paint codes that are essentially the same color. Enjoy.:)

Thanks for picking up that stick George.

I'll add it to my already too large Tech Folder.

Earl

Great Job! :-X22
While you were @ it it would have been Nice if you would have thought about those of us w/ '57-'60 trucks as well, Ford & Canadian Mercury . :-wink
Would you Please further your research to Include us? :-X06

Thank'ee

Colonel Sir Harry,

No intent to discriminate old man, just lack of data. I've found a number of sites that list Ford color codes for one or more of the 1957-1960 years, but they mix in car colors with the truck colors. For the 1957-1960 truck colors only, I don't have a good list of available colors for a year, their Ford part numbers, and the color names. If you can provide a reliable list, I'll ask the good folks at PPG to provide us with the PPG paint code information.

Same goes for the 1948-1950 trucks. I think the list below has most of the colors, but I don't know which colors were available in which years. I've been unable to verify that the list is complete and correct. I don't want to go to PPG and get bad information to put in a reference table.

1948-1950
-----------------
Meadow Green M-14283

Chrome Yellow M-14301

Birch Gray M-14286

Black M-1724

Vermillion M-1722

George,

I have the M code for my engine paint. Just curious if PPG can match it. It is M-4J-119.

Thanks! :-X10

Kevin
1953 Ford F-100
Go Illini

Kevin,

I'll be glad to ask them, but I'd like to wait until I get a batch of numbers so I don't keep hitting them with onezies and twozies. If somebody comes up with a good list of 48-50 or 57-60 paint codes, I'll add your engine code to the list for you.

George....is the rating plate the same as the vin# ? The rating plate is missing on my truck. The vin# is F10R3K19310, does this reveal the paint color? I have the body off the frame and there are no numbers at all on the frame. The only thing with numbers is the title. Is there any way to get a vin plate?

From the Ford Chasis Parts Catalog these are the colors listed. The part numbers are the Ford part numbers. Some colors overlap into 1952 so that helps some. There is not a paint code for the trucks that I know of. If PPG has the part numbers and can cross reference them you could match it with the paint in the door jams or some place like that.

• 1948-52 Vermillion Red- M 1722
• 1948-52 Raven Black - M 1724
• 1950-1951 Silvertone Gray - M 14197
• 1948-1952 Meadow Green - M 14283
• 1950-1952 Sheridan Blue - M 14285
• 1949 Birch Gray - M 14286
• 1948-1949 Chrome Yellow - M 14301
• 1950 Palisade Green - M 14341
• 1950 Dover Grey - M 14344
• Chasis Black - M 3713
• Black Synthetic Enamel M 1724
• Black Laquer (Hi Solid) M-975

I'll scan the 1960 chips in a min.... -4speed

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../82172.520.390

1. Caribbean Turquoise -M30J-556
2. Adriatic Green -M30J-1274
3. Academy Blue -M30J-1024
4. Raven Black -M30J-1724
5. Academy Blue -M30J-1024
6. Raven Black -M30J-1724
7. Monte Carlo Red -M30J-1232
8. Goldenrod Yellow -M30J-358
9. Holly Green -M30J-1237
10. Skymist Blue -M30J-1226
11. Corinthian White -M30J-1238
12. Prime -M-4415

Great info George (Earl)
My '48 is a dark green, is that the "meadow" or the "sea Island"?
Neither one sounds "rough and tough" for sutch Bonus built beasts.
Thanks
Reamer

Earl,

Thanks so much as we are looking to match the Vermillion red for our truck. The best we could do so far was to go to the local paint shops to see what they have in paint chips. The best we found was for 52 Trucks which we assumed would be the same for our 51. Looks like your list confirms this.

Thanks again,

David

In Canada they had different colours or at least different names for them. One truck has Mission Grey and the other has Sheffield Green.

OK, lessee ...


Kevin:

I've got the code for your engine paint and will include that when I send in the next request to PPG.


fordman:

a) The VIN is usually one of several sets of numbers and letters on the rating plate. The VIN for the 1951-1956 years is a character string like the F10R3K19310 you posted. The 1948-1950 trucks used a different VIN coding system, as did the 1957-1960 trucks. I know there are folks out there that know those years far better than I do. You can go to the reference page on Earl's World, or to several other web sites, to decode your 1953 VIN.

b) The VIN for the 1951-1956 years does not contain the paint code - that is a separate letter on the rating plate. The actual paint code letter probably isn't on your title either - although your title may say "green" or something in the vehicle description if there is one. As already mentioned by Chris, you'll probably have to match a paint chip to the paint under the dash, behind the seat, or somewhere else where it was not likely to be changed over the years. As I mention below, it looks like adding paint chips to the chart at Earl's World will be next on the list of to-do's.

c) You can get a new, blank rating plate from Sacramento Vintage Ford (and maybe other vendors). They will even stamp it for you if you can find or figure out what the rest of the information on the plate should be for your truck (you already have the VIN). Go to the Earl's World reference page and look at the rating plate shown there. Start a separate thread with a post listing all you know about your truck (transmission, engine, etc.) and asking folks to help you create a matching set of data for a rating plate. I'm sure we can figure it out - unless there have been a lot of changes (darksiding) to your truck.


Chris:

The info from the chassis catalog is great! From what you posted I can put together a list for the 1948-1950 trucks and send it off to PPG. Thanks much! :-X22


John:

Thanks for the 1960 codes. Not to be a pain, but are those truck paint codes only, or are there car codes mixed in? Is that a scan of a Ditzler chip page? Thanks for taking the time to help out. :-X22


reamer:

I can see I need to add paint chips to the chart so folks have some idea of the different greens, etc. I'll work on that as I get free time. They will never be exact matches due to color variations on different monitors, etc., but you'll be able to get a good idea what the color looks like and then use the PPG code to match the original exactly.

To answer your original question, the Sea Island is a lot lighter than the Meadow Green. I suspect you have the Meadow Green color.


David:

You are most welcome.


Nathan:

Yes, our Canadian friends do have different colours - and they even spell color differently! Once I get the rest of the codes and the paint chips under control, I'll get back with you and see what we can do about getting the Canadian colors nailed down, eh?

George, those chips are truck only. That came right out of a dealer sales binder listing all the options for 1960 trucks for buyers. Also, my 57-63 ford truck parts books list some paint codes, if you'd like, I could post them as well. -4speed(andrew)