I have a 1952 f6 factory paint code "B" which I'm told is Sheridan Blue. does any one know what color the grille might have been painted or the color of the disc wheels I am trying to restore to factory original condition THANKS

 

You're correct that Sheridan Blue is code B. The Ford part number is M-14285. The grille is described in the sales handbook as being "...a neutral Ivory paint which blends with any of the Standard Body Colors". The Chassis Catalog lists 1951/52 Ivory as M2J-137. Matching these codes will probably be difficult given modern paint formulations. I've also seen and had trucks that had grilles painted body color.

Stock Budd style wheels would have been shiny black. Not shiny like modern clear coat, maybe more like a semi-gloss. I have a NOS wheel that is like that. Hoping you are not restoring your stock widow maker Firestone RH-5° wheels, but if you are the side rings were originally not painted. They were plated, like a galvanized finish. Same applies to side rings of the earlier Firestone RH rims. I use plain silver on them. Stu

 

Grille color is Sungate Ivory

 

No, not according to the Chassis Catalogs. Sungate Ivory is M2J-68, and listed for 1954. Stu

 

Is it possible that the color is the same but the name Sungate was added later. The 53 grille would have been Sungate Ivory also as it was the same as the 54 grille.

 

If so why are there different numbers, and separate descriptions in the books? Sungate is listed only for 1954. No Ivory color is listed for 1953 in the January, 1954, and December, 1955, catalogs. I find nothing at all on this subject in the reprint 48-56 catalog. Stu

 

You have the books, Stu. You must be right. I don't know why Sungate Ivory is not listed for the 53 grille. I am going on dealer literature i have that speaks about the grille color. I can't look now as we are about to eat our New Years Day dinner of pork and sauerkraut!

I'll report back tonight or tomorrow.

 

Seems odd that nothing is cited for 1953. Sort of leaves the impression that they would either have been body color or chrome. But I'm sure there are unrestored 1953s out there found with Ivory grilles.

Enjoy your dinner. This isn't worth getting indigestion. Happy New Year. Stu

 

Stu,
I am still looking at my dealer literature for mention of Sungate Ivory for 53 grilles.

I have found this on ebay however, an NOS parking lamp door which is painted the stock color. Part number is FAC-13210-A. This doesn't name the color but by this if 54 is Sungate Ivory and if this light door is for 53-54 then 53 is also Sungate Ivory.

Here is the link to the NOS door.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/122294866783?ul_noapp=true

 

Yeah, no explaining the silence on trim color on 53s in the Chassis Catalogs. Everything we've come to know says 53/54s were the same. For us manure spreader guys I wish I knew what the difference was between the simple word "Ivory", and code M2J-137, listed for 51/52s vs the "Sungate Ivory", and code M2J-68, listed for 54. But again, it's not something to get indigestion over.

Unless Julie wants to come back and argue about it. Stu

 

Now don't give him/her an open invitation!

Well, I couldn't find definitive proof that the 53 grille was Sungate Ivory. I thought it was in the 53 full color dealer catalog. But it wasn't.

I have a 1955 Dealer Truck Handbook. On the reverse of the color chip page it details what is painted body color, what is painted black and so on for both the standard cab and Custom Cab. Here is what it says about the 55 trucks: "The horizontal grille bars, headlamp bodies and parking lamp frame doors are finished in Snowshoe White paint which blends in with any of the standard colors. All F-100 series wheels are painted Snowshoe White."

I have the pages to the 54 dealer handbook loose, not in the 6 ring binder. The paint chip page is missing from these loose pages, unfortunately. Would the 53 handbook describe the paint, trim, and upholstery in detail like the 55 handbook? Will keep an eye on eBay for one...

And it is a mystery why you can't find in print the grille color for 53.

 

I have a '54 Dealer Handbook, but won't be back home till this evening. Will report back. Stu

 

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it and yes I am restoring the original split rims I am familiar with the type of plating you mentioned Thanks again

 

Stu, here is a pic of the back side of the Mercury truck 1953 handbook posted by Tienmac on another thread.



The paint color for the grille is "a neutral ivory color." Hmmm....

 

Back of 1954 colors page. Sungate Ivory.



I also looked in the January, 1954, Big Job catalog and find the same descriptions and numbers as in the other catalogs. I then looked in the July, 1953, and January, 1955, OSI Catalogs to see if the codes were substituted. They were not. I then looked in the January, 1952, Ford Body Parts 1944 to 1952 catalog to see what it shows. It shows Sungate Ivory (M 2J-68) in 1952, but I think only for cars because it also lists Ivory (M 2J-137) for 1951/52 Trucks (Exterior). Stu