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I'm about to buy a '78 F-250 Ranger. It is a "U" code cream monochrome from the factory. But I am thinking about switching to a 2-tone paint because I really like the look. I've been searching, but I'm coming up empty trying to find a list of available 2-tone styles. Seems Ford offered several variations of 2-tone and I'd like to understand what the differences where. Were all the styles available on all trim levels? Did some styles only come with certain packages? I'm not going for a concourse restoration here, just trying to get a feel for what would be "right" for the theme I'm working towards. And, yes, I know I can do whatever since it's my truck. I just want to stick with what would have been possible for my rig. So if anybody can point me to something that explains what the different styles were and what they came on, that would be awesome.
You may want to see if you can find on line 78 dealer brosures or give Google a try for 78 Ford trucks to see what combos that show up.
Now 1 thing to keep in mind is where the 2 colors meet there was a molding or a decal strip.
Can you still get the moldings and dont even think of using NOS decals as the sticky part will be NFG! But someone may make repo's of both the moldings and decals.
I was lucky with my 81 F100 flare side as it was two tone from the factory and I likes the colors.
Thing is it uses decals between the colors and no one makes them.
I thought of just doing a simple pin strip but after 4 years of rebuilding I just wanted to enjoy the truck and left the 2 colors just meet up.
I did do the color meet like the factory did and no one has said anything about the decals missing.
So as you said do it like you wish after looking over a few trucks.
Dave ----
Wow, you guys are being strict today! :-)
It does literally mean, one color, or a variation on one color theme.
Originally I thought it was used for photographs or TV screens, but can also be used to describe other items.
Also “monochromatic“ but that could be a slightly different meaning, possibly. I didn’t look it up, so just throwing it out there.
dang, now I’m gonna have to go look that up…
OK, maybe that’s what you were trying to get across. Monochromatic literally means a single color.
Which, as you all knew already, is basically what the OP was asking about.
And speaking of that… Wasn’t there a very extensive thread on here showing all, or at least most of the different color combinations for two-tone paint that was available on our trucks in the 70s?
Anybody have a link to that discussion?
I'm about to buy a '78 F-250 Ranger. It is a "U" code cream monochrome from the factory. But I am thinking about switching to a 2-tone paint because I really like the look. I've been searching, but I'm coming up empty trying to find a list of available 2-tone styles. Seems Ford offered several variations of 2-tone and I'd like to understand what the differences where. Were all the styles available on all trim levels? Did some styles only come with certain packages? I'm not going for a concourse restoration here, just trying to get a feel for what would be "right" for the theme I'm working towards. And, yes, I know I can do whatever since it's my truck. I just want to stick with what would have been possible for my rig. So if anybody can point me to something that explains what the different styles were and what they came on, that would be awesome.
I did a thread when I was finally redoing my '77, I was trying to decide colors, looks, etc. As I removed my old trim, I knew I did not want to reuse most of it, and some great suggestions were posted .... with pictures of how Ford might have ... or did ... "do it". It's a easy thumb through the posts. I haven't done anything yet with tape, etc .... I so like the white and black. I have a plan for my '77 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)
Here's what was available from the factory in 1978. Notice that all used the race track trim, except the "regular" tu tone. While not easy, it is possible to add the race track trim to a truck that didn't come with it.
A Ranger like your truck should have narrow trim in the dent. That makes it easy to do the earlier style of tu tone. 1976 & older used a different style of tu tone, but I don't have a brochure to show it. Second pic is my 1979 done in the 1976 & older style of tu tone.
Here's what was available from the factory in 1978. Notice that all used the race track trim, except the "regular" tu tone. While not easy, it is possible to add the race track trim to a truck that didn't come with it.
A Ranger like your truck should have narrow trim in the dent. That makes it easy to do the earlier style of tu tone. 1976 & older used a different style of tu tone, but I don't have a brochure to show it. Second pic is my 1979 done in the 1976 & older style of tu tone.
That was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
I'd definitely go for one of the earlier styles. I'm sure adding the racetrack is not a DIY sort of job. But the regular tu-tone is an option. Kind of classy.
Seems I'd more or less be limited to the upper/lower split. Adding the racetrack trim would be more trouble than I car for. Not entirely sure that I want to bother at all. Might just go back with the original single color.
Technically, the truck is already tu-tone. Tri-tone if you count the spots were the original color shows through.
Ha ha! I Tri-tone for sure!
I had long ago decided the same thing. I love the look of the two tones with race track trim, but not gonna go to that trouble and expense to put it on.
Bad enough that I have to use the center dent trim, but I would love a two-tone with mine.
Thought that, even though it would be an unusual combination, I’d keep my original gold upper, so the firewall and cowl match without having to paint it, and do a Wimbledon White lower.
Then paint the camper shell the same Wimbledon White.
assuming I get around to it in my lifetime that is…
