Hey guys, is it possible to find out the original color of my truck with nothing but the VIN number? There is no tag in the glove box, no tag on the door, just the number on the frame. I got my pocket knife and scratched at the paint in several spots and it looks like white, but the color chips I got on the internet don't show a white color. I am stumped!

 

Cory, there's nothing in the vin about color.
Only model, engine and chassis size along with the consecutive production number. A '48 F2 6 cyl would have a vin like this: 87HY 110140 or lower OR 87HD 110141 and higher numbers.

There should be a data plate on the firewall, passenger side up near the hood hinge. Also the rating plate on the glovebox door gives the vin, but that doesn't help you much. You can also find the consecutive number on the frame rail. Mine is on top of the passenger rail right behind the front crossmember. Light stamping - scrub the rail clean and shine a light at an oblique angle to see the numbers.

The only place you might have color id is on a production stamping on the firewall. High and slightly toward the driver's side. It will look like this: 7RHI2L6025

This is an inexact science - I've been researching this for the past 5 years and still havn't come up with definitive info. If you find such a stamping, please list it and I'll decipher it as best I can.

'48 trucks only came in 5 colors Meadow Green, Vermillion (red), Black, Birch Gray, and Chrome Yellow. Weathered gray can look pretty white.............maybe?

 

Thanks Tim,
Is this number on a plate or stamped into the firewall? I see nothing except for the cab plate on the pass. side, it only has 3 digits stamped into it. I see nothing else, but if it is stamped into the metal of the firewall, I may find it as I tear it down, and buff the paint off.

As far as the colors go, what is the colors I got from the autolibrary? There are 18 colors on it, and it says they are for ford cars and trucks from 38 to 49. I send it to you if you want.

Thanks again!

 

The string of numbers/letters are stamped right into the firewall in 1/2" high characters just right of the centerline and just below the heavy seam of the cowl on my '48 F1. I didn't notice mine until I stripped off the old paint. Let me know what you find - I'm curious.

What are the 3 digits on the cab plate?

Colors - the rest of the colors are various auto and truck colors used during that time period.
In 46 my source says trucks came only in 2 shades of green.
In '47 they had 5 colors, and in '48/9 there were 5 colors with a couple of switches from the '47 lineup.
By '50 trucks could be had in 10 colors.
During 46-48 sedan deliveries generally had 10-14 color options - much more than the trucks, so it's quite likely the paint chips for '37-49 had 18 colors listed.

 

Ok, I am with you on this color sheet, the only color it lists that you wrote earlier is Vermillion. I will strip the area off this week and let you know, will also try and read the 3 digits and report back...Thanks so much for you help Tim

 

I have a related question about color that I can't find the answer to. My 49 F1 is birch gray. (yes it could look kind of white). The question I keep asking is: What is the stock color of the headliner, visors, kick panels, and seat. Was the seat brown? Headliner, visors, kick panels, Black? Grey?

Not I bit of original interior to get a sample from.

 

try scratching the paint between or under something that people usually dont take the time to repaint. you might find it there.

 

I know the repop industry is making red, gray, black and brown.

I have seen stock colors of brown, black and gray. From what I've seen the seat, headliner and kick panels were always the same color.

Matching exterior with interiors I 'spose could be a real minefield. I'd like to learn what you guys have seen in stock configuration. My Meadow Green truck had brown interior. Anybody want to kick this around a little?

 

ok Tim, I found the original color, it was a dark blue. I still haven't had any luck finding a number though. The cab tag high on the pass. side of the firewall, just under the hinge, the 3 digits are CG and I think the last digit is either O or 0, can't tell which one. I scratched all the paint off the top of the firewall, just under the cowl seam with no luck. I don't guess you can show a diagram or something of the sort as to exactly where you found your number could you?
It would be much appreciated.

 

If the link below doesn't work, check my gallery under the '48 and look at the picture that says "This was stenciled on......"

Just below the painted '8' between the welded seam and the raised rib you can make out roughly where the stamping is located.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=10510&width=2

I can't come up with anything that makes sense of 'CGO' Sorry.

 

Well crap, I don't have a stamping like you have on my truck. Are you sure there wasn't a dark blue in 48? I have found some and polished it and it looks very similar to the Strata Blue.

 

Am I sure? I was born in '53

You might check out this link for Sheridan Blue and Alpine Blue.

If your truck happens to be an early '50, it could have been Sheridan blue. The cabs are identical to '48 and '49.

http://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/...-ford-pg01.jpg

You might also check the top of the frame rails. My '48 has the 6 digit serial number stamped right beside the motor mount on the passenger side. Some guys report them on the driver's side. If your truck should happen to be a '50 it'll have a high serial number.

 

Thanks for all your help Tim!