Paint Questions

PICKUP

QUESTION
The paint schemes in the Q&A section are very good but they do not have the pickups listed. Could you add pickup paint colors or send to me by return e-mail the paint colors for the model A pickups? Thanks, Ken Kissler

ANSWER
Hi Ken, Here are the pickup paint choices by year:
1928 Commercial, Open Cab, Closed Cab, A & AA Panel Delivery
1929 Commercial, Open Cab, Closed Cab
1930 Commercial, open Cab, Closed Cab A & AA Panel Deliveries
1931 Commercial, Open Cab Closed Cab A & AA Panel Delivery
Bill Barlow, Technical Director 2002

Question:
I am looking for pictures of a 1931 Cabriolet convertible painted in Maroon and Black. The only pictures I can find of a car in this year are Ken Schmidt's Yellow and Brown car. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. -- Keith Fritze

Answer:
I have no source of such a photo but maybe one of our readers will have one and respond. Also, check the MAFCA Web site's Model A Photo Album. You might find a member's car featured there. -- Rick Black, webmaster.

Question:
Hello. I have a question for you about a 1928 Model A. What parts, on the engine and transmission, get painted Ford green, and what parts get painted black? I was told (for the engine) the metal parts get painted black and the cast parts get painted Ford Green. Is that also true for the transmission? Thank you very much for your time. -- William Davis

Answer:
You are correct William. All cast iron parts including the intake manifold, and the transmission are Ford Green. The Exhaust manifold is painted heat resistant flat black or gray. If there is anything else I can help you with let me know. -- Les Andrews, Technical Director

Question:
I am restoring a 1929 Fordor with a Briggs body. It's serial number indicates it was made in March. I have a book "How to restore the Model A Ford" which gives a listing of colors, but it is pretty confusing. I haven't had much time to do research, and I want to paint it as close as possible to original colors. Can you send me a listing of the original color combinations for this model? I would like to paint the body a light color, and as best as I can tell from my book, Arabian Sand was a color used in 1929, but I'm not sure if it was used on the Fordor? -- Gary Miller

Answer:
Here are the paint colors listed for the 29 Leatherback Sedan (60B) : Lower Body/Upper Body Bonnie Gray/Chelsea Blue; Vagabond Green/Rock Moss Green; Rose Beige/Seal Brown; Andalusite Blue/Andalusite Blue; Thorne Brown/Black ; Bramble Brown/Throne Brown . The Model A Judging Standards Book show good detail for the entire paint schemes. You might want to get a copy of that book before you start. The interior for the 29 Leatherback was brown hairline (60A and 60B) or Brown check (60C).

Question:
I need some help with Paints and Finishes. Can I get a clearer definition as to the Engine Compartment Finish Codes? i.e. B - Black, would that be a flat, gloss, high gloss etc.? How about Fenders, Frame, Cross Members, Chassis Parts painted black; would that be a flat, gloss, high gloss? I would appreciate any help you can send on this issue. I'am trying to restore my 1929 in time for the June '98 show in Reno. -- Joe Farinacci

Answer:
The judging standards indicate a "B" means "Black", which is a gloss black. An item listed as "Bd" means "dull black". This appears on the carburetor and the drain handle and spring on the bottom of the cast iron sediment bowl. "Bd" is a flat or dull black. The carburetor was actually identified in Ford specs as JAPAN BLACK. Its hard to know exactly what that was. A brand paint called Plasti-Coat #344 is a flat Black Lacquer and accepted in judging. -- Les Andrews, Technical Director

Question:
Do the floorboards have all surfaces painted/stained black? Under floor mats the boards would be colored.... how about wood body blocks - black, body color or natural wood?

Answer:
The wood floor boards and all wood body blocks were treated with a dull black wood preservative, on all sides before installation. A flat black paint comes close to matching the original treatment. On most original body blocks I have removed, the original "so called" preservative did not adhere well to the wood. The floor boards were treated on all sides also. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Question. I'm restoring a 1930 Coupe. What is recommended for covering the interior of the cab with paint?

Answer: Prime and paint the interior the same as you do the exterior ....sanding and rubbing is not required. The interior is painted the same color as the main body color. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Question:
I am restoring a 1928 Fordor, body style 60A. The paint colors I am going to use are Rose Beige, Seal Brown and Orange for the stripe. Are there any formulas or codes available for these colors in acrylic enamel or polyurethane paints? Thank you for any information you may have. -- John Hand, Boise, Idaho

Answer: Model A paint formulas are not available. This applies to modern paint. Your paint dealer will have to mix and match. The old lacquer paint formulas are still available but your State EPA may not allow you to buy the paint....There is a paint dealer in Oregon that has most of the colors and can mix them:
Car Color Specialties
Big M Shopping Center
303 S. 5th Suite W
Springfield, Oregon 97477
Phone : (541) 726-6616

-- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Question: How was the Model A Pickup bed painted?

Answer: The Pickup bed was painted, outside and inside, along with the Pickup body but as separate units. The wood underside of the bed and sills (where applicable) were finished in a dull black wood preservative. Although there may have been some body color overspray, there was no effort to paint the bottom side of the wood floor. All inside surfaces of the box, including bolts and the wood flooring, were painted body color. Only the outside surfaces were rubbed out when ordered as an extra cost option. The Pickup box-to-frame mounting bolts were black enamel. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Question:
I am starting to paint the belt moulding - where do I start. Do I paint from the (A) top of the curve where it meets the belt moulding, (B) in the middle of the curve between the moulding and the body, or (C) where the curve meets the body. It seems I would know this before now. I have a 1929 Tudor. I have the judging standards, but may be just overlooking the section. Found a real good description on the stripe. Please give me a helping hand. -- Kerry Steffens

Answer:
I could try to define this for you but don't want to confuse you so suggest you get a copy of the Model A Ford PAINT & FINISH GUIDE from any Model A parts supplier or order from MAFCA Headquarters. This book has excellent illustrations to define the belt & mouldings, strip, reveals, and upper and lower body for painting and all the paint chip colors. -- Les Andrews, Technical Director

Question:
I am currently restoring a 1930 standard coupe and would like to paint it with poly-urethane. My problem is I can't find the paint code for any manufacturer for Kewanee green and Elkpoint green. Can You help with this. -- David Moore

Answer:
Ditzler made the original lacquer paint. They have a color library you can call and they will give you an "offset " number for like color in Ditzler Delstar Acrylic enamel. The library phone number is : 440-572-6100. -- Les Andrews, Technical Director

Question:
The Judging Standards book has a Copra Drab and a Cobra Drab listed. The PPG people here do not list them both. Combinations for the '30 were Chicle Drab and Cobra Drab. In '31, the combinations were Chicle Drab and Copra Drab. Did they both exist or is this a typo? -- Dale Blosberg

Answer:
Yes, you discovered a typo in the Judging Standards. There is only a COPRA Drab. . . no COBRA Drab. -- Les Andrews, Technical Director

Answer:
I only know of only one paint company (manufacturer) that has formulated the Model A colors, BASF Corporation, R-M Products. Your local automotive paint store may know of a local representative for BASF. I have a list of all their paint chip codes. What color do you want. Let me know and I will send you the formula code. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Question:
I am currently helping a fellow member of our club with his 29 Ford Closed cab Pickup. He has done a wonderful and correct restoration of this truck thanks to the MAFCA Judging Standards and help from fellow members of our local chapter Beehive A's. We have just one question that we cant seem to find the answer to. What is the correct striping pattern to use on this truck? The color is gun metal blue. We have found reference to open cab trucks in the Standards but it appears to be silent on the closed cab trucks. -- Randy Christiansen, Ogden, Utah

Answer:
Check the Model A Ford, Paint and Finish Guide on page 36. It give you the correct striping pattern. If you have a fax number, I can send you a copy of the page. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director

Color Charts by Year and Body Style
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