MTFCA Forum

The "Mystery" is: What was the original color of my 1927 coupe?

It has been 67 years since I purchased the coupe (1954). I had it repainted at that time as you see in the first photo. I don't remember the details; that is, why we repainted it and how we chose the body color. As you will see, we apparently tried to match the color, which I assume was the original.

I have taken a series of photos in areas where I believe have never been repainted. I realize that the color in those areas has probably changed over the 94 years of the coupe's life.

McCalley's "Model T Ford" book (page 403) states "By the fall of 1926 (1927 models?), all closed cars were apparently painted in a choice of three colors: Royal Maroon, Highland Green, and Fawn Gray." The article goes on to say later production used the new Pyroxylin paint. It lists those colors as Black, Highland Green, Royal Maroon, Fawn Gray, Gunmetal blue, Phoenix Brown, Commercial Green, Moleskin and Drake Green.

Now look at the photos and tell me which of the above colors do you think was used on my coupe!!!!

Five photos here and more to come.

More photos.

One more and descriptions.

One set was under the terminal. One set was in the gas tank area behind where the pad between the tank and the fire wall sets. One set at the driver door.

Any suggestions on what color I should paint the coupe, that is the next step in the restoration.

BLB27 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:34 pm

Any suggestions on what color I should paint the coupe, that is the next step in the restoration.

As Jeff mentions: You can't tell a color by its product name. Also computer screens don't always render the same hues, yours, mine or theirs.
In a previous discussion it was mentioned that Sherwin Williams might be able to match from a "large" color sample. Might need to use the underside of the deck lid (minimal fading). Can't hurt to ask

I can't debate colors but having had two T's that were unmolested in the past, I have some thoughts about the finish of the samples you took. All of the T's I have had were black so that is why I say that I cannot debate colors. However, in looking at your samples, they seem to have a slight texture of possible spraying that I did not think was in vogue in 1927. I assume your car was restored some time in the passed and maybe that is why I feel that the samples may not be original. Just my feeling.
Having restored cars also, it is impossible to avoid the "better than what came off the line" appearance. We seem to do the extra sanding/filling and use high gloss paint. I guess that is the nature of restoration.

My 28 A pickup has Rock Moss green body and fenders, which is a carryover from the improved coupes and maybe the two-door sedans as well, I'm not sure on that I've never had a rock moss green 26 or 27 two-door sedan.. The 28 A pickup Rock moss green color looks like that, even though it's hard to tell from internet photos. So if I had to guess I'd say start with rock moss green in comparison with your original paint sample. There was a lot of carryover in Parts between the 28-29 pickup body and the 26 27 Coupe and 2-door bodies. Like, for example, the doors fit each other although the hinges are a bit different. So it might stand to reason that maybe they use the same paint too, and I think it's a very pretty color, not too Green if you know what I mean.

It looks gray to me and the only description of a gray is "Fawn Gray". I would agree with the above, that if you like the existing color, you should take a small piece such as perhaps the flap over the gas tank filler if it still has good paint take it to the paint store and ask for a color match.
Norm

It does look gray not green on my computer. It looked greenish on my phone, sorry.

Yes get an exacto knife and take off a chip; they can scan it and match it exactly. No use to use the old forumala charts anymore...

Maybe you should use a little bit of rubbing compound on one of those areas and try to remove the oxidation to reveal the true color.

I was leaning towards Commercial Green (Rock Moss Green) but it would help to do as suggested, some rubbing compound on an area for color matching. As I stated earlier, a previous discussion indicated that a large sample was needed for color matching not just a chip. Another alternative is to have a small sample of the suggestions made to see if any are close. Realize to that your color may not be original but was what was the closest available at the time you did the repaint.
From the possible colors you can eliminate many
BODY COLORS
Enamels - Black, Channel Green and Windsor Maroon
Pyroxylin - Black, Highland Green, Royal Maroon, Fawn Gray, Gunmetal Blue, Phoenix Brown, Commercial Green, Moleskin and Drake Green.
From other discussions Remember none of the colors shown can not be displayed the same across computer screens as noted above. --

I don't like the color that is on it. My post was to get comments regarding what others thought the color might be. Just curious.

I am thinking of using a marron or green color. I would appreciate photos of 1926/1927 coupes of various colors.

I was at a Model T union in Minnesota this summer and took these two photos. I have been comparing them with some of the photos of my coupe on this post. Especially, the ones at locations that have never been painted.

I am beginning to believe that the color on the Minnesota Model T is probably close to the original color of my coupe.

What do you think?

I don't like the color that is on it. My post was to get comments regarding what others thought the color might be

Your Coupe is Fawn Gray. Too bad you don't like that color, as Green and Maroon T's are so common. That Gray is nice to my eyes.

This owner restored a family heirloom sedan that was painted over in Green, locating original paint under parts , he researched and found the color match to be Ditzler Prroxylin #30575 Dawn Gray/Ford Fawn Gray. He also used another known original car in that hue to match this color exactly.

*Model T Times, No.429 Sept/Oct 2020

These colors are adv. by Ford for the later Improved Cars
Click on image to enlarge


That Fawn Gray sure looks nice!
BTW, the body stripe color on Fawn Gray is Cream. And Cream color wire wheel would look outstanding on your Coupe too. Your wheels may have been Cream (Straw) originally.

My thoughts are it is your car and what ever color you like and the family then that is the color it will be. Years ago I painted our 65 Mustang, it took six different pints of Blue paint to find the color we all liked. I used all the other colors mixed them together and sprayed it all over inside where it was going to be covered up anyways.

BLB27 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:34 pm

Any suggestions on what color I should paint the coupe, that is the next step in the restoration.

Play it safe and paint it BLACK!! You can't go wrong there!!

I suspect that you'd find that many new late T Fords of a particular color did not all match any and all other late new T Fords in that particular color.