1957 Ford Engine Color

[Jim B]

Just like the title says, what color would the engine be for a 1957 Ford car?  How about a 1950/51 pick-up?

[Jim B]

Ok, so I found this for the colors for the Ford Flathead V8 from 1932 - 1954:

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/

Now I just need something definitive for the 1957 Ford.

[XJ6]

Ok, so I found this for the colors for the Ford Flathead V8 from 1932 - 1954:

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/

Now I just need something definitive for the 1957 Ford.

Sometimes Google will get you Results 

Just a thought Good Luck ?

Don aka XJ6 ?

[Guest]

Here you go.

[oldnslow]

Depends on which engine in which car, 6 or 8, t-bird, full size or truck. Google shows mostly red repaints, but there are also green, turquoise, yellow and black in some stock unrestored pics. Looks like you can take your pick. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Most of the V8 engines in '57 Ford original or restored passenger cars I've ever seen were red. The valve covers could be different from model to model...black, silver, cast-alloy. Silver air cleaner housings.

In the F1 pickups, I believe the six was red and the flathead V8s were Ford dark greenishbluishgrayish. I've seen references to "bronze" colored V8 engines in these, but I've never personally seen one in the flesh.

Edited August 27, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Jim B]

Thanks for the help, guys.  I'll check the model box to see what engine is in the kit.  Maybe you know.  The kit is the 1957 Ford Police Car.

[Jon Haigwood]

http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=10463

From what I found when I Googled was that in 57 the block was red

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/bboogaar/

 

Bronze or green for the 50/51 Ford truck

[Travis T]

I own a 1950 Ford F-1 pickup and the flathead in it is a darker red. My grandpa bought the truck new. The engine had been changed, however the accessories that were moved off of the old engine to the new on were also dark red. My understanding is a 1950 Ford car got bronze engines and the pickup got dark red engines. I have never seen a bronze engine in an unrestored pickup.

[Art Anderson]

Most of the V8 engines in '57 Ford original or restored passenger cars I've ever seen were red. The valve covers could be different from model to model...black, silver, cast-alloy. Silver air cleaner housings.

In the F1 pickups, I believe the six was red and the flathead V8s were Ford dark greenishbluishgrayish. I've seen references to "bronze" colored V8 engines in these, but I've never personally seen one in the flesh.

 

 

Edited August 27, 2015 by Art Anderson
delete comment

[Jon Haigwood]

I see a few dark green Flatties , don't recall seeing any bronze

[Aaronw]

I wonder if the reference to bronze is actually the green color. There is a WW2 US aircraft interior color Bronze Green which was a dull medium to dark green. Ford built a lot of B-24 bombers in WW2, so could have had a stash of surplus Bronze Green paint laying around in the late 40s / early 50s.

[Jim B]

I suppose that's possible.

[Jon Haigwood]

makes sense 

[Art Anderson]

I see a few dark green Flatties , don't recall seeing any bronze

I believe that the metallic bronze came about in 1949, but later in the year.  Here's a 1950 Ford flathead V8 in bronze, in a Country Squire wagon:  

 

No, that Ford engine color is a dark metallic copper, AKA bronze.   http://www.popularrestorations.com/images/Restorations/Restoration011/data/images/1950_ford_engine_bay.jpg

 

 

[Aaronw]

I believe that the metallic bronze came about in 1949, but later in the year.  Here's a 1950 Ford flathead V8 in bronze, in a Country Squire wagon:  

 

No, that Ford engine color is a dark metallic copper, AKA bronze.   http://www.popularrestorations.com/images/Restorations/Restoration011/data/images/1950_ford_engine_bay.jpg

 

 

Interesting, I can't remember ever seeing a car of any make with an engine that color. Well that shoots a hole in my bronze green theory.

[Travis T]

Somewhere in my stash of books I have an assembly line picture of a 1951 Ford car and the flathead is most definitely bronze. I've been researching it quite a bit trying to get the right color on my 1950 F-1 engine but as far as I can tell, all signs say my pickup came with a dark red engine. I am starting to think there was no real rhyme or reason to what color each vehicle got.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Travis T

[Art Anderson]

Somewhere in my stash of books I have an assembly line picture of a 1951 Ford car and the flathead is most definitely bronze. I've been researching it quite a bit trying to get the right color on my 1950 F-1 engine but as far as I can tell, all signs say my pickup came with a dark red engine. I am starting to think there was no real rhyme or reason to what color each vehicle got.

Travis, I've seen numerous late flathead Ford V8 powered trucks (from pickups up to 1.5 tons), 1949-53, and every one of them had their engines painted red.  Incidently, those were all original, unrestored vehicles.

Art

[Anderson_15_]

I've been looking around online to try to find the perfect combination of the 1953 Hudson Hornets stock colours of "honey cream" and "ebony black". I came across yours and thought that would be perfect. Only problem is I can't figure out what the stock interior for that colour combination is. Wondering if you might have any pictures of the interior that I could copy. (Don't want to steal your idea but just want a very classy stock build). I read that a relative of yours owned one and it came as you built it. If you could post the interior that would be very helpful. Thanks

[Travis T]

Travis, I've seen numerous late flathead Ford V8 powered trucks (from pickups up to 1.5 tons), 1949-53, and every one of them had their engines painted red.  Incidently, those were all original, unrestored vehicles.

Art

That is what I have seen too, though everything says it should be green and occasionally I hear it should be bronze. I'm not doing a perfect restoration (I have a 255 Mercury from a 1953 car going in it now) but I'd like it to be close to right.

[Travis T]

Found another flathead website that seems to have more accurate information.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_specs-90to125late.htm

[rattle can man]

flathead colors link:    A little Help With Engine Color - US ONLY - The Flat-Spot (myflatheadford.com)

Ford engine colors 1959-71  link Correct Ford Engine Colors (galaxieclub.com)

[Force]

1957 is mostly red block, heads and intake manifold, valve covers are black or cast aluminum, air cleaner argent.
1958 is more difficult and the engine colors are all over the place, red, blue, green, yellow, valve covers are black, white and air cleaners are also black or white.
1959 to 1966 model year, Black block, heads, intake manifold (except aluminum) with different clolored valve covers and air cleaner depending on engine version, some have chrome valve covers and air cleaner and some of the hotter engines had cast aluminum oval air cleaners., it depends on engine version and if they ordered a dress up kit.

Edited May 28, 2024 by Force