1955 Thunderbird colors

[unclescott58]

As noted in the thread "What Did You Get Today" model car related, I brought up the question of what color should I paint my recently acquired AMT 1/16 scale 1955 Thunderbird kit.

I'm very partial to blue. Depending on the car, I may like a light blue. Others a dark. Every '57 Thunderbird I've ever built, I've done in a light blue. Very close to what the Ford factory offered on their Thunderbirds in '57. And like those '57s, I'd love to build my '55 Thunderbird in a factory offered light blue. The trouble is, Ford only offered the '55 Thunderbird in one factory blue color. It was called Thunderbird Blue. But it was more of a light greenish blue, than a blue to me. And in general I don't find the color all that appealing. It's okay. Just not great. 

Another color I'm think about, is a color Ford called Torch Red on the '55 Thunderbird. I actually like this color best of those offered on Thunderbirds that year. 

The third consideration is a color that Ford called Raven Black. There are three reasons for considering this color. One. The first assembly line built Thunderbird was painted this color. Two. Tom McCahill the famous car tester from the magazine Mechanix Illustrated, and my favorite writer, always claimed to have first Thunderbird sold to a private party. We know he did not have car number one. But, his was an early Thunderbird, and it too was painted Ravel Black. Number three. The ad I'm posting below. I've always loved this ad since the first time I saw it. I always felt it reeked of class. Expressing  that of what Thunderbirds have always meant to me. The guy in the Bird is who I wanted to be. Very classy. 

Other colors Ford offered on Thunderbird in 1955? There were really only two others. Starting in March of '55, you could also get Snowshoe White and Goldenrod Yellow. There was also the options of have ones '55 Bird painted in a "special" color or primer. But basically it was only the five colors listed for 1955. And unlike '56 and '57 Ford really did not encourage ordering your '55 Thunderbird with a hardtop in a different color from the main body of the color. Also in most cases, with the exception of Snowshoe White, the interior match the color of the exterior. I believe there were some late in the model run Raven Black cars with the Goldenrod Yellow interior. 

So that's it. Do I go Thunderbird Blue? Which I may have the additional problem of finding something close to in a spray can. Or Torch Red? Which I really like the looks of. Or Raven Black? Because of the history, in more ways than one. What do you guys think? 

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by unclescott58

[MrObsessive]

The '55 T-Bird I scratchbuilt (none have ever been kitted in 1/24-1/25 scale), I painted that in "Thunderbird Blue" which as you mentioned is more of a turquoise. Of all the T-Bird colors for that year I actually find that one I like the most maybe because it's so "Fifties". The others aren't bad, but to my eyes they're more run of the mill like colors you'd see on any other car but for maybe the yellow.

Here's the one I did many years ago now..............

Edited May 3, 2020 by MrObsessive

[lordairgtar]

Ford allowed special order colors from the Ford color palette. Find the one you like and call it done. That explained the Coral and Rose colored cars. I have seen T Birds painted Aquatone Blue 

[unclescott58]

5 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

The '55 T-Bird I scratchbuilt (none have ever been kitted in 1/24-1/25 scale), I painted that in "Thunderbird Blue" which as you mentioned is more of a turquoise. Of all the T-Bird colors for that year I actually find that one I like the most maybe because it's so "Fifties". The others aren't bad, but to my eyes they're more run of the mill like colors you'd see on any other car but for maybe the yellow.

Here's the one I did many years ago now..............

Beautiful Bird. You did a great job. It looks like you got the details correct.

As far as a '55 T-Bird in 1/25 scale. AMT did make a promo in 1955. And this was offered in a kit form, in a box set with two other unbuilt promos. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

41 minutes ago, lordairgtar said:

Ford allowed special order colors from the Ford color palette. Find the one you like and call it done. That explained the Coral and Rose colored cars. I have seen T Birds painted Aquatone Blue 

I like the Aquatone Blue. That's the type of blue I like on cars the size of the 2-seat Thunderbirds. I wonder at that point what they did about matching the interior colors up? Did you then get the Thunderbird Blue interior with that? Or the Raven Black one? Or did they make custom upholstered seats in a matching color? 

[unclescott58]

55 minutes ago, unclescott58 said:

Beautiful Bird. You did a great job. It looks like you got the details correct.

As far as a '55 T-Bird in 1/25 scale. AMT did make a promo in 1955. And this was offered in a kit form, in a box set with two other unbuilt promos. 

According to Bill Coulter and Bob Shelton's book, The Directory of Model Car Kits, AMT offered their 1/25 scale '55 Thunderbird in a 3-car Assembly Kit set. Kit #500. The other kits in set included a '55 Dodge Royal Lancer, and a '55 Buick Roadmaster. Being both a Buick and Thunderbird fan I love to find that set today. The '55 Dodge doesn't excite me. But, I'd be happy with it, none the less. The only trouble with finding this set, is they are as rare as hen's teeth. Coulter and Shelton's book normally tries to give values for the kits listed within their book. All the 1953-1958 3-Car Assembly Kit sets they just list the value as "rare." 

[MrObsessive]

Hmmm.........Interesting! That's the first I've heard of a '55 done in 1/25 as a kit. I'd sure like to see an up to date kit of that car as well as a new '57.