Vermillion red

G

Gilbert T

Junior Member
Good evening, I have my 1940 convertible 4 years now and this winter am planning to paint it. It seems to be vermillion red. This was a commercial colour for 1940. I cant find any trace of another colour anywhere on this car and my friend who paints professionally cant either. Would it be possible this was its original colour? or maybe it was stripped to the bones in the past but doesn't seem to have been and is quite original.
Martin
 

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Gilbert T said:
Good evening, I have my 1940 convertible 4 years now and this winter am planning to paint it. It seems to be vermillion red. This was a commercial colour for 1940. I cant find any trace of another colour anywhere on this car and my friend who paints professionally cant either. Would it be possible this was its original colour? or maybe it was stripped to the bones in the past but doesn't seem to have been and is quite original.
Martin
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This chart may help.
http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?manuf=Ford&year=1940&page=1&rows=50&size=large

BUT WAIT, there's more:

Vermillion Red is not listed as one of the body colors available for 1940 passenger car models in the Early Ford V-8 Club of America book titled The V-8 Album.

However, there is a Ford Vermillion color shown available for the 1940 Commercial Vehicles.

Mike Kubarth "Kube" has been professionally restoring 1940 Fords for many years to AACA standards and is the recognized authority on 40 Fords. Read this threat containing his expertise on this subject.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258490
 
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I have seen and had documented vermillion tudor that was used as a fire chiefs car. It had a mercury 95 hp motor from factory--99 tag under a head bolt
 
It is well documented that fleet buyers could opt for any standard color, be it a passenger car or commercial color. Depending on the size of the fleet, at extra cost they could opt of other colors as well, including those that they provided (subject to engineering approval), which would explain the fire chief's car and perhaps the subject car.
 
Perhaps a document with a North Pole letterhead signed by S. Claus ordering 20 or so of these vehicles would be the evidence needed.
 
Thanks for the replies. Best to repaint in one of the standard 40 colours. I was never gone on the bright red to be honest, it's just such a big job to do a colour change correctly is a bit daunting !
 
Some might like this photo of my 40 beside another American icon.My 41 indian chief.
 
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Gilbert: Considering the cost of paint and the cost of getting a good paint job these days choose the color you and the Mrs. like. Mandarin maroon looks very nice in my opinion. Try to get a paint job that doesn't look like the car was dipped in plastic.

I don't know your situation but, if you have the space, you could actually paint it yourself with great results. Wear a paint suit with respirator.
 
Times 2 on Mandarin Maroon. Not a paint guy, but, a friend uses a single stage paint that has a nice period look. No base/clear..... .02 cents
 
Good luck with your paint job.......Love the Indian......how do you like the “left” throttle and “right” shifter?........Mark
 
It's fun. Dont forget the foot clutch! Have a '36 chief under restoration. It's the standard fender type a lot of people prefer.
 
Yes I agree. Mandarin Maroon is the colour I had mostly thought about using. Thanks for the input it's been decided that's the colour. Santa wouldn't approve no doubt...
 
My friend paints cars for a living. Mostly old cars. Hes done some for me in the past so he will be painting it. Want it really nice. I have got lots of bits to fit to it over the last few years including a heater and the top vacuum cylinders. Even have the original radio playing period tunes through mp3. It's just that have had lots of other stuff being restored or just being worked on that has slowed the work on the 40.
 
I have recently come across a 1940 convertible spare tyre hold down. Suprised how rare these are as have been looking for one for four years. This is a copy of the original seemingly. Did someone on this forum remake these a few years ago?
 
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