Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand | Did Henry Ford really say “You can have it in any colour, so long as it’s black”?
When a comment is repeated often enough, it’s amazing how we can come to believe that it is true. According to several Ford family and business researchers, there’s no proof that Henry Ford ever made this statement. Yet, the public largely think that Model T Fords were only available in black. MODEL T FORD Colours, by year of production: EARLY 1909 (Carmine Red, Brewster Green, Green & Grey)
(First 2500 cars)
Touring: Carmine Red or Brewster Green.
Runabout: Grey.
Town Car, Landaulet, and Coupe: Green.
Fenders, aprons, frame and running gear were painted body colour. August 1, 1909 to November 1910, approximately. (Brewster Green)
All cars were painted Brewster Green with red striping. Fenders, aprons, running boards, chassis and running gear were also painted body colour. 1911 (Mostly Dark - Midnight - Blue, some Red and some Green)
Almost all cars were painted a very dark blue. Black is reported as an available colour but Ford records do not indicate black as a standard colour. A few Red Open Runabouts and green Town Cars were built in April 1911. It is possible that there were green early 1911 models; the date of the body change is unknown but both “blue” and “green” cars were built in later 1910 (after the 1910 fiscal year ended).
Fenders and aprons were painted body colour, although either blue or black, might have been used, based on surviving samples.
Striping of fenders and running gear began to be phased out about July on many cars. 1912 (Dark - Midnight - Blue, some Red, mostly with Black or Midnight Blue fenders)
Almost all cars were painted a very dark blue. Black is reported as an available colour but Ford records do not indicate black as a standard colour. Delivery cars came in Red (or unpainted) with the standard blue fenders. (Fender colour is listed as “black” in the 1912 Factory Facts booklet; both blue and black seem to have been used, based on existing, seemingly original, cars.) Chassis was painted black. Delivery cars discontinued at end of 1912. Body striping discontinued on most models except for Tourers. 1913 (Midnight Blue with either Midnight Blue or Black fenders)
Initially all cars were painted a very dark blue, with either blue or black fenders. Black became the standard colour early in the year. Rumble seats discontinued on runabouts from 4th February 1913. Wheels have French Grey striping. 1914 (Mostly Black, some Midnight Blue, maybe some Brewster Green)
All cars were painted black, with black fenders, except for touring bodies, which were painted blue until October, 1914. (Some Ford archives documents seem to indicate that Touring bodies changed to black, from Brewster Green, only on 20th February 1919.Closed car bodies still had a Carmine Red stripe. 1915 to 1925 (Black with Black fenders)
All cars were painted black, with black fenders. Black radiator shells from August 1916. So, these are the years you could have a Model T Ford in any colour, so long as it was black! 1926 (Initially Black with Black fenders, later Commercial Green, Channel Green, Windsor Maroon, Drake Green and Highland Green.)
All cars were painted black, with black fenders, initially. Closed cars were then offered in colours: Commercial Green and Channel Green for the Tudor and Coupe, and Windsor Maroon for the Fordor. Other options offered later in 1926, perhaps for the “1927” models, Drake Green and Highland Green. 1927 (Commercial Green, Channel Green, Drake Green, Highland Green, Phoenix Brown, Gunmetal Blue, Moleskin, Royal Maroon, all with Black fenders)
All cars had black fenders. Various body colour options, ultimately on all models. Black no longer available except on special order.
Colours available in 1927: Commercial Green, Channel Green, Drake Green, Highland Green, Phoenix Brown, Gunmetal Blue, Moleskin, Royal Maroon. Conclusion:
The early 1909 models were red and grey, but in the middle of 1909 this gave way to a dark green. During December 1910 and January, 1911, the dark green in turn was changed to a dark, midnight blue. Finally, in late 1914 to early 1915 the blues were replaced with just plain black on the open cars. From this point until the introduction of the “Improved Models” which appeared in August 1925, black was the standard colour. Roughly 11,500,000 cars were produced during this time. There is no evidence that Henry Ford ever said: “You can have it in any colour, so long as it’s black." Colours, in total: Red, Green, Grey, Brewster Green, Midnight Blue, Commercial Green, Channel Green, Windsor Maroon, Drake Green, Highland Green, Phoenix Brown, Gunmetal Blue, Moleskin and Royal Maroon. Therefore, a minimum of 14 colours. Because of the variation between batches of early colours it’s possible that there were more colours than this.
Last edited by MarkJerling; 02-10-2020 at 05:52 PM.
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