Factory Paint
I'm restoring a '70 Boss 302 and have a few questions about the exterior paint. Did Mustangs have straight enamel or acrylic enamel? My car's paint code is D, which is listed on the buildsheet as Yellow and is sometimes called Bright Yellow. I have seen some yellow '70 Boss 302s that seem to be too bright, but I want my car to be as close to the original color as possible. As the cars were painted on the assembly line, were they buffed or sealed with any type of clearcoat? Also, was there any orange peel? What type and brand of paint do you recommend?Tim OliveVia the Internet
The factory paint used on '70 Mustangs was baked acrylic enamel. All were single-stage paint. The '70 Mustangs didn't have clearcoat, nor were they sanded or buffed after painting. All Mustangs had some orange peel in the paint surface. The original baked acrylic enamel used on '70 Mustangs was excellent for durability and gloss.
Ditzler PPG still makes Delstar acrylic-enamel, single-stage paint in Bright Yellow, code D for '70 Mustangs. The Ditzler yellow is correct for color match and factory-type appearance. We use Ditzler products in our shop.
CJ Shaft Stripes
I'm preparing to detail the driveshaft in my '69 428 Cobra Jet Mach 1 with the R-code engine, four-speed, and 3.50 rear-axle ratio, and I can't find any information about the markings and where they should be placed. I know they are band-type and follow the length of the shaft, but what colors should I use, where should I place them, and in what order? Any help would be appreciated.Mark CrossMilton, Ontario,Canada
The paint stripes on the driveshaft for a '69 428CJ four-speed Mustang are as follows: From front to rear near the center of the shaft are a trio of 2-inch-wide stripes, colors white, red, and violet. The distance between the stripes is about 211/42-inches. At the rear of the driveshaft toward the third member is a 31/44-inch white stripe about 4 inches from the U-joint.
True Blue
In the May issue of Mustang Monthly, there are features on a '67 Shelby, a '69 Mach 1, and a '72 Mach 1. Looking at the engine photos, all three are painted different shades of Ford "Corporate Blue." The '72 is the darkest, which I believe is the true color. Which engine is truly painted the correct shade?Jim EvansManchaca, TX
The Ford Corporate Blue from late '65 to '73 was the same shade. However, in photos, the color often appears inconsistent due to lighting (flash, bright sunlight, shade), camera exposure, and so on. Color gets even more inconsistent when the photos are transferred to the printed page.
The original Corporate Blue was Ford PN EP-2075-C. My Ditzler paintchip chart has a mix code of 13358 for Ford Engine Blue. At my shop, we use PPG's DAR 13358 for all '66-'73 Ford engines and find it to be accurate to original painted parts.
Original Wires
I recently attended the Shelby American Automobile Club's national convention in Danville, Virginia. There were several very nice, unrestored '67 Shelbys in the concours division, including a GT500. In the trunk were the original spark plug wires and distributor cap that were taken off when the car was tuned. The wires were black with yellow-green printing. I've never seen the yellow-green print on original wires before. Did some original Autolite wires come with that color?John KlopteinRock Hill, SC
I also observed the blue '67 GT500 at SAAC-31. The spark-plug wires and distributor cap were indeed original for the car. The wire set was dated 3Q67, and the yellowish printing is correct for the application. Another interesting point was the No. 6 plug-wire boot, which attaches to the spark plug. It was orange rather than black like the other seven boots. This is also consistent with Ford FE plug wire sets during the '66-'67 era. Did you also notice the original belts in the trunk dated 1966? The '67 Shelby Unrestored class at SAAC-31 was outstanding!
Send restoration questions to: Resto Roundup, c/o Bob Perkins, Perkins Restoration, North 3123, Highway 16 & 26, Juneau, WI 53039. Send e-mail to: mustang.monthly@primedia.com.