| ’65 Mustang Engine Color Quick Reference |
| Engine/Part |
Color |
Brand |
| 200ci valve cover |
Red |
Duplicolor 1605 |
| 200ci air cleaner |
Red |
Duplicolor 1605 |
| 200ci block, head, oil pan |
gloss black |
Duplicolor 1635 (semigloss black)
Duplicolor 1613 (gloss black) |
| 289ci valve covers |
Gold |
Duplicolor 1604 |
| 289ci air cleaner |
Gold |
Duplicolor 1604 |
| 289ci block, heads, intake manifold,oil pan |
gloss black |
Duplicolor 1635 (semigloss black)
Duplicolor 1613 (gloss black) |
| 289 High Performance valve covers |
Chrome |
N/A |
| 289 High Performance air cleaner |
ChromeOpen Element |
N/A |
289 High Performance block, heads,
intake manifold, oil pan |
gloss black |
Duplicolor 1635 (semigloss black)
Duplicolor 1613 (gloss black) |
1966
For many years prior to 1966, Ford engines were color-keyed to specific applications and carlines. For 1966, this practice changed, when all Ford engines were painted Ford Corporate Blue. Instead of color-keyed valve covers and air cleaners, the entire engine would be Ford Blue, like the Ford Blue Oval and the Ford Blue offset dealer signs popping up in 1966. Ford's message for 1966 and beyond was simple-if it is blue, it is power by Ford.
As in 1964-'65, Ford continued to paint the valve covers separate from the engines. Engine long-blocks, which included block, intake manifold, heads, and oil pan, were all painted Ford Blue, a darker blue that covered all hardware except the valve-cover bolts. Valve covers were installed toward the end of engine assembly using natural metal bolts with integral lock washers. We've learned through observation and conversation with restorers that Duplicolor's Dark Ford Blue (1606) is an accepted color for '66 and later Ford engine restorations. An alternative, when Duplicolor isn't available, is Krylon's Dark Ford Blue, which is also the correct shade of dark blue. Plastikote is another paint brand, Royal Blue (1134) an acceptable color for '66 and later
In 1966, Ford painted all...
In 1966, Ford painted all of its engines Ford Corporate Blue. This is the base V-8 for 1966, the 289-2V engine. Beneath the Ford Blue air cleaner is an Autolite 2100 two-barrel carburetor.
This is the 271-horse 289...
This is the 271-horse 289 High Performance V-8 with a hotter mechanical lifter camshaft, Autolite 4100 carburetion, and a dual-point Autolite distributor. Everything besides the chrome valve covers and Hi-Po air cleaner is Ford Blue.
Unchanged from 1966, the 200...
Unchanged from 1966, the 200 returned with invisible improvements that made it a more reliable engine. This engine is the dark Ford Corporate Blue that made its debut in 1966. Valve-cover bolts are natural metal. Sports Sprint models have a chrome air-cleaner housing, just like the '66 Sprint 200, which was available during Spring 1966.
The big news for 1967 was...
The big news for 1967 was the 325-horse 390 High Performance big-block. Note the correct Ford Blue color beneath the chrome air-cleaner lid.
1967
The engine lineup for 1967 didn't change much, with the exception of the optional 390ci High Performance big-block from the FE-series family. Ford Blue was again a mainstay for all Ford engines, including the base 200ci six, the base 289-2V small-block V-8, and the 225-horse 289-4V engine with a new carburetor design-the Autolite 4300. The 271-horse 289 High Performance returned for 1967 with mechanical lifters and a more radical camshaft profile than its 2V and 4V sidekicks. However, the biggest news for 1967 was the 325-horse 390, also clad in Ford Blue, with chrome stamped-steel valve covers and a chrome-topped high-performance air cleaner.
1968
Base power for 1968 was again the 200ci six, with either Thermactor or IMCO emissions improvement systems. Although we tend to associate the 289ci V-8 with the beginning of the '68 model year, it was offered and produced for the entire model year. New for 1968 was the stroked 302ci small-block that would ultimately replace the 289. The optional 289 High Performance was dropped after 1967. Contrary to fantasies, there never was a 302 High Performance with a mechanical camshaft and special heads. The most we can dream about there is the 302 Tunnel Port High Performance V-8 Ford produced only for Trans-Am competition that year.
Back was the 390 High Performance with chrome-steel valve covers and air-cleaner lid. The 390 returned virtually unchanged for 1968. The biggest flash for 1968 was the 428 Cobra Jet introduced mid-year on April 1, 1968. One engine we rarely hear about is the X code 390-2V V-8 installed in a handful of Mustangs for 1968. What do all of these engines have in common? They're all blue-Ford Blue-from air cleaner to oil pan.
The 289 appeared one last...
The 289 appeared one last time for 1968 as a two-barrel only.
For 1968, Ford introduced...
For 1968, Ford introduced the longer stroke small-block displacing 302ci. Can you tell what's wrong with this 302? It is nicely restored, but it is painted Light Ford Blue instead of the correct Dark Ford Blue.
1969-'70
In case you haven't figured it out, Ford became committed to Ford Corporate Blue after 1965. It was an engine color people could identify with; if it's dark blue, it must be a Ford powerplant.
The 1969 Mustang was redesigned from bumper to bumper, with twin-set headlamps and a mouthy grille. With that came a greater lineup of engines. Base power was, again, the 200ci six, with a taller deck 250ci six and 155 hp, added to the option list.
A bright spot for 1969-'70 was the standard 302ci V-8, 220hp work-horse. Spanking new for 1969 was the raised-deck small-block displacing 351ci. It was a wider small-block, with the 302's 4-inch bores but a longer 3.50-inch stroke. With optional four-barrel carburetion, the 351 made 290 hp. Back for 1969 were the 390 High Performance and 428 Cobra Jet V-8s-both producing more than 320 hp.
For 1969-'70, two high-performance V-8s debuted that would change the world of Ford performance forever-the Boss 302 with 290 hp, and the hemi-head Boss 429 with 375 hp on tap. Both were short-lived and available only in limited quantities before it all came to an end in late-'70.