Original 289 colors?

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by BBQCYCLEWERKES

I thought the very 1st Cobras only came in 2 colors. White with Guardsman Blue stripes or Guardsman Blue with white stripes. Have I been incorrect all this time?

You are indeed incorrect. No street cars came with stripes. The comp cars were mostly shipped unpainted, although I think some of the early ones were shipped painted black or red.

These are I.C.I. paint codes. The Rosso Chiaro formula is in the PPG Nexa system, which is how I got it for my car. They formulated it as a two-stage. I remember asking about some other codes but they couldn't find them in the system; not sure which ones, although one was probably Ruby Red.

AC1 Guardsman Blue 4424m Single stage urethane, c262b Base/Clear
AC2 Dark Blue fg47 single stage
AC3 Mist Silver 6182m single stage
AC4 Ruby Red 6192m single stage
AC5 Canary Yellow fg38
AC6 Lt. Green 5302m single stage, 5vf9b Base/Clear
AC8 Rosso Chiaro fg39 single stage
AC9 Pure White fg46 single stage
AC11 Mushroom 6189m single stage
AC12 Vineyard Green ej29 single stage
AC13 Live Oak 6188m single stage
AC14 Sand 6190m single stage
AC15 Princess Blue 6191m single stage

[gmonsen]

Originally Posted by jeffy

You are indeed incorrect. No street cars came with stripes. The comp cars were mostly shipped unpainted, although I think some of the early ones were shipped painted black or red.

These are I.C.I. paint codes. The Rosso Chiaro formula is in the PPG Nexa system, which is how I got it for my car. They formulated it as a two-stage. I remember asking about some other codes but they couldn't find them in the system; not sure which ones, although one was probably Ruby Red.

AC1 Guardsman Blue 4424m Single stage urethane, c262b Base/Clear
AC2 Dark Blue fg47 single stage
AC3 Mist Silver 6182m single stage
AC4 Ruby Red 6192m single stage
AC5 Canary Yellow fg38
AC6 Lt. Green 5302m single stage, 5vf9b Base/Clear
AC8 Rosso Chiaro fg39 single stage
AC9 Pure White fg46 single stage
AC11 Mushroom 6189m single stage
AC12 Vineyard Green ej29 single stage
AC13 Live Oak 6188m single stage
AC14 Sand 6190m single stage
AC15 Princess Blue 6191m single stage

I'm trying to identify the right color for my ERA 289 slabside. The color seems to be the Ruby Red mentioned above or the AC light maroon metallic. Back in high school there was a new one in maroon with black interior in the local Ford dealer and I have dreamed about it ever since. However, I haven't found any reference in any book so far to it ever being offered in this maroon color. Also, the AC color chart shows a maroon metallic and I can't remember if the car still in my dreams was metallic or not. It was 50 years ago. Any help or comments or direction would be great.

Gordon

[Silversmith]

Originally Posted by gmonsen

I'm trying to identify the right color for my ERA 289 slabside. The color seems to be the Ruby Red mentioned above or the AC light maroon metallic. Back in high school there was a new one in maroon with black interior in the local Ford dealer and I have dreamed about it ever since. However, I haven't found any reference in any book so far to it ever being offered in this maroon color. Also, the AC color chart shows a maroon metallic and I can't remember if the car still in my dreams was metallic or not. It was 50 years ago. Any help or comments or direction would be great.

Gordon

One of the AC Cobras my buddy had was a slab side 289, CSX 2374 if I remember. It was metallic maroon in color. That was a little rocketship stoplight to stoplight! With a 411 in the rear end, she was a absolute terror and a blast! While a slabside like CSX 2058. Sitting next to each other, CSX 2374's fenders extended out further than 2058's allowing for a little more rubber, even though both were slabsides. But I also remember CSX 2374's color. It wasn't the strongest or deep metallic maroon color; actually it was on the slightly lighter side. But I do remember that color well.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by Silversmith

One of the AC Cobras my buddy had was a slab side 289, CSX 2374 if I remember. It was metallic maroon in color. That was a little rocketship stoplight to stoplight! With a 411 in the rear end, she was a absolute terror and a blast! While a slabside like CSX 2058. Sitting next to each other, CSX 2374's fenders extended out further than 2058's allowing for a little more rubber, even though both were slabsides. But I also remember CSX 2374's color. It wasn't the strongest or deep metallic maroon color; actually it was on the slightly lighter side. But I do remember that color well.

Approximately .5" wider flare to the later cars with the switch from 5.5" Dunlop wheels to 6" Dunlop wheels.

[gmonsen]

Originally Posted by Silversmith

One of the AC Cobras my buddy had was a slab side 289, CSX 2374 if I remember. It was metallic maroon in color. That was a little rocketship stoplight to stoplight! With a 411 in the rear end, she was a absolute terror and a blast! While a slabside like CSX 2058. Sitting next to each other, CSX 2374's fenders extended out further than 2058's allowing for a little more rubber, even though both were slabsides. But I also remember CSX 2374's color. It wasn't the strongest or deep metallic maroon color; actually it was on the slightly lighter side. But I do remember that color well.

Well, I found in a book I bought in 1965, The Cobra Story by Shelby himself talking to John Bentley published by Trident, that in 1964 it was offered in "red, maroon,white, black, bright blue, princess blue, and silver". That Metallic Merlot looks about as close as I've seen to what I remember.

What I don't remember is whether the maroon Cobra I saw in the showroom was metallic or not. It was really nice looking, but, as a 17 year old, I didn't focus and don;t remember whether it was metallic or not. In my dreams, it isn't metallic. I'm wondering whether its not Jaguar Imperial Maroon (JAG302). That color was British, was available at the time, and AC cars would have had access to it at the time. There were not many paint variations offered in 1965.

Gordon

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Silversmith

One of the AC Cobras my buddy had was a slab side 289, CSX 2374 if I remember. It was metallic maroon in color. That was a little rocketship stoplight to stoplight! With a 411 in the rear end, she was a absolute terror and a blast! While a slabside like CSX 2058. Sitting next to each other, CSX 2374's fenders extended out further than 2058's allowing for a little more rubber, even though both were slabsides. But I also remember CSX 2374's color. It wasn't the strongest or deep metallic maroon color; actually it was on the slightly lighter side. But I do remember that color well.

The name of the color on CSX2374 is Rouge Iris.

[Blas]

Is this of any help?

[IMG][/IMG]

[gmonsen]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

The name of the color on CSX2374 is Rouge Iris.

Yep. Except I haven't found the paint formulation for "Rouge Iris". Do you know if it was a metallic or not? I just can't find what that color is through any code cross referencing. I don't think they had a color mixed up special for the cars and suspect it must be some maroon that was around at the time, like Ford's Royal Maroon or Jaguar's Imperial Maroon or possibly even Regency Red.

Blas... Thanks. I've seen that and the codes on the back. It says "Maroon", which is the only name I found in early books or on the Shelby Register. I've tried searching down "Rouge Iris" (or "Maroon" expressed as Red-Blue, right). I mean, there are several maroons I'd probably be happy with, but I did fall in love with the original color and can take the time to figure it out.

Here's a link to a 1964 289 MKII in "Maroon" and that's basically the car I saw in the showroom as a teenager. Maroon with a black interior. It didn't have the hood scoop, but, hey.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ca...?id=lmzr55k5rd

Gordon