Factory paint code chart by model year
Use these tables to cross-reference Generation 1 Mustang door tags, build sheets, and restorer formulas. Color ovals use factory-reference hex values aligned with published Mustang color databases (paintref / MustangSpecs lineage). Always verify with a spray-out panel before committing to a full respray.
1964.5 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Pagoda Green | B |
#2c9aa4
|
— |
| 3 | Chantilly Beige | H |
#162135
|
— |
| 4 | Caspian Blue | H |
#162135
|
— |
| 5 | Silver Smoke Gray | K |
#a4b5b5
|
— |
| 6 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fefee7
|
— |
| 7 | Guardsman Blue | F |
#28456b
|
— |
| 8 | Skyline Blue | Y |
#a0ccdd
|
— |
| 9 | Pace Car Blue | C |
#f3f3f3
|
Indy Pace Car Replicas Only |
| 10 | Prairie Bronze | P |
#a57964
|
— |
| 11 | Rangoon Red | J |
#d02325
|
— |
| 12 | Vintage Burgundy | X |
#620000
|
— |
| 13 | Sunlight Yellow | V |
#f4d566
|
— |
| 14 | Phoenician Yellow | 7 |
#f7e4a5
|
— |
1965 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Arcadian Blue | F |
#adc0c9
|
— |
| 3 | Caspian Blue | H |
#0e192d
|
— |
| 4 | Champagne Gold | T |
#96120d
|
— |
| 5 | Ivy Green Metallic | R |
#003100
|
— |
| 6 | Honey Gold | C |
#a5b78c
|
— |
| 7 | Prairie Bronze | P |
#a77b66
|
— |
| 8 | Rangoon Red | J |
#d22527
|
— |
| 9 | Silver Smoke Gray | K |
#9eafaf
|
— |
| 10 | Silversmith Blue | W |
#8B9BA8
|
— |
| 11 | Spring Frost | 9 |
#DCE5C5
|
— |
| 12 | Sunset Gold | Y |
#67859d
|
— |
| 13 | Tropical Turquoise | O |
#73b2a6
|
— |
| 14 | Vintage Burgundy | X |
#5d0000
|
— |
| 15 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fdfde6
|
— |
| 16 | Dynasty Green | D |
#459686
|
— |
| 17 | Poppy Red | 3 |
#e73600
|
— |
| 18 | Twilight Turquoise | 5 |
#3b6a6e
|
— |
| 19 | Phoenician Yellow | 7 |
#f3e0a1
|
— |
1966 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Arcadian Blue | F |
#b2c5ce
|
— |
| 3 | Candyapple Red | T |
#96120d
|
— |
| 4 | Emberglo | V |
#d8652e
|
— |
| 5 | Antique Bronze | P |
#9d7762
|
— |
| 6 | Ivy Green Metallic | R |
#003100
|
— |
| 7 | Nightmist Blue | K |
#151d34
|
— |
| 8 | Sauterne Gold | Z |
#7c7c69
|
— |
| 9 | Silver Frost | 4 |
#959595
|
— |
| 10 | Silver Blue Metallic | Y |
#67859d
|
— |
| 11 | Tahoe Turquoise | U |
#4b7f93
|
— |
| 12 | Vintage Burgundy | X |
#5f0100
|
— |
| 13 | Wimbledon White | M |
#f8f8e1
|
— |
| 14 | Signalflare Red | 5 |
#c92828
|
— |
| 15 | Springtime Yellow | 8 |
#f8f890
|
— |
1967 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Brittany Blue | Q |
#8ba7bb
|
— |
| 3 | Candyapple Red | T |
#991511
|
— |
| 4 | Dark Moss Green | Y |
#002f00
|
— |
| 5 | Frost Turquoise | B |
#80c2cb
|
— |
| 6 | Burnt Amber | V |
#8b6939
|
— |
| 7 | Clearwater Aqua | W |
#4c9c92
|
— |
| 8 | Lime Gold | I |
#869d5a
|
— |
| 9 | Nightmist Blue | K |
#10182f
|
— |
| 10 | Sauterne Gold | Z |
#797966
|
— |
| 11 | Silver Frost | 4 |
#989898
|
— |
| 12 | Springtime Yellow | 8 |
#fcfc96
|
— |
| 13 | Vintage Burgundy | X |
#600000
|
— |
| 14 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fdfde6
|
— |
| 15 | Acapulco Blue | D |
#256487
|
Late availability |
1968 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Acapulco Blue | D |
#276689
|
— |
| 3 | Brittany Blue | Q |
#708fad
|
— |
| 4 | Candyapple Red | T |
#97130f
|
— |
| 5 | Gulfstream Aqua | F |
#2c7883
|
— |
| 6 | Lime Gold | I |
#839a57
|
— |
| 7 | Meadowlark Yellow | W |
#fcfca4
|
— |
| 8 | Presidential Blue | X |
#00005c
|
— |
| 9 | Royal Maroon | B |
#5d0000
|
— |
| 10 | Seafoam Green | O |
#b8c8a8
|
— |
| 11 | Sunlit Gold | Y |
#a57856
|
— |
| 12 | Highland Green | R |
#003726
|
Bullitt movie color |
| 13 | Wimbledon White | M |
#f9f9e2
|
— |
| 14 | Pebble Beige | 6 |
#bfab9c
|
— |
1969 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Acapulco Blue | D |
#276689
|
— |
| 3 | Black Jade | C |
#002700
|
— |
| 4 | Candyapple Red | T |
#991511
|
— |
| 5 | Champagne Gold | S |
#86795e
|
— |
| 6 | Gulfstream Aqua | F |
#27737e
|
— |
| 7 | Lime Gold | I |
#849b58
|
— |
| 8 | Meadowlark Yellow | W |
#fcfca4
|
— |
| 9 | New Lime | 2 |
#b9d896
|
— |
| 10 | Pastel Gray | 6 |
#dddddd
|
— |
| 11 | Royal Maroon | B |
#590000
|
— |
| 12 | Silver Jade | 4 |
#4da69e
|
— |
| 13 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fcfce5
|
— |
| 14 | Winter Blue | P |
#3285ad
|
— |
| 15 | Calypso Coral | 1 |
#e52100
|
Also called Competition Orange |
| 16 | Indian Fire Metallic | Y |
#832e29
|
— |
1970 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Calypso Coral | 1 |
#e52100
|
— |
| 3 | Grabber Blue | J |
#449ded
|
— |
| 4 | Grabber Green | Z |
#018978
|
— |
| 5 | Grabber Orange | U |
#ea8429
|
— |
| 6 | Grabber Yellow | D |
#f5f01f
|
— |
| 7 | Medium Blue Metallic | 6 |
#2d5f90
|
— |
| 8 | Medium Lime Metallic | G |
#abb500
|
— |
| 9 | Pastel Blue | N |
#e5fcfc
|
— |
| 10 | Medium Gold Metallic | E |
#b27c23
|
— |
| 11 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fcfce5
|
— |
1971 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Grabber Blue | J |
#449ded
|
— |
| 3 | Grabber Lime | I |
#aeb801
|
— |
| 4 | Grabber Yellow | D |
#f5f01f
|
— |
| 5 | Bright Red | 3 |
#d00b19
|
— |
| 6 | Light Gold | 6 |
#355377
|
— |
| 7 | Wimbledon White | M |
#fcfce5
|
— |
1972 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | A |
#000000
|
— |
| 2 | Bright Red | 2B |
#ca0615
|
— |
| 3 | Grabber Blue | 3B |
#84a9c9
|
— |
| 4 | Medium Lime Metallic | 4F |
#4f582e
|
— |
| 5 | Wimbledon White | 9A |
#fdfdf3
|
— |
1973 Model Year
| # | Color name | Ford code | Color swatch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raven Black | 1C |
#0A0A0A
|
— |
| 2 | Light Blue | 3N |
#4c98b7
|
— |
| 3 | Bright Red | 2B |
#cb0000
|
— |
| 4 | Medium Brown Metallic | 5M |
#995430
|
— |
| 5 | Wimbledon White | 9A |
#fcfce5
|
— |
Where to find Generation 1 Mustang paint codes
Exterior color on a 1964½–1973 hardtop, fastback, and convertible is documented separately from interior trim codes. Check these locations before ordering paint:
- Driver-side door edge or door jamb safety compliance / warranty plate — look for the three-digit body color code (often a single letter on early cars, expanding to alphanumeric by 1972).
- Buck tag (if present) on radiator support, firewall, or core support on early builds — confirms paint and trim combinations on April–August 1964½ and some 1965 cars.
- Original build sheet or Marti Report for verified production color when tags were replaced during repaints.
- Under hood, trunk, and behind interior panels — overspray on original cars often preserves the factory pigment when exterior was resprayed.
Official Ford guidance for modern vehicles also applies to decoding labels: see Ford's paint code help page for label reading tips.
How many colors were available?
Generation 1 Mustangs (1964–1973) carried a smaller or larger palette depending on emissions rules, market trends, and body style. In this database, 10 model years are represented with an average of about 12 listed factory colors per year. Peak availability in our table is 1965 with 19 listed colors — always confirm rare codes with a Marti Report or build sheet on classic cars.
Factory paint specifications
Original Classic muscle car (1964½–1973) finishes differ from modern base/clear systems. Use this outline when briefing a body shop or judging an original car.
| Factory system (1964½–~1968) | Ford single-stage acrylic lacquer on most passenger lines; high gloss straight from the line with minimal orange peel by period standards. |
|---|---|
| Factory system (1969–1973) | Transition toward acrylic enamel on many lines; still single-stage, no factory clearcoat. |
| Primary refinish brands | Ditzler (PPG), DuPont, Martin-Senour — all supplied Ford OEM formulas through dealer body shops. |
| Finish type | Single-stage solid and metallic; metallics used aluminum flake (silver, gold tones) and iron oxide pigments. |
| Typical mixing (shop) | Lacquer: pigment + lacquer base + thinner; reducer ratio adjusted for temperature (commonly 1:1 to 2:1 thinner in hot weather). Enamel: activator-cured, no separate clear. |
| Colorants / dyes | Organic reds (Rangoon Red, Candyapple), lead/chromium pigments phased down post-1970; metallics suspended Mica/aluminum paste. |
| Factory film build | Approx. 3–5 mils total (0.003–0.005 in) — thinner than modern base/clear show finishes. |
| Modern equivalent | PPG Ditzler, Axalta (DuPont), and TCP Global publish Ford vintage formulas; always spray test panels. |
Recommended total paint thickness
| Factory original (single-stage era) | About 3–6 mils (0.003–0.006 in) total — thin by modern show standards |
|---|---|
| Acceptable restoration target | 4–7 mils single-stage for driver cars; match surrounding originals when blending |
| Modern base/clear show build | 6–10 mils total — thicker than factory; disclose if judging for originality |
| Measurement method | Use a magnetic or ultrasonic dry-film gauge on flat panels (hood, roof, door) — not on body filler |
Surface prep tips for Generation 1 resprays
Test for lead and old lacquer before aggressive stripping
First-gen Mustangs often carry multiple decades of lacquer build. Chemical strip tests on a small jamb area prevent warping thin 1960s sheetmetal. Use lead-safe PPE if sanding unknown layers.
Match factory sheen, not modern wet-look clearcoat
Showroom 1966 lacquer read slightly softer than today's 2K clear. Ask your painter for a single-stage test panel and compare outdoors — not under shop LEDs.
What did a factory paint job cost then vs today?
Dealer and factory pricing is inflation-adjusted below for planning — not a quote from any specific shop.
| 1965 optional paint (dealer order guide) | About $55–$75 above base price for standard non-black colors on a six-cylinder Mustang. |
|---|---|
| 1969 special-order metallic | Roughly $80–$120 depending on trim and district. |
| 1973 repaint at Ford dealer body shop | About $250–$400 for a full respray in era-correct enamel (1970s labor rates). |
| Driver-quality respray (2025) | $4,500–$8,000 — single-stage enamel, moderate prep, not show quality. |
| Factory-correct restoration (2025) | $12,000–$22,000 — metalwork, correct single-stage mix, proper jambs and unders. |
| Concours / show trailer (2025) | $25,000–$45,000+ — documented colors, correct sheen, full disassembly. |
Verified external resources
- Marti Auto Works — Ford production reports
- PPG Refinish (Ditzler heritage formulas)
- NPS — historic automobile finishes
Frequently asked questions
Where is the paint code on a 1965–1966 Mustang?
Check the warranty / safety compliance plate on the driver door edge. Early cars use a single-letter paint code (A = Raven Black, T = Candyapple Red on 1966, etc.). Cross-reference the letter with the year-specific table above — the same letter can mean different colors in different years.
Was Candyapple Red the same code every year?
No. Candyapple Red appears as code T on 1966–1969 Mustangs in this database, but always confirm with model year. Rangoon Red (code J) was used in 1964½–1965 before Candyapple became the headline red.
Can I match 1960s lacquer with modern base/clear?
Yes, but hire a painter experienced in vintage Ford formulas. Modern base/clear adds depth lacquer never had. For judged restorations, single-stage acrylic enamel or lacquer-style mixes in the correct color code are preferred.
How many paint colors were offered on a first-gen Mustang?
It varied by year: roughly 13 colors in 1964½, about 18 in 1965, near 16 in 1966, and typically 14–17 through the late 1960s before emissions and safety rules trimmed palettes in the early 1970s.
What is the Bullitt Highland Green code?
1968 Highland Green is code R in this database — a dark green metallic famous from the Bullitt film. Verify with door tag and date-coded components; reproduction greens vary widely.
Other Mustang generations
Each generation uses different code formats and paint chemistry. Jump to the correct chart to avoid mixing Fox-body codes with muscle-car letters or Mustang II two-digit labels.
Generation 1
1964–1973 · Classic muscle car (1964½–1973)
Generation 2
1974–1978 · Mustang II (1974–1978)
Generation 3
1979–1993 · Fox-body (1979–1993)
Generation 4
1994–2004 · SN95 / New Edge (1994–2004)
Generation 5
2005–2014 · S197 (2005–2014)
Generation 6
2015–2023 · S550 (2015–2023)
Generation 7
2024–2026 · S650 (2024–2026)
Related guides
Dedicated to Scott G. Clayton
MustangCalculators was built in memory of Scott G. Clayton (1960–2021) — master mechanic, walking Ford encyclopedia, and a dad who passed a lifetime of grease and horsepower to his kids.
1970 Mustang Fastback (SportsRoof) Guide
Specs, engine codes, and factory identification for the 1970 SportsRoof — the same era as Scott's fastback.