1952-59 Ford 53 paint codes H and L?

Hi guys, we have a 53 customline, 215 6 cylinder, manual 3 speed. Still running points, 6 volt, generator. Everything works really nice. We bought the car as it sits pretty much.





















Glam shot, lol. Notice the flipped shackles? yeah, shackles are flipped and she's got 4" worth of lowering blocks.... ??? what?



Anyways, I think we might keep the car, it's a nice cruiser for my wife. The top end of the engine was dry and clattery when we got the car, I fixed the oiling to the top end, set valve lash, set points, timing, tuned carb, she runs really nice.

We have skirts for it too but we don't realy care for them, they are in the trunk.

Future plans are to strip it down, rechrome bumpers, remove the coronado trunk kit, ditch the mystery stone guards that are on the front fenders, polish stainless trim, go through all the seals and gaskets so nothing leaks, detail stock engine & trans.... laser straight body work and shiny paint.

Flip the shackles around the right way in the back, maybe settle for 3" blocks, the minivan springs up front.... maybe go to radials (still wide whites with the current caps and rings.

Undecided on the bumper accessories up front, they might go away too.


I can see that the car was built in long beach, but I can't figure out color and trim codes. My google foo is failing me, I find info for 54 color codes but I'm not sure if it's the same for 53.

Must have originally been a 2 tone because the color code has 2 letters, H and L. Trim code is E.


Can anyone help with those color and trim codes?

Thanks.
Dave

 

Try this website: www.paintref.com They should have all the codes.

 

Your Ford actually has a lot of factory options,the windshield visor the side gl*** stainless visors and the Coronado kit and extra bumper guards. If you are planning to remove the Coronado I would just get another trunk lid and keep it in tact same with the front bumper as restorers would pay some bucks for those,1952-54 trunk lids interchange and 1952-53 front bumpers. I'm sending you a "Conversation" too.

 

Thanks Jeff, I sent you an email with some pictures. Please let me know if it doesn't come through.

I will look into the link above.

 

Carnival red and sungate ivory were our original colors.

Sweet!

We hit a car show today with the 53, nice drive to the show and back and fun at the show. Good stuff.

 

Thank you for that.

 

Carnival red and sungate ivory were the exterior colors. The interior trimscheme colors were two-tone tan check craftweave. Dash and window frames were raven black. I have a 53 4dr which I've owned for 41 years and I think I have every manual ever printed for it, so the info I put on here is from those books. Also when I pulled the 6cyl engine out to clean and paint I discovered that the bellhousing and engine (which had never been out of the car) werepainted orange. A perfect match for Chevy orange. The valve cover was and is painted the same silver color as the pan behind the front bumper.

 

Cool, that's great info! Thanks!

I can see some orange under some flaked blue paint on the engine.

My tail lights are 54 I think, as is my hood ornament.

 

Your taillights are 54s. I can't see the hood ornament very well, but if it has pods on the wing tips it's for a 53. Its also much easier to change the deck lid than to fill all the holes and also if you can swap deck lids you have abetter chance of getting the right deck lid handle.

 

Thanks.

I don't know if anybody noticed a couple of other do-dads bolted/screwed onto the car. Like the fender top turn signal indicators off a???

Also, between the trunk lid and rear bumper there are some nice .... boat cleats? lol!

I think we should borrow a cedar strip canoe for our next car show. Tie it to the roof from those rear deck cleats and the front bumper bars.

 

That cow catcher on the bow does make it look sort of nautical.