1913 Dark Blue

[1913TTouring]

Hello, Is there a dark blue paint formula for a 1913 T ?
Thanks

[REHelgeson]

1967 Mercedes DB332.

[1913TTouring]

Thanks for the reply. I will check this out. I was going to just go and try to pick something out that looks good. There is no blue left on the car anywhere from an older paint job. This will be a starting point and most likely I'll use it. I want to get away from the older red paint job.
Thanks

[Russ_Furstnow]

Donald,
I have not seen the color that Robert has suggested, but I would offer another dark blue that has been approved by the MTFCI. My 1913 Touring, which won the Styonski Award in 2010, and my 1911 Torpedo are painted in "dark blue" 1985 Mercedes dark blue Code 904. The color number for Dupont Centari is 8766 A. I would do a color comparison of the two colors mentioned here to make your selection.
I hope this helps,'Russ Furstnow

[1913TTouring]

Thank you Robert and Russ. I will check them both out. The car has never been restored has original upholstery and top just looks like a second repaint of two different reds with black fenders. My rebuilt engine going in in a few weeks so this year just doing the hood and hood former. Then this winter will do the rest with just removing doors, fenders for another repaint.

[KWTownsend]

IMHO, DB 904 is a pretty blue. Here is Russ' car:

But if you want people is ask, "is that black or is it blue?" then DB 332 is your color choice. It was my choice!

Looks black here!

but...

Looks blue here!

Get samples of both so you can make an informed decision.
YMMV

: ^ )

[Bob McDaniel]

Don't know who owns this one but it was at Richmond I think it was two years ago now. Looked black till the sun hit it just right.

[1913TTouring]

WOW that looks nice. Once i finish my 23 Roadster maybe I should pick either Roberts or this color and do up my 13 like my 23 and Model A's instead of just a repaint.
Thanks

[TWrenn]

Bob, I saw that 13 at Richmond too. It was last year anyway for me.
It truly does represent what the encyclopedia refers to the '13 paint.
I think the paint "matchers" determined mine is some Chrysler color of all things!
Not as dark as the one in Richmond, but I have had people look at it
at shows from 20 feet and say it's black. All depends on the angle and intensity
of the sun too. It works for me.

[Steve Jelf]

Here's the applicable encyclopedia page.

If you aim to be correct, wheels will be painted body color.

[Bob McDaniel]

Tim,

After the ride I had in your 13 I question what make your car is. I remember feeling it when you hit the brake pedal so it can not be a Model T.

Still a nice car though, whatever it really is.

[TWrenn]

Well, Clara will take that as a high compliment! Not to brag, but she really does perform exceptionally, and
for braking, well, good ol' Rocky Mountains are to blame for that! Ya know, ol' "stubborn stick in the mud" me, always
wanting to be so "correct" used to poo-poo the idea of Rockies...now BOTH my cars have 'em! I wouldn't have one
without them. Gosh they're so great. Yeh, it does take a little bit of the "Model T experience" out of the equation, but
the safety aspect more than compensates for it! Thanks for the comment!!

[Original Smith]

My feeling is that Ford stopped painting the 1913's blue by January,1913. I have two 13's, and neither one of them were blue. However, my earliest car did have blue wheels that were striped.

[ChrisB]

Our 1931 Model A Pickup was painted by Brian Muise who was a Dupont paint rep. and he told me it was Mercedes blue.

Remember Model A fenders and running boards are black.

[Rich Bingham]

Not to worry Tim !! Give em time. When half worn out and not well adjusted you’ll get that authentic Model T stoppage again, plus a lot of squeaking !!
(you’re all welcome to ask how I know )

Re/ “perfectly authentic” 1913 blue, it’s well to remember that in the day, most bodies came painted and trimmed from the suppliers; Wilson, Beaudette, et al, and most likely varied a bit among them for the shade of blue used. More, I’ve read debate on these boards as to whether the ‘13 cars were blue at all, or all black as the ‘14s. (?)

At the time, there was no such thing as specific color formulas, only overall indications of the pigment stuffs employed to produce a given color. The materials and methods of painting were entirely different from those used even fifteen years later. It’s great that we have guidelines that reference currently available paint formulas for those who wish to be as historically accurate as possible! (My ‘13 is not dark enough blue, but it’s a pretty shade and I like it !)