1964-1966 Engine Paint Code Numbers

[Alan H. Tast]

(Revised 12/25/2022)

I've been working on compiling paint code numbers from various manufacturers and narrowing down engine-related paint colors as part of my on-going research for VTCI's Original Factory Specifications books. For '64-'66 here's what I have to date.

Note that numbers in italics are not confirmed formula numbers. Paint numbers from Ditzler/PPG are taken from 1950s-1960s paint chip charts, with Ditzler/PPG numbers taken from a listing printed in 1971. I have no idea what their current versions are.

I have listed both enamel and lacquer numbers, but for durability purposes I would stay with enamels. For the Ditzler/PPG codes, DQE- is an enamel formula, DAL- is lacquer, and DDE- is what I believe a code for engine enamel. More research is needed to determine if other manufacturers (duPont, R-M, Sherwin-Williams, etc.) have similar codes for engine colors that carry cross references to Ford M-#'s.


Engine Black: Engine Block, Heads, Intake, Front Cover, Water Pump, Oil Pan
1964-1965 Ford/T-bird 390
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-9000 / DAL-9000
Ford #: M1J-995, M1J-1611, M1J-1616, EP-1724 (Reconditioning Engine Black)

Ford listed M4J-1611 and M1J-1616 as a black for engines, but it's not confirmed if this was used before or superseded by M1J-995, which was introduced in 1958-1959, or if the numbers designated different gloss levels. Ditzler/PPG listed DQE-9000 as being used 1964-1965, while DQE-9003 was listed as a Ford standard/utility color used 1963 and prior. DQE-9000/9003 appear to be engine gloss/semi-gloss black in comparison to DQE-9123 (see next paragraph).

To add to the confusion, Ditzler/PPG noted that Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer # DQE-9123 / DAL-9123 was a flat black used for Lincoln Continental 430 valve covers 1959-1963 (which I think is more of a semi-gloss finish) and as a standard/utility color the period. This appears to me to be Ditzler's number for the paint used on brackets and other under hood items. The Ford M-# for this needs to be determined.

Argent Silver/Aluminum: Engine Accessories, i.e. Power Steering Reservoir w/o A/C
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DEE-45 / (No #)
Ford #: M2J-23
This is Ford's standard/utility color used through the '50s and into the '70s/beyond on everything from 1950s full-size front bumper splash pans to '60s trim inserts. This # appears to be from the late 1940s-early 1950's. There is another engine color that appears in Ford literature for Argent Silver which was also known as "Aluminum," M1J-607, which first shows up in 1956 literature, which was the color used on Canadian-built engines from at least 1963 through 1965.
Note that "Aluminum" is the color used for Canadian-assembled engine long block assemblies used in 1963-1965.

Castillian Gold: Valve Covers, Air Cleaner
1963-1964 Ford/T-bird 390-300 hp 4v
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-32277/ DAL-32277
Ford #: M30J-1459
(Note that an earlier version of Castillian Gold Metallic, DQE-31842/DAL-31842, was used on the exterior of '62 T-birds/Lincolns until Serial Number 2Y8**149000 - need to find Ford's M-# for this)

Also for comparison, this is for the '60-'63 HiPo engines (NOT for T-bird 390-4v '63-'64) - this is more of a bronzish color than the greenish-silver of the '63-'64 390-300 hp color used '63-'64):
Gold (Engine, HiPo): Valve Covers, Air Cleaner
1960 352-360 hp HiPo, 1961-1962 390 HiPo, 1962-1963 406 HiPo
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-21903 / DAL-21903
Ford #: ? ?

Bronze Gold: Air Cleaner, Valve Covers
1965 Ford/T-bird 390-300 hp 4v
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-21903 / DAL-21903
Ford #: ? ?
Note that Ditzler/PPG also lists this color for Falcon, Fairlane, Ford and Ford Truck 289 cu.in. engines.

For comparison, Ditzler/PPG lists this color for 1964 Comet, Mercury and Ford Trucks:
Gold Bronze
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-22362 / DAL-22362
Ford #: M1J-842
These color numbers are for '64-'65 Ford/Mercury/Comet/Ford Truck 289s. This is a brighter gold color than that used on the '65 Ford/T-bird engines.

Ford Corporate Blue: Engine, Valve Covers, Air Cleaner
1966 All Engines
Ditzler Enamel/Lacquer #: DQE-13358 / DAL-13358
Ford #: EP-2075 (Reconditioning Engine Blue)

Ditzler/PPG also listed a few more standard/utility colors that may have the following applications needing verification:

Black DE-9003 (Noted above, appears to be the black used on engine long blocks 1959-1963)

Blue Gray DE-30113 (May be for 1965-late '60s Ford/Thompson PS Pump? Need verification: the Ford/Thompson pumps used a bluish-green color)

Silver Gray DE-30120 (Noted above, need more information on usage - I don't believe this is the same as Argent Silver, but may have been the 'Aluminum' color used for 1963-1965 Canadian-built engines.

Green DE-40133 (I doubt this was used on the 'Bird - I think it's for the industrial engines)

Flat Black DE-9123 (Might be the color number Ditzler uses for accessory brackets, etc. - see comments above on Lincoln Continental black engine finishes)

Torch Red DQE-70801 (Not used on '61-'63 T-birds that I'm aware of - this was used on Ford Truck engines, notably on Dagenham-procuded diesels)

Goldenrod Yellow DQE-80653 (Not used on '61-'63 T-birds that I'm aware of - this was used on the '60 T-bird 352-300 hp valve covers)

Any additional information that can be provided with numbers from other paint manufacturers would be appreciated to add to this list.