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This page: A period summary of the colour options available to buyers of new Ford cars in the early 1950s.

Ford Sets The Fashion.

Finishing off the restoration of an old car in a period-correct colour, or colour scheme, is usually the icing on the cake and a clear signal that the end of the rebuild is in sight. This slim fold-out publication, titled "Ford Sets The Fashion" and graced with the presence of a very elegantly-attired lady on its cover, dates to the early 1950s. Cars that were current at the time included the New Anglia and New Prefect (100E series), plus the (Mk1) Consul, Zephyr Six and Zodiac, and in fact a monotone Zephyr Six features on the cover. The colour chart within describes the colours that were on offer during this era at Ford dealers, and may be of use to restorers of these classic Fords today:

Coronation Blue Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Convertible
Ivory Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Convertible
Opal Zephyr Six Saloon
Edinburgh Green New Prefect Saloon, Consul Saloon, Zephyr Six Saloon
Bristol Fawn New Anglia Saloon, New Prefect Saloon, Consul Saloon, Zephyr Six Saloon
Dorchester Grey New Anglia Saloon, New Prefect Saloon, Consul Saloon, Zephyr Six Saloon, Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Convertible
Canterbury Green Consul Saloon, Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Saloon, Zephyr Six Convertible
Winchester Blue New Anglia Saloon, New Prefect Saloon, Consul Saloon, Zephyr Six Saloon, Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Convertible
Black New Anglia Saloon, New Prefect Saloon, Consul Saloon, Zephyr Six Saloon, Consul Convertible, Zephyr Six Convertible
*Dorchester Grey/Bristol Fawn Zephyr Zodiac
*Dorchester Grey/Canterbury Green Zephyr Zodiac
*Dorchester Grey/Winchester Blue Zephyr Zodiac

* In the two-tone combinations, the first colour mentioned refers to upper half of car body.

Range of colours available to car buyers

Evidently this colour swatch dates to the early 1950s. The "By Appointment" statement on the rear cover refers to the late King George VI, he died in February 1952. The New Anglia and New Prefect, both referred to in this colour guide, landed in the showrooms during 1953, selling alongside the larger Mk1 cars. The Queen's Coronation took place in June 1953. As Her Majesty isn't referred to, I can only assume that the leaflet was printed in the early months of 1953, perhaps coinciding with the launch of the 100E.

The following colour advert for the Consul and Zephyr Six features on a magazine of the day - Winchester Blue and Canterbury Green perhaps?

Return to the Motoring Collectables section.

This leaflet is from a collection of interesting items acquired from the former Welland's Garage, of Berrow.

Ford cars of the era referred to in the above publications can be found in the vintage gallery of this site, for instance on the Mk1 Zodiac, Zephyr and Consul pages.

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Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere.

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