What were the original colors of the Model T?

The Model T began life with a modest color palette in its early years, but Ford soon standardized the car in black after 1914, making black the dominant finish for decades. The famous line about “any color you want, as long as it’s black” reflects a later chapter in the Model T’s history rather than its entire color story.

Early color options for the Model T (1908–1913/14)

During the Model T's first years, buyers could select from a handful of era-appropriate colors. The exact palette varied by year and model, with color names appearing differently in catalogs and dealer brochures.

• Forest Green or similar dark greens


• Slate gray


• Navy blue or dark blues


• Browns or burgundy tones


• Red-toned hues

Color availability was not fixed across all years; some colors appeared only in limited runs or dealer specials, and early cars sometimes rode in two-tone schemes with contrasting wheels or fenders.

From color to black: the 1914 shift

In 1914 Ford began standardizing on black enamel paint because it dried faster and simplified the factory painting process, boosting production speed and reducing costs. This shift marked the end of a broad color palette for the Model T.

Consequences and exceptions

After 1914, black remained the default finish for Model Ts through 1927, with only rare exceptions for fleets, promotions, or special orders. The familiar maxim about color has more nuance than is commonly remembered.

Color in restoration and history

Modern restorations often distinguish between pre-1914 and post-1914 colors. Museums and collectors may restore or reproduce period-accurate hues for early cars, while later vehicles tend to be black by default.

Summary

The Model T’s color story starts with a varied early palette, briefly expands in the car’s initial years, and then settles into an almost universal black finish after 1914 for efficiency and consistency. This evolution remains a defining feature of the Model T’s iconic status.

What colors did Model T come in?

The Ford Model T was available in various colors early in its production (1908–1913), including gray, red, green, and blue. From 1914 until 1925, it was only available in black to streamline production and reduce costs. For the final two years of production (1926–1927), colors like green, maroon, gray, and blue were offered again.
 
Early years (1908–1913)

• The Model T was offered in a limited color range that included gray, red, green, and blue. 
• Some colors were only available on specific models, and color availability varied throughout this period. 

The black-out period (1914–1925)

• Henry Ford famously stated that customers could have any color they wanted, "so long as it is black". 
• This change was made to increase production efficiency, as black paint was the fastest drying option and using a single color simplified the manufacturing process. 
• During this time, black was the only color option for the Model T. 

Final years (1926–1927) 

• Facing competition, Ford reintroduced a variety of colors for the final two model years. 
• Colors offered during this period included gray, maroon, green, blue, and brown. 

What were the colors of the Model T in 1913?

The Model T originally came in several colors including red, green, blue, and gray. By 1914, demand was so high that Ford decided to offer it only in one color since the black soy-based paint dried the fastest.

Why was the Model T only in black?

A common myth is that all model T's were black. While Henry Ford did say “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it's black,” the policy was in place solely for efficiency and uniformity.

What is the rarest color for a car?

The rarest car colors are often specific to special editions or custom paint jobs, with examples including Ford's Mystichrome (a color-shifting blue-purple) and the extremely limited Lexus Structural Blue. However, for factory options, rarer colors can also include vivid and polarizing shades like Panther Pink or discontinued metallic colors like Burnt Orange, as well as less common options like yellow, orange, and purple that are often less popular with mainstream buyers.
 
Factory and special edition colors

• Mystichrome: A rare Ford color that shifts between blue, purple, and other colors. It was available on specific models like the 2004 Mustang Cobra. 
• Lexus Structural Blue: A special, multi-layer pigment reserved for a limited number of LC Coupés that mimics the iridescent blue of the Morpho butterfly. Only two cars could be painted per day due to the complex process. 
• Panther Pink: A vivid and less popular shade, making it rare today, especially on classic muscle cars. 
• Burnt Orange: A metallic orange that was popular in the 1970s but has become rare as styling trends shifted to grays, silvers, and blacks. 

Less common colors

• Yellow, orange, and purple: While less popular than white or black, these colors often retain their value better than common colors because of their rarity. 
• Green: Also listed as one of the less popular factory options compared to standard colors. 
• Midnight Purple: A specific example is the R34 Skyline GT-R, where only a few hundred were produced in this color-shifting paint. 

Why colors are rare

• Low demand: Certain colors were not popular when they were initially offered, so fewer were sold and survived. 
• Limited runs: Some colors are part of a special edition or limited-production run, making them inherently rare. 
• Custom and experimental paints: Extremely expensive or complex paints, like Mystichrome and Structural Blue, are rare due to cost, production difficulty, or strict availability.