When did Ford offer colors other than black?
Ford offered colors beyond black in the Model T's early years, roughly 1908 to 1913; from 1914 onward, Ford standardized on black paint for the Model T.
To understand that timeline, it's helpful to look at the Model T's production history and the reasons behind Ford's famous color policy. While the Model T was initially available in a variety of paints, Ford adopted a single-color policy as production methods evolved, a policy that shaped the car's appearance for most of its production life.
Color options in the Model T era
During the Model T's early years, color options were not fixed to a single shade. The availability of non-black colors varied by year, model, and market, with some versions offered in other colors before the policy change.
Timeline of color options
Below is a concise timeline of when color options existed and when the black-only policy began.
- 1908–1913: Early Model T cars were offered with several color options in some years; color availability varied by year and model.
- 1914–1927: Ford adopted a black-only paint policy for the Model T to speed production and reduce costs; non-black colors were not offered as standard.
In short, non-black colors were available in the Model T during its initial years, but the move to a single black finish came around 1914 and remained for the rest of the model's production life.
Beyond the Model T: broader color strategy
As Ford expanded its lineup after the Model T era, color options broadened in subsequent models and model years. The early focus on standardizing color contrasted with later decades, when multiple colors and finishes became common across Ford's range.
Key takeaways
- Non-black colors existed in the Model T before 1914. - The shift to black-only occurred around 1914 and persisted through most of the Model T’s production life (to 1927). - Exact non-black options varied by year and market.
Summary
The Model T's color history highlights a pivotal moment in manufacturing: initial experimentation with paints gave way to a centralized, efficiency-driven black finish that defined the car's look for nearly two decades. Understanding this helps explain why Ford’s famous “any color as long as it’s black” line is so enduring in automotive lore.
Did Ford ever paint their engines red?
Six-cylinder engines were painted a red color, the 260 V-8 was painted a light blue, the 289 four-barrel engines (A- and D-codes) were painted gold, and the 289 Hi-Po received chrome covers and air breather.
Did Henry Ford say any color as long as it's 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.
Why did Ford use black paint?
[T]he color black was chosen because it was cheap and it was durable. Black paints, especially those containing asphaltum, were noted for exhibiting better damp-proofing properties than other colors during this period.
What is Ford's original color?
black
The car was only offered in black from 1914-1925, however before and after that various models of the vehicle could be purchased in a variety of colors including blue, red, grey, and green.
