1956 color breakdown

[neddy191]

Hi,


I'm looking for a breakdown of how many cars of each color were made for 1956. If available I'd love to see how many of other options were made too ( power steering, power windows/seats, etc...)

I found a car locally that I'm thinking about buying thats green ( code z2) with power windows, seat and steering and I'm wondering how many similar cars my have been made.

And as an aside - the body color codes, I'm assuming z2 would mean thunderbird green body with green top where I'd expect ze for green boy with white top. Correct?

 

[Jimz Bird]

Hi Ned,

Ahhh, another Greenie - the best color there is.

You have probably seen this:
1956
A Raven Black
E Colonial White
J Buckskin Tan
K Fiesta Red
L Peacock Blue
M Goldenglow Yellow
T Thunderbird Gray
X Navajo Gray
Y Sunset Coral
Z Thunderbird Green

I have not seen a 2 for the second color. Not that it couldn't be but I have not seen any codes for it. Is it an American Bird? Sometimes the export Birds that find their way back home had some different codes.
If the second is an A then I would say it would be a black top. Z a green top. The 2 could mean both and would be unique as I have not seen that code. So it does have a green top?
Mine is ZE and yes with a white hat.

One thing that makes mine somewhat unusual is that the interior is XG from the factory which is Brown and White Vinyl. In those days it would not have been a big deal to order that interior or a Black or Green Top. Most came with the XF interiors and E tops. What color is the interior?

XA Black and White Vinyl
XB Red and White Vinyl
XC Dark Peacock and White Vinyl
XF Green and White Vinyl
XG Brown and White Vinyl

It "appears" the most rare color is the T Thunderbird Gray followed by the X Navajo Gray. Then "probably" Z Thunderbird Green. That is entirely subjective but my impression from having 56 Fords and Thunderbirds on my eBay watch list which I check daily. Yea, just a bit compulsive I am.

I have not seen a total color listing and I don't think there was ever one published.

HTH

Jim

 

[neddy191]

thanks for your reply. I did end up purchasing this car. The data plate indicates it was for delivery to Cleveland, OH so I don't think it was a foreign car. The data plate indeed says "Z2" for the color code. The interior is green/white per the data plate code. it has both a hard top and what looks to be the original soft top - both are white. I was in touch with the guy who keeps the early bird database assoc with CTCI and he wasn't familiar with Z2 either. The best I can tell its the original data plate. I'm planning to send off for the original invoice so hopefully that will shed a little light on it.

 

[Jimz Bird]

Ned,

Glad you got it and welcome to the "Green Flock".
It is also good to see a younger guy interested in our old Birds. Most of us are Old Birds ourselves.

The invoice may list the top color although mine does not. It just says "Hard Top".

If you spoke with Gil - author of the "Thunderbird Restoration Details & Specifications Manual" from CTCI and he had not heard of it then it is an oddity.

If you have not seen this site:
Thunderbird ETC 1955 1956 1957 Ford T-bird
it does have some good info also. You may want to send an email to them as both of them have been around Birds for a long time and may have a clue.

If you have not joined the Thunderbird Mailing List at:
Thunderbird Mailing Lists
you may want to and also drop a question to the folks on the list.
Most of us are on that list also and some who are not here.

Another possibility is that it was a "typo". I have heard of cases of an unknown code and when it could not be found the thought was that the plate puncher hit the wrong key.

Hope you get it sorted out and let us know what you come up with.

Jim

 

[neddy191]

I've loved the first generation T-birds since I was 15 and I'm exstatic that I now own one. I have history on the car from the past 2 owners back to 1987. I actually spoke with Dave Tulowitzky via email, he said he hadnt seen a 2 digit color code with the second digit as a number but presumed Z2 would be green with green top. I'll email Gil and see if he has seen a color code like this.

I'd always thought peacock blue was my favorite color until I found the green.

 

[neddy191]

Just a little follow-up. I did email Gil last night with the question about the Z2 color code.

He said he'd seen the 2 on several early production 56's and that it indicates the top is a different color than the body. My car was built 12/29/55 so it would fit in that early production segment.

 

[Jimz Bird]

Ned,

Thanks for the Info.

Another "Mystery" solved.

There are some other differences in the "Early" 56 Birds up until about May of 56.
Some off of the top of my bald head are:
Top Latches,
Weather Stripping on the Top,
3 Blade vs 4 Blade fan,
Water pump pulley size - seems to correspond with switch to 4 blade fan.

Gil's Restoration Manual does a good job of pointing those things out. While it is not cheap, it is a "Tool" worth buying.

Jim

 

[neddy191]

I've definately got to buy gils manual. I've got my eyes on a '56 Victoria as well. We'll see.

 

[Jimz Bird]

Once you get the 56 Bug it is hard to shake.
Here is my 56 Mainline. 272, 2bbl, three on the tree.
My first car in HS in 1964 was a 56 2 door Customline. Not as nice as this.

 

[neddy191]

I ordered Gil's manuals from CTCI and got them a couple days ago. Lots of great pics, glad I bought it.

Quick question. The ford emblems on my front quarters are all faded and cracked and id like to replace them. Is there somewhere that can walk me through removal and replacement?