Valve Cover Color

[JohnG]

The valve covers in the photos Ray posted of a 1960 are pretty clearly blue and go with VIN 0Y71Y100242 making it a very early 1960. It gives a little support to my theory that an early '60 might have had leftover '59 parts.

john

[Anders]

According to this web page,
http://www.tbirdranch.com/5860concours.html
´58 Valve covers was Black,
´59 Light Ford Blue ( 430 Black )
& ´60 Yellow ( 430 Black ).
All with optional Chrome finish.
I like the Gold best. With Thunderbird text embossed.

[JohnG]

is that Ruth ??? with a white overflow tank?? Cute as the dickens!

[GTE427]

I'd ask for caution when using words such as "early, mid and late" as to not create any urban legends here. I consider this site to be a credible resource and I get nervious that speculation can take on a life of it's own and readers leave here mis-informed.

The sail panels on the 1960 TBird, early ones were smooth, the later ones were ribbed. This "change" was calculated and planned, not the result of leftover parts or mix-ups. This example defines what is meant when using the terminalogy "early", in my opinion.

To speculate that early 60 cars recieved 59 parts, colors, trims only muddies the waters and creates confusion. Why not late 59 cars have yellow valve covers and early 1961 TBirds have 352's, etc, etc... This would truely be the 'slippery slope' that this forum should avoid.

While I do believe the possibility exist that some of the first cars produced in a model year may carry over some items from the previous year, these are the exception and not the rule and are hard to document, especially fifty years later.

As always, refinish your car in way that you'll enjoy.

[Anders]

is that Ruth ??? with a white overflow tank?? Cute as the dickens!

She hates it as much as me. It is matt white as well. The same goes for the propeller, but they will be changed. She came like that, with White valvecovers without any text at all ( now THAT´S poor ) and a triangular chromed Edelbrock mesh air filter "thing"....

[Coral]

Paint them chrome....

[YellowRose]

Valve Cover Color

Bob Oeschger, who worked at the Wixom plant during the Squarebird years and until they shut down the plant, has provided his comments about valve covers.

"The engines were an assembled unit when shipped in to us. Ford has a habit of using what is left over, especially something as standard as a valve cover."

[Coral]

Bob Oeschger, who worked at the Wixom plant during the Squarebird years and until they shut down the plant, has provided his comments about valve covers.

"The engines were an assembled unit when shipped in to us. Ford has a habit of using what is left over, especially something as standard as a valve cover."

Great minds think alike, I was gonna suggest you call Bob....

[Anders]

Ford has a habit of using what is left over, especially something as standard as a valve cover."

By some reason, I´m not suppriced at all.