"AT" paint code

[tbirdregistry]

1966 colors

Ray,
Four or five years back I did a piece in Legendary Ford Magazine about 1966 Thunderbird colors/trims/tops, and applied to the 4 body styles. I computed the possible combinations of data plate differences, i.e., a red interior with or without a headrest 25/55. I forgot the number it came to, but it seems to me that I stated it in terms of "Thunderbirds parked end-to-end", maybe it was like 7 miles? The thing that made this calculation have such a high number was obviously the 4 body styles.

If you really want to get a mind-boggling number of different colors/trims/tops and paint stripes, consider the 1970 Lincoln Continental and Continental Mark III line. I worked this out on a layover in Japan. It seems to me this Lincoln number is even higher than the '66 Thunderbird number.

And if you're thinkin' Lincoln, it's worth mentioning the 1958 Lincolns offered 128 recommended two-tone combinations, using 26 colors, applied to 9 body styles, plus the Convertible -solid color only with 7 soft top colors. With a mere 49 different upholsteries! I haven't gotten around to computing this one, but I think the result would make our 1966 Thunderbird number pale in comparison.

John

[Kevinr]

thanks for all the discussion

its fun to watch folks with a passion for something you are brand new to take an interest in something you are doing. thanks for helping me clear this up. i'm giving the unusual paint combo serious consideration. sounds like a conversation starter.

aside from the fact the car was made the same year I was, i knew the car would be fun when I pulled out of the former owners driveway, stopped for gas, and was immediately asked "what year is that" by the guy behind the counter who saw it pulling in. my brother in law wants it. my wife may not let him have it. who knew a thunderbird could be so entertaining?

looking forward to the resto process...kevin

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

Kevin, here is another reason why you might want to take that vinyl top off. They have been known to leak over the years and rust out the top of the Tbird.... Sooner or later, that could happen if it has not started rusting already. I do not know how you can tell if it is, without actually taking it off. Maybe one of our techies can tell us if there is any way to check this. It would be good to know how long that landau top has been on the car. It now appears that car was a pre-paid car with a special paint combination. However, if they had put a landau top on the car at Wixom, I would think that the Body style would have said 63D for Landau instead of 63A. Alan pointed out that it could be a 63D because the Landau does not have the quarter windows in it and Kevin's does. So someone put that vinyl roof on after the car left the factory. Either at the dealership or sometime later down the road. If you took off the vinyl top, you could paint it CandyappleRed if you wanted to take it back to OEM the way it left the factory. Or if you intend to modify it some, you could paint it black and have an all Raven Black Flairbird, or any other color you wanted, body and top. It is your car and you gets to do with it what YOU want to. If this is going to be your wife's Tbird, you could ask her, if she had a choice, what color would she like to have it in.... Show her the authorized paint colors for a 1966 Tbird. Here!

http://automotivemileposts.com/paint1966tbird.html

Let her choose... You could paint it all one color or two tone it, whatever her desires are. I am sure there are probably others out there who would love to have it also, as I see you are finding out!

Things you are going to need in the restoration process. First of all, look in the Advertisements Forum and you will find the information for all the major Tbird parts places listed there. Pick up the phone and call them all or order from their website, their free catalogs. That will allow you to do comparative price shopping. The first thing to buy, unless there was one in the car, is the 1966 Shop Manual. You are going to need it. There are other manuals you might need also, '66 Tbird Electrical Assembly Manual, '66 Body & Interior Trim Manual, even an Owners Manual is available. You can get these from any of our Tbird parts houses listed. The electrical wiring diagrams are listed in our Technical Resource Library (TRL) whose link is always part of my signature element. So get some manuals ordered as you are going to need them.

[jopizz]

Ray,

I have to differ with you on the data plate. It looks like it's been replaced. Here's what the original rivets look like. Those are plain pop rivets holding it on. The fact that the stamping is so far off leads me to believe it's a reproduction and someone coded it wrong. I've never known Ford to mess one up that bad.

John

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

Hi John,

Yes, there certainly is a difference in the rivets. If that is a reproduced tag, that certainly puts a different light on the subject. I guess Kevin would not find out what paint is under that landau cover unless he took it off.

[jopizz]

If I were Kevin I would check the different body locations and verify the serial number. Data plates are usually changed for not so nice reasons.

John

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

Hi John, and yes, that is a good suggestion... Kevin here are the VIN # locations on a '64-'66 Tbird. See if you can find the same VIN # that is on the data plate in one of these locations.. Or a different one...

[jopizz]

If I'm not mistaken the data plate is on the driver's door and not the pillar post. If the door was replaced this could be another reason why it was removed and put back on. That doesn't explain the AT code or the lousy stamping though.

John

[Kevinr]

numbers match

just sent ray a pic of vin location under hood parallel to windshield. Numbers match up so far, so good.

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

Here is a copy of the VIN # on one of the body areas. It matches the Data Plate. Now as for location of the Data Plate, from 1963 on the Data Plate was moved from the door jamb to the rear lock surface of the drivers door. It stayed that way for the Flairbirds. If that Data Plate is attached to the door jamb, then someone put it in the wrong place. That would probably mean that someone has replaced that plate. If it is on the rear lock surface of the drivers door, then it is in the right place. As John said, if that door has been replaced then that might be the reason why the data plate has been re-riveted with Non-OEM rivets. As for the numbers been improperly spaced, Alan said that was a problem that the factory was having with some of the data plates when they were stamped. As for the AT code, I think John Rotella gave us a good explanation. He is going to send me that specific information. I think, according to the picture, it is on the rear lock surface of the drivers door and not the door jamb. Where do you see it at, Kevin? It will be interesting to see what Alan or Fuz has to say about those rivets. At least the Data Plate VIN# matches what is on the frame! Here is that pic.

[jopizz]

Kevin,

If you get a chance look for a ROT sheet. They are usually under the seats in the springs or behind the back seat. That would give all the options and trim codes that the car was built with. That would verify one way or the other what is on the data plate.

John

[Kevinr]

End of the door - whatever that's called

Plate is on the end of the drivers door. Open the door - plate swings out on the end of it. How's that for a technical description?

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

I received an email from Alan and he looked at the picture of your Data Plate. He agrees that the rivets holding the data plate on are NOT OEM rivets, but aftermarket pop rivets. His thinking is that it might have been taken off to paint the car, or the drivers door was replaced and the data plate put back on with pop rivets. However, it is important that your VIN # on the frame does match the number on the Data Plate. As far as finding the ROT Sheet, if you do, it should just confirm what you already know. The Serial No. on it should be the same as the one on your Data Plate and the frame. You already know those two match. John mentioned finding the ROT (Rotation) or Build Sheet. This is a piece of flimsy paper they used on the production line to build the car. It told them what color to paint the car, engine to put in it, tranny, interior, AC, radio, everything! They built the car according to what was on the Build or Rotation sheet. When the car was about finished and going down the line for final inspection, it was often left in the car instead of having to get out and throw it away. It has been found under the carpeting, under the front seats, stuck in the springs, under the back bench seat or back seat, or stuck in the springs, in the glove box, inside the tranny tunnel, up under the dash. You name it. Look in the glove box and see if you get really lucky and find it in there. Also look in there to see if you got the Operators Manual. That will be a big plus if you do. Look in the other places also and see if you can find it. Many people, myself included, never find theirs. It is so flimsy that it can crumple up and disintegrate. Check any books or paperwork you got with the car. It could be with that. Here is one from a 1960 Tbird and it will look something like this.

[YellowRose]

"AT" paint code

Kevin sent me a picture of part of his roof. Here is what he had to say and I will post the picture.

"This is the support area for the back glass. Tucked away under the edge of the vinyl top, you can see the painted red top clearly - if you're looking for it.

I have some edges curling in the vinyl and am concerned about rust. Would it be better just to peel it off? I lifted a test corner - it will come off fine."

Whether you should take off the vinyl top is a decision you will have to make. You could take it off and have the top cleaned, any rust taken care of and re-painted red to make it what it was when it left the factory. Or you could have it painted black if you want an all black car. If you like the landau top and don't think you have any leakage, you could keep it on.

Here is the pic Kevin sent.

[Kevinr]

a little rust

since everything so far has been "good", i thought I'd post the "bad and the ugly" with it. it aint pretty but- so far - it is the worst news on the car.