Was my blue car originally black

[gregboss]

Hi,I read some where that some cars that were some colors were black from the factory and then painted a color at ASC.I think I have a 1989 Paris blue with tan interior which one was made.The original purchase agreement from a ford dealer says black on the sales info.In the right door jam is a sticker from McLaren that seems to be on top of the blue paint.What is the difference between paris blue and Azura blue?I'm also wondering if the black plastic piece that screws into the convertible top that goes against the whole windshield header is the same as a mustang and where would be a good place to find one and some miscellaneous interior partsI also don't have the dash plaque so I don't know the number and did some people not install the plaque as there isn't any evidence of one being there and the dash seems original.Thanks for any info

[negusm]

It's possible.

Did you get a Marti Report for your car? It may tell you the original color.

The blue cars were supposed to be Regatta blue from Ford I believe. Then they were painted.

If you search for user "Sandy" and put in "blue black white" for keywords you will find a bunch of interesting tidbits.

In 1988 it looks like some cars were red from Ford to be repainted because the white paint was being used for Police cars:

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewtop ... lack+white

-Mike

[svo413]

The factory color was mostly due to the interior color selected. My whilte 88 came as black from Ford due to the gray interior. For parts, see the guy in FL or search eBay.

[gregboss]

Thanks for the info.Since my post I've done some research.I found Henry Huisman's site and it says, I think, all McLarens came in black or maybe the ones that weren't to stay a mustang color,I'm going from memory and might be a little off,and then stripped down and painted the color to be..Since fox body mustangs seem to have the body color in the engine compartments that would make sense to have them made in black so they don't have to paint the engine compartments and it seems they left the part of the front fender that has bolts on it to the inner fender black also.If this is the case then I think the front fenders should be painted black in the engine compartment and the McLaren color next on the rest of the fender in a restoration.I will get a marti report but I expect it to say black as the color since that is how it left the factory.It will be interesting to see how it handles the ASC part.

[mustang marty]

From what I remember the cars were ordered black unless a blue interior was needed. Ford's ordering system would choke on Black/Blue combo so those cars were ordered in white instead

[gregboss]

I believe most McLarens were white with blue interior which would make sense.So I'm wondering if those white cars had white engine compartments.

[negusm]

I believe most McLarens were white with blue interior which would make sense.So I'm wondering if those white cars had white engine compartments.

All engine compartments should have been painted at asc.

-Mike

Edit: I retract that. I think I'm wrong.

[gregboss]

From the Non white cars I've seen on the internet they have black engine compartments which doesn't make sense to paint black if they were originally black from ford before the McLaren colors were put on.If they painted the engine compartments wouldn't they paint them to match the outside like mustangs.Maybe they painted the engine compartments of the non factory black cars.My car is an low mileage car and it appears that it was black from the factory and painted blue at McLaren everywhere except the engine compartment which appears to have the factory black from ford not painted by ASC.I will be calling Henry in Florida and I bet he knows the answer and will put the results here.

[negusm]

From the Non white cars I've seen on the internet they have black engine compartments which doesn't make sense to paint black if they were originally black from ford before the McLaren colors were put on.If they painted the engine compartments wouldn't they paint them to match the outside like mustangs.Maybe they painted the engine compartments of the non factory black cars.My car is an low mileage car and it appears that it was black from the factory and painted blue at McLaren everywhere except the engine compartment which appears to have the factory black from ford not painted by ASC.I will be calling Henry in Florida and I bet he knows the answer and will put the results here.

Actually, I went looking and I think you're right.

So black they didn't repaint.

-Mike

[negusm]

Found it!

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewtop ... gine+paint

ALL 1987 through 1990 ascMcLarens rolled off the FoMoCo Dearborn assembly line as "Raven Black" Mustang "LX" 2-Door SEDANS (Notchback), with either Scarlet, Medium Grey, Sand Beige or Ebony (1990 Only) interior. Cars that were ordered with Regatta Blue interior were different. They were built originally by FoMoCo in "Oxford White" ! The reason for this was because Ford deemed the combination of a car with blue interior and a black exterior as "Non Acceptible" ~ in other words, it didn't look good. Therefore, their computers were set up to reject any order inserted with a black exterior and a blue interior, and the order immdiately poped out. So...to circumvent this situation, cars ordered by dealers requesting blue interiors were ordered in Oxford White. I am therefore pretty sure that your "Sterling Silver Metallic" example originally came with Regatta Blue interior and an Atlantic Blue Roof. Right ? Very Happy When they were not backed up with orders, they actually painted the engine bay BLACK, so you WILL find blue interiored cars with black painted engine bays. BUT, in 1988 when they were backed up with tons of orders (1,015 to be exact) many - if not most - blue interiored cars left the plant with white engine bays. Not all....but most. It would therefore be fine if you desired to paint your firewall, inner fenders, radiator support and of small items in a flat black.

[svo413]

Mke,

That makes sense. There do seem to be a few exceptions. I recall commenting on the red 87 with the red engine compartment a few months back.

Kevin

[Tx Trooperstang]

My 88 is Azure Blue with Blue interior. According to my Marti Report it was Dove Grey exterior, rattle can black engine compartment.

Tom

[gregboss]

I've studied the cars in for sale section on the McLaren website and I've come up with a theory from studying their engine compartments.All the white cars but two had white engine compartments.All the red cars but two had red in the engine compartments.On silver was one silver and one black.Blue cars were all black in the engine compartments.One yellow was also black.What it seems is if your car had a McLaren color that was available as a mustang color it was most likely sent that color.If your car was a non mustang color it was most likely sent as a black car to be painted a McLaren color.If you car was a non white car with blue interior it probably was never black as ford seems to of had a problem with ordering black cars with blue interior.Perhaps they were dove grey as mentioned earlier here.Most cars that McLaren created were white,red or black.My paris blue car has an original gloss black engine compartment which would match the exterior that ford sent to ASC.From the original paint cars I've seen that were black ASC left part of the fender that bolts to the inner fender black so I believe in a proper restoration it should be painted that way instead of the whole fender.I'm not sure how the cars that had their engine compartment painted by ASC were done and if it was gloss or ?Of course there will be exceptions and I'm only speaking from observations not necessarily facts.

[tfs2121]

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3596

UNITS REQUESTING A BLUE INTERIOR WERE TO BE MADE IN OXFORD WHITE, WHILE UNITS CALLING FOR ANY OTHER INTERIOR COLOR WERE MADE RAVEN BLACK.

[tfs2121]

Almost everything you would want or need to know about our cars can be found here...

http://www.ascmclaren.org/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=6