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Cordoba Gray

After a ton of deliberation over what color to paint the ’34, I’ve decided to go back to the color she was when I got her, Cordoba Gray. While I was tempted to paint her black, my interior designer wife kept insisting that “there is nothing interesting about black”. So, Cordoba it is.

Here’s the thing about Cordoba Gray. It’s a challenging color to reproduce, and my car’s original color wasn’t original. It also wasn’t right.

IMG_6077

After reaching out to others on the Ford Barn forum, one of whom provided the sample on a paint stick (which seems a little too green), and a long chat with Roy Nacewicz, a (Retired) seasoned judge, I wasn’t a whole lot farther ahead in determining how to get the color right. I had the original paint spec catalog but it is printed and therefore not exactly accurate. Adding to the challenge is the fact that in North America solvent based paints have been phased out, and my body-man, Byron Valcourt, uses only water based.

The pigments are not the same so you can’t just match up the paint formula and expect it to come out right.

After some digging around I found a local PPG dealer. PPG has an extensive historic database. They could match the original formula to make me up a test pot, seen above. The color is close to the brochure sample so I was going to go with it. Then, another conversation with Roy has me thinking it is still too tan.

So, back to the drawing board.

If anyone, anywhere, has a small body part off of an original Cordoba Gray Ford body that I could use as a color match reference it would be a God-send. Please contact me.

My wife’s heart is set on this color, and I wouldn’t want to break her heart now would I?

 

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Kate May 25, 2014, 7:53 pm

    Your website came up when I googled “cordoba gray” after reading a book on the exploits of Bonnie and Clyde. Apparently, this was the color of the Ford they were killed in. The original car is apparently in a museum/casino in NV. Perhaps they would be willing to help? Best of luck!

  • Larry Johansen November 16, 2014, 10:12 am

    I dug my 34 tudor from town dump . It was there over 50 years . Have been working on it eleven years
    I want it Tan But Cardoba Tan isn’t until 36 Is Cardoba Grey Tan enough? Bought the car in 1951 when I was 15 . Took my driving test in it almost done but finish paint.Done all work myself.

    Thanks Larry

  • steve November 16, 2014, 11:48 am

    Larry you are correct Cardoba Tan is a 1936 Ford paint colour and as for the difference I think there is a little more green in the 1934 Cardoba Gray in comparison to the Tan. I’d love to see a few photos of your 34 sounds like its been quite the adventure rebuilding her.
    http://www.paintref.com/cgi-bin/paintdetail.cgi?paintx=1936%7CFord%7CCordoba%20Tan%7C1593

  • Larry Johansen November 17, 2014, 3:40 pm

    Thanks I will send pictures as soon as I can get my son in law to help. I am not to savvy on key board as you can tell.
    Larry

  • Larry Johansen September 12, 2015, 9:44 am

    KSL TV Done a nice 8it on my 34 excavation and restoration .
    Go to KSL TV Hyrum man digs 34 Ford from town dump after 50 years

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