XLS picture request

[PetesPonies]

Okay, I need some help with exterior paint colors for ‘82/‘83. I told myself I would keep the initial web page simple just to get it out there, but I can’t stand to just parrot what is already all over the internet.

Normally I would not think too much about the available colors, but when there had to be a specific stripe package for each body color, the color “versions” of the XLS start to matter a little more to the restoration enthusiast.

According to the parts catalogue there were 10 stripe kits. A and B are the stripe colors, and D looks to be the body color since the XLS lettering in the rear quarter panel has to match the body color. I have certification label pics for the black and the caramel, and the invoice for Jim’s red truck.

1C Raven Black

2K Candyapple Red

5G Dark caramel metallic

The rest are going to be guesses for now...

The 1983 tan I am going to say pretty much has to be 9Q Light desert tan just because of the year.

The 1982 silver is fairly self explanatory and should be 1G silver metallic. I only have a handful of silver XLS photos, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it’s not unreasonable to think that in 1983 this may have changed to 9V Light charcoal metallic:

For the blue, the stripe chart says 1982 was “Bright blue”, and according to that name on the color chart below, it is 3P Medium blue metallic in the parts catalogue:

For 1983 the stripe chart says light blue, which is code 32 in the parts catalogue. On the ‘83 color chart above it shows as bright blue (confusing!!!) but looking at 32 on the color chart, it is reasonable when compared to an actual ‘83 truck:

Now for the white, I am fairly baffled. The stripe kits indicate different whites for ‘82 and ‘83. The only white listed for those years in the parts catalogue is 9A which seems to indicate Wimbledon white. However, the ‘82 white Bronco that I have a picture of does not look like Wimbledon, and the one pickup truck that I have a picture of (year unknown) is hard to tell:

Any comments on my color code extrapolations? Dyn Blin, what color is your XLS? What is the color code on the certification label? Any ideas on the 82/83 whites? The parts catalogue paint list that I have been referencing is here:

http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/exterior-paint-codes.html

Both look like Wimbledon to me. The first looks whiter, but there is nothing else white for contrast. The second is definitely Wimbledon.

[PetesPonies]

Both look like Wimbledon to me. The first looks whiter, but there is nothing else white for contrast. The second is definitely Wimbledon.

I have sprayed gallons and gallons of Wimbledon. When everything around it had a color, especially dark colors, it look much whiter.

[Ford F834]

I have sprayed gallons and gallons of Wimbledon. When everything around it had a color, especially dark colors, it look much whiter.

Thanks. That is helpful. What I still can’t figure out is what other white was available in ‘82 and or ‘83, or if there would be a way to tell which would have been used in each year. Seems like Wimbledon was no doubt one of the whites, and could have been ‘82 or ‘83.

[Ford F834]

Thanks. That is helpful. What I still can’t figure out is what other white was available in ‘82 and or ‘83, or if there would be a way to tell which would have been used in each year. Seems like Wimbledon was no doubt one of the whites, and could have been ‘82 or ‘83.

And just for clarification, I am looking for feedback on my logic and whether my color assumptions are reasonable. I recall having discussions around gauge needle color, interior paint colors/exterior paint colors and the inherent problems with lighting conditions, camera white balance setting and even display calibration. I know we won’t be able to look at any given photograph and say definitely what factory color code it is (unless it is a pic of the certification label). I am just trying to take my best guess with the names being given for color D on the stripe kits compared to what the parts catalogue tells us was available for that year and what the color chart name and code look like. Unless/until we see certification labels it will only be a guess. I just want educated guesses... 🙂

[Gary Lewis]

And just for clarification, I am looking for feedback on my logic and whether my color assumptions are reasonable. I recall having discussions around gauge needle color, interior paint colors/exterior paint colors and the inherent problems with lighting conditions, camera white balance setting and even display calibration. I know we won’t be able to look at any given photograph and say definitely what factory color code it is (unless it is a pic of the certification label). I am just trying to take my best guess with the names being given for color D on the stripe kits compared to what the parts catalogue tells us was available for that year and what the color chart name and code look like. Unless/until we see certification labels it will only be a guess. I just want educated guesses... 🙂

Jonathan - At first blush your logic holds. However, in the morning sitting with a fresh cup of Verona and a fresh mind I'll work through it again and respond.

[Gary Lewis]

Okay, I need some help with exterior paint colors for ‘82/‘83. I told myself I would keep the initial web page simple just to get it out there, but I can’t stand to just parrot what is already all over the internet.

Normally I would not think too much about the available colors, but when there had to be a specific stripe package for each body color, the color “versions” of the XLS start to matter a little more to the restoration enthusiast.

According to the parts catalogue there were 10 stripe kits. A and B are the stripe colors, and D looks to be the body color since the XLS lettering in the rear quarter panel has to match the body color. I have certification label pics for the black and the caramel, and the invoice for Jim’s red truck.

1C Raven Black

2K Candyapple Red

5G Dark caramel metallic

The rest are going to be guesses for now...

The 1983 tan I am going to say pretty much has to be 9Q Light desert tan just because of the year.

The 1982 silver is fairly self explanatory and should be 1G silver metallic. I only have a handful of silver XLS photos, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it’s not unreasonable to think that in 1983 this may have changed to 9V Light charcoal metallic:

For the blue, the stripe chart says 1982 was “Bright blue”, and according to that name on the color chart below, it is 3P Medium blue metallic in the parts catalogue:

For 1983 the stripe chart says light blue, which is code 32 in the parts catalogue. On the ‘83 color chart above it shows as bright blue (confusing!!!) but looking at 32 on the color chart, it is reasonable when compared to an actual ‘83 truck:

Now for the white, I am fairly baffled. The stripe kits indicate different whites for ‘82 and ‘83. The only white listed for those years in the parts catalogue is 9A which seems to indicate Wimbledon white. However, the ‘82 white Bronco that I have a picture of does not look like Wimbledon, and the one pickup truck that I have a picture of (year unknown) is hard to tell:

Any comments on my color code extrapolations? Dyn Blin, what color is your XLS? What is the color code on the certification label? Any ideas on the 82/83 whites? The parts catalogue paint list that I have been referencing is here:

http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/exterior-paint-codes.html

Jonathan - Even halfway through a fresh cup of java and having had a good night's sleep I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around all of this. So, I'm going to "think" aloud.

First, I have a hard time reading your table so will re-post it here so it is more easily seen:

So that means we need to determine what the actual colors were for those 10 "D" colors in the chart. I've added your guesses to this table to try to consolidate so I can, maybe, get my head around it.

• Blue (brt) - 1982: probably 3P Medium Blue Irid

• Blue (lt) - 1983: probably 32 Bright Blue

• Caramel - 1982: probably 5G Dark Caramel Metallic

• Charcoal - 1983: probably 9V Light Charcoal Metallic

• Silver - 1982: probably 1G Silver Metallic

• White - 1982

• White - 1983

• Black - 1982 & 1983: probably 1C Raven Black

• Red - 1982 & 1983: probably 2K Candyapple Red

• Tan - 1983: probably 9Q Light Desert Tan

Note that I didn't add the white. I'm not convinced that it was the same white for both years as Ford wouldn't have issued a new part number for the same tape stripe kit. Something changed, and since the other colors in the stripes appear to have the same fairly explicit names, I'm guessing the white changed.

What we need is a 1982 or 1983 Ford Light Truck Facts Organizer, like I have here for the 1981. That would probably help a lot on the whole XLS thing, and I'm happy to buy one if we can find one at a reasonable price as I'd like to add it to my library. But, right now I don't see one being advertised. Perhaps our eBay guru can find one?

But, in the interim I'll fire up the "microfiche tower" and see if the 1982 or 1989 versions of the master parts catalog shed any light on this.

 

[Ford F834]

Jonathan - Even halfway through a fresh cup of java and having had a good night's sleep I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around all of this. So, I'm going to "think" aloud.

First, I have a hard time reading your table so will re-post it here so it is more easily seen:

So that means we need to determine what the actual colors were for those 10 "D" colors in the chart. I've added your guesses to this table to try to consolidate so I can, maybe, get my head around it.

• Blue (brt) - 1982: probably 3P Medium Blue Irid

• Blue (lt) - 1983: probably 32 Bright Blue

• Caramel - 1982: probably 5G Dark Caramel Metallic

• Charcoal - 1983: probably 9V Light Charcoal Metallic

• Silver - 1982: probably 1G Silver Metallic

• White - 1982

• White - 1983

• Black - 1982 & 1983: probably 1C Raven Black

• Red - 1982 & 1983: probably 2K Candyapple Red

• Tan - 1983: probably 9Q Light Desert Tan

Note that I didn't add the white. I'm not convinced that it was the same white for both years as Ford wouldn't have issued a new part number for the same tape stripe kit. Something changed, and since the other colors in the stripes appear to have the same fairly explicit names, I'm guessing the white changed.

What we need is a 1982 or 1983 Ford Light Truck Facts Organizer, like I have here for the 1981. That would probably help a lot on the whole XLS thing, and I'm happy to buy one if we can find one at a reasonable price as I'd like to add it to my library. But, right now I don't see one being advertised. Perhaps our eBay guru can find one?

But, in the interim I'll fire up the "microfiche tower" and see if the 1982 or 1989 versions of the master parts catalog shed any light on this.

Yes, a facts organizer for one or both years would really help. Now I am guilty of “gee I didn’t know that existed”... I guess I need to explore the 1981 literature a little more! 😉

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, a facts organizer for one or both years would really help. Now I am guilty of “gee I didn’t know that existed”... I guess I need to explore the 1981 literature a little more! 😉

I have some new XLS "pictures":

 

[Ford F834]

I have some new XLS "pictures":

That’s Great Gary! Almost don’t even have to write a web page, just read it straight from Ford

Those are very nice quality photos/scans. They seem much better than the ‘81 book pages. I was trying to read the section on paint colors and it was hard to make out when enlarged.

[Gary Lewis]

That’s Great Gary! Almost don’t even have to write a web page, just read it straight from Ford

Those are very nice quality photos/scans. They seem much better than the ‘81 book pages. I was trying to read the section on paint colors and it was hard to make out when enlarged.

I got a hand-me-down printer/scanner from Janey, and it works pretty well. In fact, I was planning on sending the book out to have scanned, but this one works well enough that I may do it myself.

And, I could re-scan some other things, like out of the '81 organizer, if you need it.