Ford Classic Car Paint Codes: Escort, Capri and Cortina Colour Guide

Ford paint codes are among the most searched references in the classic car world, and for good reason. The Escort, Capri, and Cortina between them account for millions of cars still in enthusiast ownership, and anyone involved in a restoration needs to know the exact factory colour before touching up or respraying. The challenge is that Ford used several different coding systems across the classic era, and the same colour often appears under different codes depending on which model and which year you are dealing with. This guide covers the main classic Ford models from the early 1960s through to the end of Capri production in 1986.

The good news is that the coding system, once understood, is fairly logical. Early Fords used two-letter codes stamped on the identification plate. From the early 1970s this simplified to single letters or numbers, making cross-referencing between models considerably easier. The Capri and Escort of the 1970s largely share the same colour palette, which is why so many of the codes appear in both sections below.

One important note before diving in. Colour swatches on a screen are approximations. Digital representations of automotive paint cannot perfectly replicate the depth of a metallic finish or the exact tone of an aged cellulose coat. Use the swatches here as a guide and always test any touch-up paint on an inconspicuous area before committing to a panel. Paint suppliers including PaintScratch, Halfords Autocentre, and specialist classic car paint suppliers can mix from the original Ford codes.

Understanding Ford paint codes

Early two-letter codes (1962 to 1969)

Ford cars of the early and mid 1960s used two-letter codes beginning with a letter pair such as AB, BZ, CH or CU. These codes appears on the identification plate riveted to the inner wing under the bonnet. Some codes from this era also appear with a P suffix on original paint supplier documentation, which indicated the specific paint supplier formulation rather than a different colour. The code on the identification plate is the one that matters for identification purposes.

Single-letter and single-number codes (1970 onwards)

From around 1970, Ford simplified to single letter or single number codes. A single letter such as B, E, M or T identifies the body colour on Escort Mk1, Cortina Mk3, and Capri Mk1 cars of this period. Metallic colours were often given a number code such as 1, 3, 5 or 7. The Escort Mk2 from 1974 used a combined system where the Ford code is often accompanied by a secondary supplier reference. This is why you will sometimes see a code listed as B 3 FB — the B is the Ford code, the 3 and FB are supplier cross-references.

Finding your paint code

On all classic Fords of the 1960s and 1970s, the paint code is stamped on the identification plate. This is a small aluminium plate riveted to the inner wing under the bonnet, typically on the nearside. Look for the field marked Col or Paint — the code immediately follows. On Escort Mk2 and Capri Mk2 and Mk3 cars, there is frequently also a separate build label in the boot, behind the boot liner or under the spare wheel floor, which states the colour in plain text alongside the code. This is the most reliable source as it often includes the full colour name as well as the code.