Ford (UK) engine colours

Two related Dagenham-built vee engines: the V4 of 1965 to 1977 in the Corsair, Transit, Zephyr 4, Capri 2000GT and Consul, and the V6 of 1966 to 1988 in the Zephyr and Zodiac, the Capri 3000 and the Granada, and in TVRs, Scimitars and other specialist cars. Owners describe both as black from new and a blue one as a Ford exchange engine. The exception is the Capri RS3100, whose rocker covers were painted blue to mark it out.

Dagenham-designed pushrod four fitted to British Fords from the 1959 Anglia 105E to the crossflow Escorts, Cortinas and Capris of the 1970s. Ford of Britain published body colour charts and no engine colour chart. A 105E club committee member says the early blocks were green or black with no pattern he knows of, owners say the crossflow was black, and all of them say a blue engine is a Ford exchange unit.

Belt-driven overhead-cam four of 1970 to 2001, fitted to the Cortina from the Mk3, the Capri, the Granada, the Escort RS2000, the Sierra and the Transit. People who have stripped them say the block and head were black. The cam cover was blue on early engines and black on later ones, the change is put at about 1976, and nobody has a Ford name or code for the blue.

The 933 cc and 1,172 cc flathead four that carried Ford of Britain from the 1932 Model Y to the 1962 Popular, through the upright Anglia and Prefect and the 100E range. It is the one British Ford engine where everyone gives the same colour: green. What nobody has produced is a Ford document saying so, or a reference for the shade.