Engine Color, 68 'X 440?

[rakort]

So I was thinking that the correct engine color for my 68 GTX 440 was the turquoise, but then read this:

The engine I have is the OE from a 69 GTX 440 HP and it was painted orange. So what color did they paint the 68 440 HP GTX motor? Was it the orange as the 69 had and as the chart above references or did it come with the turquoise in 1968? According to the above it matters if the engine was an HP or not and I thought 68 GTX would have been considered a HP 440 (orange) and I'm thinking it should be blue. :/ Thoughts?

 

[oldbee]

Turquoise.

 

[GetX'd]

The 68 GTX is a HP 440 and the correct engine color is turquoise - I’ve had mine for 46 years. I painted it Hemi orange on this last rebuild because I like that color better. But if you ant to be correct it’s turquoise.

 

[rakort]

good stuff, I think we are all on the same page with colors either turquoise or orange I guess it comes down to whether the 68 'X 440 was/is/or considered a HP motor? again I though the 'X had a HP motor, but to my belief it was turquoise.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Below are not my words, but the info I beleive to be correct. Note, 1968 HP440-Hemi Orange. But I do not own and never have owned an original 1968 440 car.
Source: http://www.turbinecar.com/misc/enginecolor.htm

Below is what I have come up with as a good start to find the correct engine color for Mopar engines from 1960 to 1973. After about 1969 they were all pretty much Blue except for a few odd balls. I have seen Slant sixes in Black in the early 60's sales brochures but those are not the best source. I have used information from the Plymouth Owner's club, Walter P. Chrysler Club and various web sites to assemble this list. Engine colors were and still are subject of much debate. It seems no one at the factory really cared about any kind of specification for paint - as long as it got painted - it was ok. These are what I have found to be considered normal or standard - if there is such a thing. Your comments are welcome - however be prepared to back up your arguments with facts from somewhere. I would hope this will be a help to those who are trying to restore their classic Mopar to as near original as possible.

The paint numbers are from Mopar Performance and may or may not be available from your local dealer.

Year Engine Variations Color Note
1960 170 / 225 Six non Valiant Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752 - Not sure about this color.
1960 170 Six Valiant Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1960 318 Poly All Silver Mopar Paint P4529148
1960 361 Golden Commando High Perf Red/Gold Red block with Gold Valve Covers P4349218 / P4529149
1961 All All Siver Mopar Paint P4529148
1961 170 Six Valiant Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 170 / 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1962 361 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1962 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1962 413 V8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1963 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1963 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1963 361 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1963 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1963 413 V8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1963 426 V8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1964 361 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 413 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1964 413 V8 Race Engine Race only Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 426 HEMI Race only Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1964 426 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1965 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1965 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1965 413 V8 All Orange Mopar Paint P4120751
1965 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 318 Poly All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1966 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1966 426 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 440 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1966 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 318 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1967 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1967 426 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 440 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1967 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 318 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 318 V8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 340 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1968 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1968 426 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 440 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1968 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 225 Six All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 273 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 318 V8 - LA All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 318 V8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 340 V8 - LA - See Note below All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1969 383 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1969 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1969 440 V8 All Turquoise Mopar Paint P4120752
1969 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 318 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 318 V8 - LA - Police only Police engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 340 V8 - LA - See Note below All Red Mopar Paint P4349218
1970 383 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1970 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1970 440 V8 All Blue or Turq Mopar Paint P4349217 or P4120752 (not sure) ****
1970 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 318 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 340 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 360 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 All - LA engines Till early in 1971 All Red Mopar Paint P4349217
1971 383 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349218 (not sure when changed)
1971 383 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 426 HEMI Street Engine H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1971 440 V8 All Blue or Turq Mopar Paint P4349217 or P4120752 (not sure) ****
1971 440 V8 High Perf/Police High Perf H-Orange Mopar Paint P4349216
1972 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 318 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 340 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 360 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 400 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1972 440 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 198 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 225 Six All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 318 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 340 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 360 V8 - LA All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 400 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217
1973 440 V8 All Blue Mopar Paint P4349217

***Note on 1969 and 1970 340LA engines - many were painted Street Hemi Orange - the list below says they all were - for any 340 engine that appears to be more orange than red - if you know it was original - then use the P4349216

****Note: I have had much discussion about the years of 1970 and 1971 the RB and B engines - two club publications say blue (Judged sheets etc.) and it appears that official Chrysler (below) says turquoise was correct. On those two years let your original color be the one to use.

Oh how I wish that list could be banned from the web.....there are so many inaccuracies it causes more problems than its worth.

 

[69Coronetrt]

good stuff, I think we are all on the same page with colors either turquoise or orange I guess it comes down to whether the 68 'X 440 was/is/or considered a HP motor? again I though the 'X had a HP motor, but to my belief it was turquoise.

No. No. The list is crap.

68 GTX 440 is turquoise.

 

[rakort]

Definitely conflicting info out there regarding 68/69 colors. I do have an original 68 X down the road which I will likely conform that the '8 'X was turquoise

 

[gdrill]

OK, I'll delete it then...........

 

[rakort]

OK, I'll delete it then...........

Well don't do that...take it with a grain of salt. Do note the mopar ad for paint also called the engine in question hemi orange at least once also.

 

[GetX'd]

good stuff, I think we are all on the same page with colors either turquoise or orange I guess it comes down to whether the 68 'X 440 was/is/or considered a HP motor? again I though the 'X had a HP motor, but to my belief it was turquoise.

The 68 GTX allcame with the 375 hp motor which is the upgrade HP motor over the standard 440 used in motor homes, luxury cars etc. Paint color as stated was turquoise. I bought mine a couple years old and it was and always has been turquoise until I recently painted it orange. I’ve never seen a correct 440 from that year that wasn’t painted turquoise. The six barrel 440 came along in 69 and had 390 horse. That was painted orange. Maybe all the 69’s were painted orange - I can’t speak for that. Can only speak for the 68 with assurance.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Well don't do that...take it with a grain of salt. Do note the mopar ad for paint also called the engine in question hemi orange at least once also.

And it’s wrong too.

 

[69Coronetrt]

The 68 GTX allcame with the 375 hp motor which is the upgrade HP motor over the standard 440 used in motor homes, luxury cars etc. Paint color as stated was turquoise. I bought mine a couple years old and it was and always has been turquoise until I recently painted it orange. I’ve never seen a correct 440 from that year that wasn’t painted turquoise. The six barrel 440 came along in 69 and had 390 horse. That was painted orange. Maybe all the 69’s were painted orange - I can’t speak for that. Can only speak for the 68 with assurance.

67 and 68 440 HPs were turquoise.
69 and 70 440 HPs were orange.

 

[moparnation74]

67 and 68 440 HPs were turquoise.
69 and 70 440 HPs were orange.

And that is the end of the story....

 

[moparedtn]

And that is the end of the story....

...and that was that.....as they say....

 

[68gtxman]

 

[lewtot184]

turquoise, period