[2thpic]

 

[Action]

I believe that is an advertisement.
In model year 1966 Ford Motor Company painted all engines blue. Called Ford Corporate Blue. While the shade of blue changed, Ford continued to paint car and light truck engines blue until 1981. After that engines were painted gray. That is because grey engine paint cost less than blue engine paint.

Prior to 1966 engine blocks were painted black and valve covers and air cleaners were painted various colors based on displacement and/or use.

YEAR	ENGINE​	BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEADS​	AIR CLEANER​	VALVE COVERS​
1959	223	Black	Red	Red
1959	292	Black	Red	Red
1959	332	Black	Green	Green
1959	352	Black	Blue	* Blue
1960	223	Black	Red	Red
1960	292	Black	Red	Red
1960	352	Black	Blue	Blue
1960	352	HP Black	Gold open-element	Gold
1961	223	Black	Red	Red
1961	292	Black	Red	Red
1961	352	Black	Blue	Blue
1961	390	Black	Silver	Silver
1961	390 HP	Black	Gold	Gold
1961	390 HP-6V	Black	Oval aluminum	Gold
1962	223	Black	Red	Red
1962	292	Black	Red	Red
1962	352	Black	Blue	Blue
1962	390	Black	Silver	Silver
1962	406-4V	Black	Gold open-element	Gold
1962	406-6V	Black	Oval aluminum	Gold
1963	223	Black	Red	Red
1963	289	Black	White	White
1963	352	Black	Blue	Blue
1963	390	Black	Gold	Gold
1963	406-4V	Black	Gold open-element	Gold
1963	406-6V	Black	Oval aluminum	Gold
1963	427-4V	Black	Chrome open-element	Chrome "baldies"
1963	427-8V	Black	Oval aluminum	Chrome "baldies"
1964	223	Black	Red	Red
1964	289	Black	Red	Red
1964	352	Black	Blue	Blue
1964	390	Black	Gold	Gold
1964	427-4V	Black	Chrome open-element	Chrome "baldies"
1964	427-8V	Black	Oval aluminum	Chrome "baldies"
1965	240	Black	Red	Red
1965	289	Black	White	White
1965	352	Black	Gold	Gold
1965	390	Black	Gold	Gold
1965	427-8V	Black	Oval aluminum	Chrome "pentroof"
1965	427 SOHC-4V	Black	Chrome open-element	Cast aluminum

Action

 

[2thpic]

correct it's a ad from back in the day. i just love old adds from then.

 

[pkevins]

The ad is referenced in this article, noting inevitable variations depending on mixes, quality, application processes, etc.

One input wrt Action's useful table about the '65 289 line item. I'd be interested to see an example of white VCs and air cleaner of that year. Every nominally 'original' '65 289 Mustang I've seen sported a shade of gold, modulo the snorkel of the air cleaner painted black as shown in the fifth photo of this 2018 auction:
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible | F66 | Seattle 2014 | Mecum Auctions
Kevin

 

[Barry in Jax]

Ah, Ford. They were known to grab leftover parts from the bin and use them at will/as needed. The 289 valve cover and air cleaner colors, I believe, were white exactly as Action states but became gold as the year wore on. To wit, C5AZ15668A convertible top switch - only, mine was C5AZ15668B representing a mid-year change. It appears that they may have found some old power top switches from the late 50s and pressed them into service. The push-left lower, pull-right raise switch is extremely difficult to find for a 65 Galaxie convertible. Unless, you shop for a late 50s switch and swap the knob. Presto! C5AZ15668B. I think the accuracy of your valve cover/air cleaner color either white or gold may be found in the production date of your car, or maybe even the model line. Very little of that type information is easily found about the how's and why's of what was done when unless you have a family member that was in Ford production.

 

[Iowan]

Different models got different colors, Mustang had a gold 289 and the hipo 289 had gold valve covers, the list is generally correct but not complete.

 

[Barry in Jax]

Missing from the table above is the 260 V8, which had the white valve covers/white air cleaner in the Fairlane and Falcon models that I remember. But then, I am 69 and the memories become hazy as I age.