Yellow History

Since 1964 the Ford Mustang has utilized a multitude of shades of allow to adorn their famous pony car.  Below is a year-to-year breakdown of the yellow shades (with paint code in parentheses, if available) we all have come to love so much.

1964:  Ford unveils a couple different shades for the inaugural release of the Mustang,  a pale hue called Phoenician Yellow (7) and a brighter hue of Sunlight Yellow (V).

1965:  Phoenician Yellow (7) is kept while the Sunlight Yellow (V) is replaced with a lighter hue called Springtime Yellow (8, only available in the Spring of 1965.

1966:  Phoenician Yellow (7) and Sunlight Yellow (8) are both available once again with the addition of a newly released Aspen Gold.

1967:  Aspen Gold is carried over while Breckenridge Yellow makes its debut.  Springtime Yellow (8) is still available as well.

1968:  This year we see a realignment of yellow with the emergence of Meadowlark Yellow (W), Corporate Yellow, Dandelion Yellow and Special Yellow.

1969:  Meadowlark Yellow (W), Dandelion Yellow and Special Yellow all continue this year with the addition of a new shade:  Grabber (Bright) Yellow (9).

1970:  Grabber (Bright) Yellow (W) is continued but Ford adds another hue to solidify the wild Mustang colors of the 70’s – Competition Yellow (D)

1971:  Competion Yellow (D) is scrapped this year while Grabber (Bright) Yellow (W) now earns the (D) paint code formally assigned to Competion Yellow,  Additionally, Medium Yellow Gold (E) makes its debut on the Mustang color chart.

1972:  This year we see a complete overhaul of the Yellow availability with all previous colors.  Medium Yellow Gold earns a new paint code of 6C while Ford adds 2 more shades to the palette:  Medium Bright Yellow (6E) as well as Bright Yellow Gold (6F).  The Bright Yellow Gold did have a significant gold glow when viewed from a distance.  In addition, Ford began using 2 alphanumeric characters for all paint codes this year.

1973:  Medium Yellow Gold (6C) and Medium Bright Yellow (6E) are carried over this year.  Also, a Light Yellow Gold (6B) makes its appearance alone with Bright Yellow Gold (6F) being renamed Gold Glow (6F).

1974:  All previous shades are scrapped with the exception of Medium Yellow Gold, (6C), it now becomes Medium Yellow Gold (Goldenrod) with the same paint cods as before, 6C.

1975:  Medium Bright Yellow (6E) is renamed Bright Yellow and keeps the same paint code, 6E.

1976:  Bright Yellow (6E) continues with the addition of Cream (6P).

1977:  Bright Yellow (6E) and Cream (6P) continue for this model year.

1978:  Bright Yellow (6E) continues once again while Ford scraps the Cream (6P) for a new shade called Chamois (83).

1979:  Bright Yellow receives a new paint code of 64 while Chamios is renamed Light Chamois (83).

1980:  Bright Yellow once again received a new paint code of 6N and is the only shade available for this model year.

1981:  Bright Yellow (6N) is retained while Pastel Chamois (86) hits the road for the first time.

1982:  All previous shades are scrapped for the emergence of Medium Yellow (61).

1983:  Medium Yellow (61) is carried over for this year.

1984:  Sad says in the Mustang world as no shade of yellow is available this year.

1985:  Yellow Mustang owners unite, a new shade, Sand Beige (8L) hits the streets.

1986:  Sand Beige (8L) retains as the sole yellow hue for this year.

1987:  We see the carry over of Sand Beige (8L) while Medium Yellow once again arrives back on the scene, with a new paint code of 6H.

1988:  Medium Yellow (6H) is scrapped for the newly available Mimosa Yellow (66) while Sand Beige (8L) is still available.

1989:  Mimosa Yellow (66) is renamed Tropical Yellow (66) while Sand Beige (8L) is scrapped for a new shade, Almond (6V).  Note – only 126 cars were made in the Tropical Yellow (66) hue.

1990:  All previous hues are scrapped and Race Yellow (AG) arrives.

1991-1992:  Once again, no yellow color available these years

1993: Canary Yellow (BZ) arrives with a fury – available on the limited Edition 5.0 LX model only. This model was a convertible that came with the chrome Pony wheels, a black or white top, and a few other specific options just for this model. It was available with blk top/blk leather or white top/white leather.

1994:  Canary Yellow (BZ) is retained with the new SN95 body style, only available on the GT.

1995 – Another carry over year for Canary Yellow (BZ) on the GT model. No V6 or Cobra in yellow is produced this year either.

1996-1997:  Another 2-year hiatus of the color yellow for our beloved pony car.

1998:  Canary Yellow (BZ) is renamed Chrome Yellow and keeps the BZ paint code and was on the V6, GT, and Cobra models this year. This would be the first year an SVT Cobra is offered in yellow from Ford.

1999 – Chrome Yellow (BZ) stays around on the new edge body style. An option on the V6 and GT only. Was not available for the Cobra and is the last year of the Chrome Yellow color.  Note –  Only 1,464 Yellow GT Coupes produced.

2000 – Ford ditches the Chrome Yellow (BZ) and goes for another element…Zinc Yellow (B7). It is decided that Yellow will be extremely rare this year with 917 Zinc Yellow cars available for the special “Spring Feature” GT model only! Zinc Yellow was only available on this special model this year and is the smallest amount of yellow produced for any SN95 body.

2001 – A carryover year for Zinc Yellow (B7) but an option on all V6, GT, and Cobras. The Zinc Yellow is found to be popular and in high demand with more made this year in yellow than any other previous year.

2002 –  Zinc Yellow (B7) stays for V6 and GT models. 2002 Cobra not produced except in Australia.

2003 – Zinc Yellow (B7) is an option on the all new 2003 Cobra and Mach I, as well as on V6 & GT. As yellow shows to be a popular color for this generation, many other makes and models begin to sport a yellow color similar to that which Ford uses. We believe Ford started the trend of color with the Mustang in ’93.

2004 – New color this year, Screaming Yellow (D6) is available on all versions of the Mustang. Very similar color to Chrome Yellow. Screaming Yellow (D6) replaces Zinc Yellow (B7).

2005 – Screaming Yellow (D6) continues to adorn our favorite pony car.

2006 – Screaming Yellow (D6) continues to reign supreme this year as the only shade available from Ford.

2007-2010:  Ford ditches the color yellow these years while the mustang community bombards Ford to rekindle the color we all love.

2011 – Yellow Blaze Metallic Tri-Coat (NQ) hits the market on the new 2011 Mustang 5.0.

2012:  Yellow Blaze Metallic Tri-Coat (NQ) continue this model year.

2013:  Yellow Blaze Metallic Tri-Coat (NQ) is scrapped while School Bus Yellow (B1) makes its debut.

2014:  Once again, no yellow available from Ford.

2015-2017 – Ford is tired of receiving hate mail, so Triple Yellow Clearcoat (H3) arrives with the new Mustang platform.

2018-2020:  In typical Ford fashion, they skip these years with no yellow available.

2021:  Grabber Yellow (CB) blasts onto the scene in typical bright fashion.