The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

I am close to painting new grills and new nose cone. But what colour shall I paint the grills? I have blue or some Howard Rotavator Orange left from the wheels. Sounds as if the purists would go for blue, but many are orange or possibly silver?

She's an early 58 standard Dexta.

You decide!!

It's an old chestnut.

Recommend a search on here or even google, eg see here:
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/ubb/F ... 00057.html

There is evidence from original brochures etc that at least some early Dextas had orange grills.


My '61 Dexta has orange grills; been that way for the past 42 years since we got her. I guess they are not the originals.

Decided to go blue with them!

Had paint in the gun so easy to go over them whilst I was painting the new nose cone. Easy enough to change though if I want to.

Howard Rotavator Orange on a Ford, what ever next..!

I have been reliably informed that Howard rotavator Orange is correct for the wheels, see my final pictures in the 'project so far' posting. Looks ok to me!

Just having fun with the name "Howard Rotavator Orange" that's all, many years ago I did know the name of the paint but can't for the life of me remember it now, am sure it wasn't just called Fordson Orange, there is nothing wrong in what you have done, looks good to me..!

Could do with a dung spreader, so maybe I should look out for a Howard one, that way it would be colour coordinated with my wheels Least it isn't Dyno Rod Orange or Pink or whatever horrible colour their vans were painted!

I was working on my tractor in my front garden when an older gentleman stopped his car and came over for a natter, he said he worked in the factory producing Dexta's at Dagenham for many years and set about telling me all about mine.

When I first put up pictures of my tractor on here I was PM'd and told I had to spray my orange grill covers silver as they we're wrong, I wasn't going to argue as I knew no better but did take the opportunity to ask this chap what colour he remembered them being finished in. He without hesitation said orange, they were all orange. Just thought I'd mention that as it also throws another spanner in the works so to speak, this chap also told me he had a garage full of fordson spares that he eventually let a scrap man take as he was never going to use them. He did give me a nice set of headlights though

Brian [who still isn't sure what colour to paint these damn grills]

Here 's another Brian, my super dexta is a 1962 model, and without doubt, silver grills. 1958 Dexta orange grills, I was there

I was expecting to get shot down there

Whilst sending off details for DVLA registration I realised I had misread the codes on a previous posting and she is actually an Oct 59 girl - does this change my grills?? I have a can of Orange ready if required!

orange grills, no doubt whatsoever

I have a can of Howard orange ready to use, so I will add this to the 'to-do' list.

Also Brian - thanks for the hydraulic linkage parts a while ago - all fitted and working like a dream.

Thanks