Col,
The original sales brochures show colour-coded columns for all sedan models (even standard and business), but the wagon and ute/van brochure show them as black. I'm not exactly sure when the colour-coded steering column was deleted, but it is certainly a feature of 1956 FEs, as is different trim on the rear window. 1956 FE-225s have trim that look like this:
Later FEs have the thicker, wider trim also seen on FCs. This was changed at around SA body #20,000, which would be roughly Jan/Feb 1957. Someone else (ie Ken) might know exactly when the changeover occurred.
cheers
RET