I've seen conflicting information regarding inner grille bar and hubcap colors, even in Chevy's own literature.
For the grille inner bars, the '49 resto pack and the '49 Truck Data Book (and apparently the '51 resto pack according to Brian) say they were Waldorf White. However, the '49 Chevy Engineering Features booklet says that, with the elimination of the grille stripes in the previous years, the inner bars are enameled Silver Gray. There could have been a revision to white after that booklet was published (Jan 31, '49). At some point the inner bar color changed to Thistle Gray, but it is unclear exactly when that change occurred (see below).
For the hubcap color, the '52 Engineering Features booklet says that, because of materials restrictions (Korean war), the "De Luxe" equipment option was cancelled in mid-season '51, along with chrome grilles, RPO rear bumper, and chrome hubcaps. Gray paint replaced the chrome on bumpers and hubcaps. However, the March '52 issue of the Chevrolet Service News says this change was effective approximately April 1, '52. The hubcaps were painted Thistle Gray, and the grille inner bars were painted to match. By '53, the hubcaps and bumpers were painted Anvil Gray, while the grille inner bars remained Thistle Gray. This according to the '53 resto pack and the January '53 Chevrolet Service News.
For interior colors, the September, '53 issue of the Chevrolet Service News gives specs and original Duco numbers. For all '50-'53 trucks excluding the 'burb, all interior trim panels and parts were Sheen Gray Metallic, except '50 and early '51 models, where the instrument panel compartment door, radio grille, and ash tray cover plate were Metal Gray. There is info out there that conflicts with this, too, from the vendors that sell the paints that are supposedly correct colors. Some guys have been dissatisfied with the repro colors, compared to original.
Looking at the color renderings of trucks in the Chevrolet advertising brochures doesn't help much. The grille inner bars do appear to be more gray than white, though Waldorf White could have been a grayish white. Even the brochures that have what appear to be actual B&W photos are inconclusive, as the shadows make the inner grille bars appear black.
The original Dupont "Dulux" number for Cream Medium was 93-530. There were two Dulux numbers for the Waldorf White--246-71052 and 93-71052. These numbers are for the air-drying lacquer, rather than the baking enamel.
Does any of this help, or does it just obfuscate more?
