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Old Door Panel Closeup of door panel frame Closeup of back of door panel frame

Hey guys,

I just tried to post a question about these door panels but none of my narrative showed up. I will try once again. I am getting my doors on the 52 2 ton back together. The old interior door panels will need to be replaced, the left one is missing half of the panel and the right is complete but is filthy, cracked, and torn. The first picture is of the one complete panel, I think it is black. The second is of the metal frame, it could be black but I'm not sure, not sure also if you can make that one out. The last picture is of the back of same frame which appears to me to be interior color. Carter's catalog shows a "Standard Black" panel, a "Standard Brown", and a "Standard Grey". What is the deal with the colors? I thought all the interiors were the same color, were these different colors options? Also Carter's catalog shows the repro frames and says to paint them the same color as the panel. The back of my original frames appear to be interior color. What is correct? I know that this is probably not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things but I would like to get this as close to original as possible. Any ideas, comments would be welcome. Thanks

Steve

I believe the metal surround as shown in your picture is a darker brown color than the champagne look of the interior (Chevy). It also shows clearly here the color more closely matching the brown panel?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/12647392044/in/set-72157641244124604/

Hi Brad,

So you think the panels look brown? I was thinking it looked black, is tough to tell for sure since the panel is so dirty. I think the photos don't show this too good. Any idea if these different colors were options? Thanks for the input.
Steve

In looking through my color full-line brochures it looks brown to me and appears in the 47-53 materials as such for the pick-ups. Different interior colors I believe became available for AD trucks in 1954, hopefully Tim will chime in on those.

I am not sure if the 2 ton trucks were any different than the 1/2 ton trucks, but both my 52 GMC and 50 Chevy 1/2 tons had a maroon painted metal trim around them. Here is a picture of an un-restored 49 GMC showing the maroon trim and original door panel. door panel As you can see in the picture this material matches the maroon seat fabric color and grain pattern. seat fabric From my experience none of the reproduction panels from the vendors come close to matching both the color and grain. I used the seat fabric and applied it to ABS plastic to come up with something that is a pretty good match. 52 GMC door panel

There were different door panel colors use in at least some Chevrolet Advance-Design trucks compared to GMC New Design trucks (47-55). Some completely different color/texture door panels were used in 1954/55 GMC vs Chevrolet trucks.

47-55 Chevrolet trucks:
There were different door panel colors used in some years in different model trucks. For example: in some years, Suburbans and Panels had different color upholstery and matching door panels (compared to regular cab trucks) - grey/gray (in panel trucks and maroon in 53/55 Suburbans are two examples).

In 1954/55, there were several colors of door panels used - to match the newly available deluxe two-tone interior upholstery: maroon (used in regular cabs, too), brown, red, green).

I do not know what colors were used in standard cabs in 47-52, but I strongly guess (I would bet) that the door panel color matched the upholstery color.

That brings up another question: what was the standard-cab upholstery color 47-53? Black and/or dark brown.

I'll look in Truck Data Books. Maybe Brad will do the same - between the two of us, we have a book for all years; but, upholstery color might not be described (except for 54/55).

Here are two pictures of scraps from my 1953 original seat cover. I am certain the cover was original and had never been removed from the frame, only covered over as I had to rip and pry it out of the tracks. It appears identical to the '49 GMC picts posted above, both in color and texture. I would describe the color as dark maroon with a darker grain. My recollection is that the door panels were the same color and texture as the seat, as least in the deluxe cabs. The panel frames were originaly painted the colors in the GMC photos as well.
RdsLessTaken/Don

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums...nning%20Boards/IMG_89872_zps3233425a.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums...nning%20Boards/IMG_89862_zpsaafbccb7.jpg

Wow, lots of info here. I need to go out to the shop and look more at the old panels. I am sure the metal frames are a sort of maroon like Huck says, the maroon is visible more on the back as the fronts are worn and rusty. The new seat fabric looks exactly like Don's pictures. The bottom cushion had been recovered by someone with a light brown material but the old material on the backrest matched the new stuff. I am now concerned about the interior paint I was sold by Jim Carter. They show it as a grey-brown enamel with a hint of metal flake for 47-53. I think my interior is darker than Huck's pictures of his interior.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...d35b.jpg?1417886199359&1417886200342
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...18ee.jpg?1417886199360&1417886200344

After looking at the pictures again, this paint doesn't look a whole lot darker but the camera seems to make it lighter. No idea why. Obviously I'm not going to try to repaint the interior now that it is mostly done.

Anyway I need to look some more at the old panels. I think there are panels that sort of look like the upholstery that are available as "deluxe cab" panels. My truck is not a deluxe model but is an old commercial gravel truck I think, it was later turned into a farm truck.

Anyway, I will let you guys know what more I can figure out. Thanks to Don, Tim, Brad, and Huck. It sure helps to have guys who are knowledgeable to ask about this stuff.

Steve

Ok, this is what I found out today. The right panel that is complete looks like it could be brown but is hard to tell even after cleaning. The piece of the left one for sure looks like there is a grain pattern similar to the seats. I had forgot but I have an original 50 3600 3/4 ton out in my cold storage garage. This pickup still has most of the original interior. I looked at that one and took pictures of the right door. That panel looks much like the picture of Huck's GMC door panel. I know Jim Carter shows this type panel as for the deluxe cab but the 50 is also a standard cab. Wonder where a guy can get a small amount of maroon paint to paint the frame with. Anyway I think these panels were brown but is really hard to tell now after 62 years of dirt and use.
Steve
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...2de2.jpg?1417906797872&1417906805608
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...852a.jpg?1417906797872&1417906805608
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...945a.jpg?1417906797872&1417906805608
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...166b.jpg?1417906797872&1417906805607
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...ab78.jpg?1417906797872&1417906805607
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f...6d76.jpg?1417906797871&1417906805607

Steve
I had my maroon paint custom mixed at the PPG paint distributor to match the trim piece, but if you can find some in a rattle can I doubt if anyone will know the difference. Jim Carter's "deluxe" door panels only come in black and brown but I don't think he is referring to a "deluxe" vs "standard" cab - I think he is referring to a non-grained panel vs one with the grain pattern. His other "deluxe" panel is the maroon vinyl fabric that has to be applied to a backer board. I found that you cannot apply this fabric to the standard door panels and get the metal trim piece to fit, which is one of the reasons I went with the 1/16th ABS plastic for the panels. From what I have seen, the original door panels were definitely a close match to the vinyl seat fabric. So I guess it depends somewhat on what you are going to do for your seat fabric and how close of a match you want to achieve.
Mike

Just a note on the original metal panel surrounds if you have them and they will refurbish use them. The reproductions are not a great fit in my opinion, especially in the corners.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/10045464216/in/set-72157631868452754

I have the seats finished, the upholstery was a kit with pre-cut pieces so don't have any extra. Don't think there are any of the PPG distributers up here, at least I have never heard of them here. Might be able to find maroon paint in a can. I will have to decide how to proceed with the panels when I get to that point. I'm going to use the original metal panel frames, they seem to be in pretty good shape except for needing to be cleaned and painted. Thanks for all the good advice guys. I will no doubt have more questions on this little project.

Steve

Steve,
Here is a picture of my seat cover (Jim Carter), door panel covers (JimCarter), arm rests (Classic Parts) and stainless frames (Classic Parts). My door panel covers are the optional maroon vinyl (Jim Carter) that is glued onto the standard cardboard panels. The vinyl covers are adhered with (spray adhesive) and will fit inside the metal frames with a little patience and work (use a screwdriver to widen the corners slightly and a putty knife to press panels tightly into trim). Mine are 2-3 years old and look as good as when installed. Much more durable and waterproof than cardboard, and the same material as the seatcover, and looks original in color and grain. The stainless frames (or original metal frames) could probably be primed and painted as original if that is the look you wanted.
RdsLessTaken/Don

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_82895_zps56117817.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_8574sm_zpsf606d867.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_8593sm_zpsabe00cfa.jpg

I have seen a very good example of original maroon door panels (they looked just like Huck's pics of the pristine 49 GMC).
They are maroon while the deep fissures in the grain are black. How did GM pull that detail off? Did the original maroon seat covers also have the black color in the fissures?
Carl

Carl
Here is a closeup shot of the back of the bottom seat cushion that was not exposed to wear or sunlight. You can zoom in on the picture and really see the detail of the grain and the black color in the fissures. seat fabric grain pattern Here is also a closeup of the door panel showing its grain pattern. door panel grain pattern As you can see they are a very good match and the door panels are not like anything being reproduced. I think about the only way to get something close to matching is to glue the seat fabric to a backer panel for the door. Here is a closeup of the door panel on my 52 GMC showing the grain pattern of the fabric material from SMS Fabrics. SMS grain pattern I have the Jim Carter seat covers and fabric on the door panels in my 50 Chevy and the fabric from SMS on my 52 GMC and think that the SMS material is a much better match to the original materials. The downside is SMS only sells the fabric and not completed seat covers so you will have to get an automotive upholstery shop to sew up the covers.
Mike

So do you think that GM applied black on top of the maroon and wiped away the black from the raised portion of the material, leaving the black in the fissures?
Carl

opposite Carl, the maroon was applied on top the black material

Bill

Bill, to clarify my lack of knowledge on this topic, until recently I thought that the under-lying black color in the fissures was just dirt and grime. After seeing good examples since then, I can now see that it is not dirt and grime.
If the maroon was applied on top the black material, how did they avoid getting the maroon color into the low lying fissures?
Carl

it's a manufactured product, not a 'painted' one - like fake leather or naugahyde - similar processes used to produce the cardboard door panels and the fabric seat covers

Bill