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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 63 | My 1948 Chevy 3100 was painted entirely Seacreast green when restored. I see so many trucks where the fenders and running boards are black. If I wanted to be a purist, was the black fenders and running boards standard for the trucks or a color option when the truck was new? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Advance-Design years (1947-1955st):
Black running boards were standard.
Body-colored fenders were standard.
Special order paint colors/combinations were available to anyone as a special order; and, special colors/combinations were relatively common for business orders.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 182 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 182 | Now that an authoritative answer has been provided, I will ask another question.
Q1: Why do people like the the appearance of these trucks?
A1: The fat fenders.
Q2: Why do larger people like to wear dark or black clothes?
A2: To make them appear more slim.
Q3: Why do people like the appearance of black truck fenders?
A3: The fenders appear less fat??? Not logical. Conflicts with answer 1.
So why paint the fenders black?
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Because it appeals to the owner of the truck.... | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
There might have been a practical reason for special-order black fenders for some businesses with a fleet of trucks. The newer model trucks would match the general appearance of the older model trucks - the fleet would "match"?
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yes, black fenders were common on the Deco series and earlier
Bill | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 | Now that an authoritative answer has been provided, I will ask another question.
Q1: Why do people like the the appearance of these trucks?
A1: The fat fenders.
Q2: Why do larger people like to wear dark or black clothes?
A2: To make them appear more slim.
Q3: Why do people like the appearance of black truck fenders?
A3: The fenders appear less fat??? Not logical. Conflicts with answer 1.
So why paint the fenders black? Sput, while I concur with your points above most of the time, I changed my tune once I layed my eyes on John Milliman's big red pickup with black fenders. Man does that combo look good! Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 | | | |
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