The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop GMC dash question

What is the original color for the '54-'55 GMC control knobs? The few available from the repro houses are a light grey, but my one surviving original (the brake release, away from sun fading) is a cream/beige color. Is this just another case of the repop guys selling inaccurate parts, or has my brake release knob just turned a strange color after 50 years?

An additional question - what color were the '54-'55 GMC gauge panels? Mine were painted dark green to match the outside of the truck many years ago, but that paint is flaking. Under it is a dark brown/chocolate/bronze metallic color. Quite attractive, actually. Was that the original color? What is it called?

My truck isn't going to be stock, but I like the look of a lot of the stock parts, so I'm trying to stay with that theme. This is going to be a 'rodstoration,' no digital gauges or car suspension here, thank you very much!

My '55.1 had all beige knobs at one time, now I'm down to the wiper knob and brake release knob. Nobody makes the correct knobs as far as I know, so I now have black for throttle/choke/headlight knobs, as well as the cowl vent lever knob and the new 12v cigarette lighter. I briefly toyed with the idea of adapting radio knobs, since they're the only parts offered in the correct color, but that would be even more wrong than black. :mad:

BTW, the window crank handles were also that yellowish-beige; I only found one of those so the passenger side has an off-white Chev handle.

There isn't anyone else on here with a '54-'55 GMC?

My '54 GMC had only one (apparently) original knob left when I got it and that was the parking brake knob which was kind of a light cream color.

Also, dash plates were a dark brown color.

Okay, it looks like the light grey knobs for the wipers and radio that the repop guys sell are not correct.

That's correct! Grey is incorrect. Radio and was black, and other knobs were white/cream originally.

[img]http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/photos/54_GMC_dash.jpg[/img] 54 GMC Dash with Radio and heater schematic

I have a cream wiper knob, so they made at least one.

Hmm...what's left of my wiper knob is white, too. Maybe it has something to do with our weird 1-ton, curved windshield panel trucks. Not much of it (or the headlight or turn signal knobs) there after 50 years of Missouri summer sun. The constant clouds and rain in Seattle must stop UV light from eating plastic.

Sounds like what the guy restoring the '55 Suburban Carrier did for some of his knobs. I think his site is something like Suburban Carrier page . I think you have a link, Rob.

I noticed something else that doesn't jibe in the heater schematic picture. Both my '54s have a round horn button.

Cletis,, do you have a pic of your horn buttons?

I've noticed that, too. Look at any '54 GMC ad, all of the ones I have seen have the '47-'53 style steering wheel. My best guess is that they did the advertising and the manuals early enough that they didn't have any round-button steering wheels yet. Otherwise, the steering wheel change was decided at the last minute.

My '54 GMC panel was the 42nd truck off the line in St. Louis that year, and it has the original round-button steering wheel, so I would be very surprised if any production trucks were built with the older wheel.

On the same subject, the owner's manual shows the '47-'53 style headlight switch knob.

Of course, the Kook is the GMC guru, I'm sure he'll correct me if I am wrong. :p

[img]http://home.nycap.rr.com/lederman/images/54GMCbuttonhorn.jpg[/img]

I have 54 GMC 1/2-ton w/ the deluxe cab and all my knobs appear to be original and are off white or creame in color.