The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 54 chevy 3100 wheel color

Anyone know what color the wheels were painted at the factory. I've seen body color, white and black in my research. Just dont know what's factory.

Black was the most common color. On two-tone body trucks, I think the wheels were painted lower-body color.

Thank you its kinda confusing. Cant find any printed literature that indicates it. The rims are really rusted on the inside toward the axle and I cant easily determine a color but somebody painted the outside black.

I have a few 1954 factory color advertisements with the four two-tone color combinations, that I think show the lower body color on the wheels.

The standard 1954 wheel color was semi-gloss black.

I do not recall seeing white wheels (and certainly no white wall tires).

Regular Production - Black
Deluxe Solid Body Color - Body Color
Deluxe Two-Tone - Lower Body Color

Factory Specs - Wheel Paint Info

It looks like solid body color "combinations" (one body color and complementary wheel color) was an RPO (234) for solid exterior/interior color 195455st trucks - it provided the complementary color wheels (rather than the standard black with any/all exterior colors). All the dealer had to do was order that RPO for the exterior color - and the complementary wheel-color was a no cost option. My standard (regular production) body-color Suburban had black wheels - Juniper Green body color.

That feature of RPO 234 might/might-not have been available in early 1954 (those features are not listed in Truck Date Book), but it was certainly available in Truck Data Books by late 1954 (October). And, the Tech Specs shown above is dated May 1954.

Thanks, Oilrag

If you didn't want the standard "Juniper Green" body color,
then RPO 234 was used and you picked the body color of your choice.

RPO 234 code, was used for many years,
and was available in early 1954.

Depending on the year, body colors may have changed.

Two examples....

Year 1950 - RPO 234 colors

Year 1955 - RPO 234 colors

The information/questions of wheel colors is not always shown/answered in every year's specifications manual (47-55st).

Chevrolet paint information from 1936-1962 from specifications manuals (if available).

The information I posted on RPO 234 was taken from five different 1954/55st Truck Data Books (each with different publications dates).

3100 wheel color - Regular Production, Black - 1947-1955.1
Wheel colors should be included in every year of the Truck Specifications.

In some years, the Spec. Manual has "wheels" shown/answered
on the page with the "RPO 234" info, as in 1954 specs.

When wheels are not on the "RPO 234" page,
like the 1950 link listed above,
then 1950 wheels are listed on the page before the RPO page
in the Spec. manual, showing Regular & RPO Wheels.

Be sure to use the correct column listed at the top of that page.
Suburban Carryall; Other Conventional Trucks; Cab-Over-Engine Trucks

bamaboy, you can also find printed material at the Click on Chevy Trucks "show"

Hope this helps.

Thanks and Sorry, Oilrag, while I agree with you on pre-1954 TDB, as I posted above, not all the various issue/dates of TDBs have info on wheel colors for deluxe cab option. Most likely, the 1954 wheel color for deluxe (and, two-tone interior/exterior) were body/bottom color, even though an early-dated 1954 TDB has no information on that (that information was simply blank).

I'll might get away from comments from the purists with my 1954 16" black wheels on my yellow/beige cab. The wheels will be covered with stainless steel full wheel covers.

Tim,

Just trying to help the OP, bamaboy, so he can
find the "printed literature" for his 1954, 3100
and decide what color he wants to paint his wheels.

Not trying to have a debate with you,
but we already answered the 1954 wheel color.

Regular Cab Production, wheels listed as, Black
Deluxe Cab, Solid Body Color, wheels are listed as, Body Color
Deluxe Cab, Two-Tone Body Color - wheels are listed as, Lower Body Color
Deluxe Equipment is NOT specified for the Canopy Express models

Tom/Oilrag - your first post was concise and correct. I led this discussion astray.