The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1952 Paint Code

Having difficulty determining original color of my 1952 3/4 ton. A patch of what I assume is the original color on the fire wall was not painted over when it was re-painted but I don't know if the color on the firewall would also have the same color as the exterior of the truck. Based on the color charts and old photos of the truck I've seen it would likely have been "Sun Beige" or "Cream Medium" (looks like "White" was not an option until 1953). Would the color of the firewall have been the same as the exterior of the truck?
Thanks very much
Phil

Yes, the firewall would have been painted the same color as the exterior.
Another spot to check is the back of the cab that's covered by the front panel of the pickup bed. Most times a repaint doesn't bother to remove the bed and paint the rear of the cab and front bed panel. Also, where the side view mirror bracket bolts to the cowl is a good spot to find unweathered original paint.

Mine was originally Sun Beige. I know that because somebody in the factory wrote with a finger (in wet primer) the words Sun Beige on the passenger's side upper cowl (hidden by the hood). It has been repainted but nobody ever sanded that little message out. The only places I ever found any of it were under windshield/rear/corner glass weather strip and door weatherstrip where the Sun Beige and the champagne interior color met and I did find some while sanding one door down where the paint had cracked. Not a very exciting color to be honest...and neither was Cream Medium. Sun Beige always looked sort of flesh-colored...like women's makeup or something.

LOL I'd have to agree. Beige is ----- well ---- Beige.

My first car was a 1936 Ford which originally was painted tan (I think the color name was sahara sand). The interior of Fords in the mid 30s was either black (most common) or an odd color which you had to order custom and can best be described as medium brown with some silver and tan showing in it...and they were trying to mimic the appearance of wood. I'm not certain how they applied it. By the time that color was 25 years old, it took on a greenish/yellowish bile-like color when the sunlight hit it. Lovely stuff.

Thanks very much! This is very helpful

Jon, I'm not good with the technology. Is there a way I can send you a picture of my firewall paint to see if you can tell me whether or not it's sun beige?

Just in case you have not seen a 1952 USA Chevrolet Truck exterior paint sheet, one is attached below.

Let's see if you/we can see this full-sized/expanded image?

Compare to the chart Tim posted. There is a big difference in the two colors.🛠