The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors help on interior colors

I have 1950 3100 series 1/2 ton, looks like Mariner blue was original exterior and some kinda gray interior, i keep reading about this champagne color that was cab interior then i read about a sheen grey poly color? is there any way to know what interior color would of been used with a mariner blue exterior, i dont believe the interior was any kind of champage as it looks some kinda faded grey,im not really happy to go back grey but wanted to stay original, any ideas on using champagne and was it possible some 50 models used that cab color? Thanks in advance for the help

Turn back the page, we got the answers here. There was only one color for the truck you have and it offsets to a PPG Color 27467 and is called Graphite Brown Metalic. Your PPG dealer can mix it in DBU/DIU or Omni.

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=000698

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks Denny why does the cab look grey, its original paint and it doesnt look anything near graphite brown and is graphite brown anything close to this champagne color i keep reading about, did you ever see or use this graphite brown color before, I appreciate the help
Take care

Denny I checked out the link and it showed the sheen grey poly for 50 interior i didnt se the graphite brown anywhere on the chart what am i missing thanks

I believe 50+ years ago Ditzler called it "sheen gray poly" and the number is 31104. Ditzler is no more and that color is no more and the formula is no more.
Now fast forward to today, Ditzler is now PPG, their color library has produced offsets to the old colors in today color systems. The PPG Color 27467 and Graphite Brown Metallic is what PPG calls the color they are able to produce today with the materials that are now available.
The color is very deceiving, I have been monitoring the forum for a little over six months and read back into the archives and this has been an ongoing discussion for years and there are hundreds of interpretations of what the original color is supposed to be. To my eye the “champagne” description that is popularly used is close, it isn’t brown and it isn’t gray it’s something in between and really hard to nail down. That’s why I am saying that the PPG 27467 offset color from the PPG color library that I picked up last week looks very close to what was on the side garnish of the seat in my ’50. It was in pretty good shape and I don’t doubt that paint that has been around 50+ years may have faded some. It probably was never waxed or cared for in any way.
The solid color i.e. non-metallic, on the mast jacket was much closer to a gray but had an odd tint to it again very difficult to nail down.

Tim is an expert in this area, maybe he will jump in and verify or correct my interpretation.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,

I am no expert but I have researched original color codes and have done what you have done in obtaining modern "offsets" from PPG (information is in the Tech Tip) . I have been 100% pleased.

I agree with your interpretation of different color names and shades. I was not aware that the steering mast and shift mechanism were a different color. Maybe it is the same color as used on panel body trucks during those years ((Ditzler/PPG 31089)?

After you test that paint, please post your opinion and links to photos of your interior.

Tim

Here’s a sample of the PPG 27467
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2947890370098611668OOFQAm
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks again for the help and picture

Wow, that is great news !! I have been hunting for the very same thing...the interior color of the cab for my Mariner Blue Chevy 6400 truck.
The old PPG 31104.
I really appreciate all your research and info here.
I too was having trouble finding the old PPG formula, and it sure makes sense now, what you state.
Will get with my local PPG person to check this out further, thanks again Denny, and all you Chevy people !


:p


MJD

Ok I have still been working on the correct shade for the dash. I have found my radio dash plate that was taken out some were in the 70's. I have the original horn button that was still on the steering wheel. Now I have a new horn button from CJ. All three pieces are a different shade. I would have to think there is some fading over the years but knowing that the truck was kept in the garage I would have to believe the radio plate could be the same, but the original horn button is darker. So was the center of the horn button the dash color? I have been to a PPG Dealer and one of the offset numbers tell them that it is lighter then the original.

Not exactly sure what your asking Dave but I repeat my prior statement. From all of the information, opinions, suggestions, paint samples, quarts of paint from vendors and PPG dealers, etc., that I have gathered over the past 8 months, and I have been accused of being a nit-picker, the closest that I have come to matching the least most faded parts on the interior of my 1950, 3604 is the PPG formula that I have been pushing here.

You have to understand that almost everyone has a different interpretation of what the original color was. Most all of the original interior paints have faded into a thousand different shades over the past 50 odd years. And then you have the variations in the shades year-to-year and factory-to-factory.

The formula that I list below is a direct modern offset color of the original Ditzler paint number #31104 Sheen Gray Poly for the Chevrolet Advanced Design trucks. At least for the 1950 models I feel that it is a very good match. I believe that it is the general consensus that all of the interior colors for the early AD trucks were generally the same. There are some exceptions in the panel and sedan delivery models and possibly others but I will leave that up to the expert historians who have a lot more experience in the field than I do.

The modern day PPG formula #27467 is called Graphite Brown Metallic. Your PPG dealer can mix it in DBU/DIU, Omni and I have recently been told in DCC also. Had I known earlier I would have used the DCC.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Nit-picker is a good thing. That is what I’m doing also so I get the correct color this time. I can’t stop wondering, out of all these numbers that There is not just a old and a new number. I can take a sample of my part to the dealer and have them mix to match but then we have another number and a different shade because of fading. I will have to see what the #27467 looks like. Don’t get me wrong here I’m just making sure before I buy some. What really throw me off is when my new horn button came in with more of a silver look. So mine question. Was the center horn button painted the dark dash color or the lighter color that was use on the rigs on speaker grill?

Tim

Would you or any body else have the paint number for the lighter color that was used on the two tone radio speaker grill and clove box.

The inner grill bars on a 51 was Waldorf White also but PPG could not come with the # 246-7105 have not dried DUP yet.

David,

Who did you contact at PPG about the Waldorf White color?

Did you contact the PPG Color Library?

I have not seen any original names or codes for 51-53 painted radio speaker grill and glovebox door (I had thought that these items were painted only in 52-53 - maybe this was a mid-52 change).

Tim

TIM
I stoped by a PPG dealer and could not come up with the Waldorf #

1947 to early 51 chevy dash was two tone on the speaker grill and glove box. In late 51 these parts became steel and were painted all one color same as dash.

David,

I do not think that anyone has ever reported any success in having a local PPG (or Dupont) dealer or jobber come up with a formula from an original code.

At the bottom of the Tech Tip on 1947-55 Paint Colors are instructions on how to directly contact the PPG Color Library (the Tech Tips link is at the top of this page).

Denny recently contacted the PPG Color Library and obtained a modern formula (called an "offset"). Denny reported that the Color Library phone number had changed to 1-800-647-6050 (so, I updated the phone number in the Tech Tip).

The Color Library should have a modern offset for Waldorf White but it is unlikely they will know what color was used on the painted speaker grill and glovebox door (but there is no harm in asking).

Good luck,
Tim

Waldorf White,

PPG Plaza White, # is 90096

Bob

I pulled my Dupont Spectramaster metalic paint color chip catalog out of the archives in the back of the paint booth today,I have spent a while under certain lighting conditions and have come to the conclusion that Dupont Desaturated medium neutral metallics chip number MM342 is as close as any one will get. I compared this chip to the part of the radio blanking plate tabs that are under the main dash when bolted into place as denny says it does have a touch of brown wich obviosly fades out after all the years baking in the sun. If you go to your local Dupont paint supplier and ask if they have the spectramaster books you can see for yourself it is a very close match. I would think that it would have to have a flattening agent added to it to cut back on the shine. I am going to order a quart tommorow and see if I can get a flattener, and spray out a couple of samples.
DS

Here is about what the radio grille and glove box door looked like. The valleys are the same as the dash and the ridges are a lighter gray. Don't ask me what the lighter color is, I gave a sample to the paint supplier and thats what we came up with.

AD_Pickup you wouldn't happen to have the paint code from the can do you? for the darker color, that looks like the unfaded color under my radio blanking plate. I can see if the colors are close if I had your paint code #
Thanks DS

D Sinclair, that is "Sheen Gray Metallic" from the Dupont 1953 Chevrolet Truck Color Bulletin No. 25. Sorry, nothing from a can.

Duco Stock Order Number 740
Duco Code 202-81407

AD-pickup,

Did you go to a Dupont dealer?

Did they match your color, or mix from the stock order number and/or code number?

If they matched the color, did they match to a chip in a book, or did they use a color matcher?

If they matched to a chip in a book, what was the name of the color (Sheen Gray Metallic or Sheen Gray (Metallic) Poly or ???)?

If they used a color matcher do you have the formula they used?

Thanks,
Tim

Tim, I took a sample of the color along with the Duco Code Number to a Dupont dealer and the match was right on. Now, if they matched the paint or used the code, I don't know. I will get in touch with the guy that painted my truck to see if he has any of that paint left and ask if there is a number on the can.

I notice you keep saying "Sheen Gray Metallic" (Poly). The 1953 Dupont Chevy Truck Color Bulletin No. 25 that I have just has "Sheen Gray Metallic"?

AD_Pickup,

Thanks for asking the question. You caused me to look at my paint chip sheets and find out that I have been incorrectly referring to this color name. Dupont called it Sheen Gray Metallic and Ditzler (now PPG) called it Sheen Gray Poly. Long ago, I must have written these together as Sheen Gray (Metallic) Poly.

I think that you are the first person that has reported that a Dupont Dealer was able to make up a batch of paint from a 47-55 code (maybe other successful people have just not posted their experiences, or I have a bad memory - a good chance of that).

Tim

According to JC web site he has listed the filling. 1947-53 Chevy & GMC had a semi flat Gray-Brown with slight metallic. Also shows that in 1953 dash change more to a Charcoal slight metallic. I would have to say my 51 and the Radio grill that I have pulled out of a 50 is also be Gray Brown. I’m going to call today and see if they have a sample that they can send me

David,

Your posting sent me back to a 1949/50 Truck Data Book and, as you posted, it lists:

Instrument Panel Color (Dupont, Dulux synthetic enamel):
- Medium Tan Metalli-Chrome - 260-55257
- Dark Tan Metalli-Chrome - 260-55265

I have updated the Tech Tip (I assume that these colors were used on all interiors from 47-52, except Suburbans and Panels). If this is not correct, would someone let me know? I apologize for not checking this back to the data book earlier.

Thanks,
Tim

[I previously changed the Tech Tip, listing the Gray Poly interior color for 47-53, based on information posted in this thread about interior colors. From now on, the Tech Tip information will be based only on original documents - no longer on vendors colors/years and posted opinions. It's bad enough trying to deal with conflicting information in original douments.]

Tim
Before you change any of your information, I called Dupont Tech line to see if they could do something with those old numbers but no luck so far.

I sprayed the radio blanking plate today with the Dupont color chip MM342K and I would say that it is almost a perfect match to the unfaded color on the tab part of the blanking plate that fits under the dash. i sprayed the face and left the tabs, other that the shine it is hard to tell the difference the chip color MM342K is only available in dupont chroma premier base coat clear coat here in Canada wich is a little on the expensive side but you can cover it with a cheaper clear. i am going to use a dupont clear on the next peice and use some flattening agent to cut the shine back a tad. this is the color i am going to go with on my 53 interior.
DS

here are some pics
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2204672410093477578mZZlAr?vhost=good-times

So how do you like the results with the Dupont MM342K color? And do you have any more pictures to share?

Virginiafiretruck
I like the color as it is a close match although it could have a slight more brown in it. the places in the truck that are not fadded from the sun match this color. I have some pictures of the seat frame painted in this color and I will post them this weekend. I would also like to point out that this is a Canadian built truck so the colors used on the exterior and Interior may not be the same as the US built trucks The Exterior color of my 53 is Linden Green and there is no Linden green on any paint chips anywhere When I ordered my resto pac I forwarded the Paint code to dupont and was given the Modern version paint chip number (close match)
the resto pac gave an interior number or trim number but it was for the brown leatherette door panels and seat not interior color.

Well guys ya can beat your head against the wall all ya want but just let me say this.
The original interior color on the chart Tim has posted, i.e., Ditzler #31104 when offset by the PPG color library to DBU/DIU #27467 Graphite Brown Metallic, is an absolute perfect match for the AD interior. Period!
I shot the seat skirts and window garnish with DP-90 epoxy primer and then with the DIU #27467 this afternoon and it's perfect. Right color, right shade, right gloss, right metallic, it goes on easy, dries fast, and it's, perrrrrrfect!

Next battle will be with the Mast jacket and steering wheel! And eventually I'm gonna get that perrrrrrfect also.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny: pictures? I need pictures... :-)

Thanks. D Sinclair

Ya know Virginia, I am just chompin’ at the bit to show ya all some pictures and so convinced that this is the closest match for the correct color paint and that it is the simplest solution to this on going dilemma and confusion. But, and there is that but, I got pictures but, the only confuser that I have that I can download the picture to crapped out on me last week and I’m stuck with them all in my digi-cam.
If you know me then you know that as soon as I get a way of downloading them to Webshots I will.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Dupont MM342K
Painted seat side plate taped to door for color match purposes.
[img]http://thumb18.webshots.net/t/60/460/1/59/31/2718159310093477578krJQUi_th.jpg[/img]

DS

Must be a Canadian thing DS, cuz to my eyes that looks Silver. Of course it could be the light or the camera or maybe I’ve simply misunderstood everything I’ve been reading here for the past year on the interior color being a brownish gray metallic color. Or maybe the other factor is that it’s a 2 ton and they had a different interior color than the ½, ¾, 1 ton AD’s. I looked at a friends 1950, 3100 this weekend and he swor that it was the original interior color. Once we started looking closely and behind things you could see a lot of spots where it had been over sprayed with the silver/gray.
I have yet to hear from a real live VCCA judge and his opinion or what they use for their judging standards in regards to the interiors.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

DS,

That gray looks like a match. That shade also reminds me of the interior color of a 1948 Chevy Panel Truck that I owned long ago.

Was you truck manufactured in Canada? Is it possible that Canadian interior colors were different from USA interior colors? I think that exterior colors were often different?

By the way, it does not bother me if people use the words "gray" or "grey" and if they use "color" or colour".

Please do not interpret my questions as disagreement or an argument, I am truly trying to better understand the variety of interior and exterior colors that were used between 47-55.

Tim

Denny and Tim no offense taken! In the darker light it does look alot more gray than silver and who knows maybe it is a Canadian thing or just a big truck thing, If Tim would like I can send him my Dupont color chip library and he can match the new chips up to his posted color charts from the 40"s to 50"s ???
DS

Same here guys, hope I didn't come off to strong, I do that sometimes. I'm a student here also and I'm only tryin to understand the history lesson.

If there is a way to add your chips to Tim's info it would add one more piece to the puzzle.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

OK, nice to hear from you guys in your endless search for the right interior color for your 47-53 trucks. How about anything close to the paint on the doors and interior panels of a '40 half-ton? Read one mention somewhere of "Thunder Gray"... it also is not quite a gray, and has a "champagne" metallic look to it. Thanks!