The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors ANOTHER Interior Color Question

Hi Everyone,

I am in the process of refurbishing a ’49 Chevy truck, deluxe cab, and have a couple of questions about interior colors and trim colors. I have tried to do all the research before I posted this request; I bought Bob Adlers package on colors and PPG codes, I printed off the chart in the Tech Tips section of this site, and I have spoken with several people that have experience the Advance Design trucks, including Bill at Chevs of the 40s.

A quick history on my truck: The previous owner had started to ‘restore’ it, unfortunately his idea of a restoration was to tape off a few of the knobs and the steering wheel and paint everything else – and I mean everything else - an eye-searing white.

In some of the boxes of parts that came with the truck I have found evidence that the truck was originally that kinda turquoise blue (does anyone know the correct name for that color?), and the dash was probably black. The old door panels are brown.

So, my questions are:

Given the above info, does anyone know what the original interior color might have been? I know Chevs of the 40s sells a Pulsar gray and some sort of a semi-flat brown. According to Bob Adler’s info the gray was used only on suburbans and GMC trucks. Any thoughts.

Are the door jams the interior or exterior color?

Has anyone ever heard of a black dashboard?

Not an interior question, but that exterior color, the turquoise blue, is not in Bob Adler’s color chart, does anyone know the name of that color?

Appreciate any info, thanks and Happy New Year to everyone.

Mike

I used to run around with a guy that had an unrestored '49 3800, the interior as a Champaign metallic color, with a brown headliner, seat, and door panels. The sterring wheel and column were a dark brown also. The heater was a hammer finish silver-tan. This was a Deluxe cab truck, 5 window, Forrester Green exterior.

If you buy a GM Approved Speaker Grill the dark color of the bars is a deadnuts match to the original color of my dashboard. I'm just having paint mixed to match that color which I THINK is PPG27467 Graphite Brown Metallic. Beyond that, you're on your own.

The exterior color stops at the edge of the body sheetmetal.

No black dashboards your year.

Can't help you with your Turquoise Blue question.

From what I have seen and understand, the interior colors changed over the years. The 49 was more brown and the 52-53 were more gray. The 53 was sheen gray metallic.

[IMG]http://thumb1.webshots.net/s/thumb4/6/7/53/148060753NKhHLD_th.jpg[/IMG]

Pulsar Gray was used as the Deluxe Interior paint on non-two-tone interior 1954/55 cab trucks. Pulsar gray was also the standard interior color on 1954/55 Suburbans. A different interior gray was used on Panel and Canopy trucks in 1953/54.

The 1947-1952 (some say through 51 and some say through 53) interior color codes (Dupont only) for cab trucks are shown in this Tech Tip. The sources of these paint codes were not specific regarding which of the two interior colors were used on which interior surfaces (Medium Tan Metalli-Chrome and Dark Tan Metalli-Chrome).

Regarding a turquoise blue - there was a Windsor Blue and Seacrest Green in 1949. One might have looked like turquoise (old/distorted paint chips are at the link above)?

Tim

The bottom line is: You just opened a can of worms

My thanks to everyone, all your information is much appreciated. Yes, you're right Czechman, it is a can of worms.

Mike

I was in the same quagmire. When you begin sanding go thru the various layers. You might try in such as odd place as the bottom of the dash. This place may have the most history as it not really seen unless your laying on your back, such as installing gauges. Maybe the doors could have been changed at some time. I've got some interior shots of my interior color in the gallery, check em out.
Good luck, and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Bill