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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 | Hello,
Does anyone out there have an original 283 in their 1960 pickup with orginal paint? I'm wondering what color it should be.
Thanks, | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | According to this site it should be Green.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 | Grey would be the original color | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
From the old VCCA Chevrolet engine-colors article (in Bill's post, above):
Green - 1960 283 Trademaster engine
Gray - 1960 283 Taskmaster engine
Engine colors are regularly disputed. See if you can buy a 1960 sales brochure from a reproduction parts vendor. Engine colors are sometimes shown in sales materials.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 | From all the pics and trucks that i have seen the early 283s in pickups were grey and the 1s in the medium duty trucks were often green,hence trademaster,taskmaster
Last edited by joek3167; 04/06/2010 12:39 AM.
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | 283 Trademaster, used in 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, S50, and L50.
283 Taskmaster, used in C60, S60, L60. Information taken directly from the 1960 Shop Manual.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 | Hello joek3167,
Thanks for the reply. I'm tending to agree 1/2 ton 283 pickup engines should be gray. But why does VCCA call out green for 1960 only? Gray for 1959 & 1961. Did Chevrolet switch for one year...
I haven't been able to find any Chevrolet photographs with the hood open on a V8. Can you point me to any original engines or photos indicating gray for 1960?
The follow up question would be what color gray does a person pick?
Thanks, Kendall | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 | My 283 in my 61 is orange. I was told it is the original engine, but I have no real proof. I know the 283s in the passenger cars were orange, so maybe mine was supposed to be fitted with an I6 but the order was changed to V8 last minute? I don't know...dont really care either, it'll be orange still when i rebuild it, ha ha | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | I have seen several orange engines when there should be grey or green. Technically I suppose there should be grey or green, but many times the orange engines snuck their way into the trucks from the factory. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 | This was a time before there were strict production processes or controls so it doesn't surprise me at all that they would have used what engine they had available rather than what was specified correct.
1965 GMC 910 Short Fleet 250/4-speed
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 | Yup, my thoughts exactly. Also kinda thought maybe all the V8s were orange in Canada, my truck was built in Ontario. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 | Yup, my thoughts exactly. Also kinda thought maybe all the V8s were orange in Canada, my truck was built in Ontario. Actually that is quite possible. My truck was built in Ontario as well and the engine is orange, although it's a 250 I6, not a V8. Before the Auto Pact in 1965 Canadian Pontiacs had orange Chevy engines in them.
1965 GMC 910 Short Fleet 250/4-speed
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 462 | | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 13 | That looks good but I'm pretty sure that doesn't apply to Canadian built trucks.
1965 GMC 910 Short Fleet 250/4-speed
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 6 | Anyone else out there with an original 1960 283 that can tell me what color it should be?
Thanks, | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 17 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2005 Posts: 17 | I have an original 283 came out of my dads truck he purchased new, witch I still have. It is grey. | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 19 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2010 Posts: 19 | Hi Kendall, Jon in Wisconsin. I know this doesn't help you much as you have seen my 500 mile 1960 C30,engine is green. Just bought a 9000 mile 1961 C60 and its green. Both untouched. I am leaning towards the grey on half tons now that you made me more aware of this.Still would like to see and untouched original example.
Jon | | |
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