The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Question on interior colors on my 53 3100

Hello all, I'm pretty new here but have done many hours of reading and searching before asking to many questions. I'm in the planning stages of restoration on my 53 5 window. Pretty sure it will be a frame off and I want to keep it looking like it did 60 years ago--in keeping with painted grill, hupcaps and bumpers because of the Korean conflict.

Here is a little bit about my truck, It was built after March of 53 according to the casting dates on the rear end and transmission, I still need to get the original engine from the previous owner- it currently has a 56' 235 in her, the 216 will need machine work.
Truck was assembled in Oakland Ca and spent all its life in Oregon, now in Washington.

The original color is Coppertone, rpo's include side mounted spare, EZ glass with date code on corners and wing windows that match, the windshield and rear glass has been replaced.GVW is 4800, so I assume the truck was delivered with 650-16 tires on the back, am I right? Original wiring that is still 6volt but has the wrong tailights, added turn signals that don't work. It has three on the tree. The front hood emblem are stainless, 3100 badge are too.
Accessories include a recirculator type heater and radio, which the antenna was installed on the passenger side of the truck.

For now I would like to know what the probable color of the interior was --as far as seat cover color, door panels and headliner (cooppertone exterior)As well as whether the outside driver's mirror and bracket was painted black or chrome? Tailights and bracket colors? Wheels are black as well as running board. Grill was coppertone with a gray color on the top of the grill bars. The rubber moldings around all of the original glass is black with no insert. Wing windows frames are painted.
Your comments are much appreciated, and thanks in advance.
Steve

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have done a good job of researching your truck with the goal of keeping it original.

I believe that 4800GVW was for all 3104 trucks. (?)

6.00X16 tires were standard. 6.50X16 tires (RPO 282) were optional with heavy duty rear spring. 15" tires RPO 273 were also available.

1954 RPO numbers:
> RPO 282G = five 6.50X16-6ply front & rear (includes H.R. Spring) - 3104 without side mounted spare
> RPO 282K = three 6.50X16-6ply rear tires only (includes H.R. Spring) used with standard front tires, - 3104 without side mounted spare
> RPO 282M = five 6.50X16-6ply front & rear (includes H.R. Spring) - 3104 with side mounted spare
> RPO 282P = three 6.50X16-6ply rear tires only (includes H.R. Spring) used with standard front tires, - 3104 with side mounted spare
> CLICK - Tire Specs
> CLICK - Tire Optiion RPO 282 - 6.50X16

Here is some good info from Jim Carter about tail lights:
> CLICK - Jim Carter Tail Light Info

Tim Lederman's site has a lot of info on color:
> CLICK - Paint Codes & Color Chips

My '54 3104 has the standard cab which had black running boards and wheels, and no optional interior colors. Your '53 five-window may have had other colors as options. Other 'Bolters can tell you about the color options for your truck.

I'm looking forward to answers about the paint color of the mirror arms and heads.

I don't think there were any available options for interior colors, do a search for the closest color match that others have found it is the same color scheme used for 7 model years, color option for interiors began in 1954. Door panels and headliner would be standard brown and so would the seat. Outside mirror arms would be black, chrome is something offered by modern vendors it was not RPO back then. Radio option is very neat but passenger side antenna location is not correct. Lots of posts on that topic to. Original antenna was mounted on drivers side in a very precise location. Look in the radio forum as there was a rather recent discussion on this.

Hi Steve, welcome to Stovebolt. The grille was a "Thistle Grey" as was the front and rear bumpers. The interior should be a grey color that is sold by Jim Carter: http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/product.asp?prodid=PT849&i=10633|||||
I wish you success as I also am restoreing a 53 to a dailey driver.

Thank you all for the welcome and valuable info, links for more information. Thinking a good restoration begins with a lot of time spent researching. I bought a couple books too, assembly manual and How to restore your chevy pickup.

Sstock
I am also doing a restoration of a 1953 five-window truck. My truck exterior will be the original Mariner Blue. The correct color for the interior for all 1947-1953 is a low gloss hue of metallic brown called "champaign". I purchased mine pre-mixed from Classic Parts, item #31-014 (Interior Cab Paint Champaign $49.95 per qt.) The color is close but finish is very low gloss.
I have a section of an original 1953 seat cover and it is a dark brownish-maroon with a grain texture. I purchased the Spanish grain maroon seat cover sold by Jim Carter (#UP109) and the color and grain is a close match to my original cover section.
Don/RdsLessTaken

Interior Color:
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/1953Chevy5_zps263e1165.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_00675_zpsbb0d9feb.jpg

Seat Cover, Door Panels, Arm Rests:
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_82895_zps56117817.jpg

sstock and RdsLessTaken,

Here is the "official" interior and exterior colors for 1953 truck from Tim Lederman's site:
> CLICK - Tim Lederman

Here is the info in the 1953 Restoration Kit:
> CLICK - '53 Exterior Color (GM Heritage Ctr)

RE: Mariner Blue -
PPG has two paint codes for Mariner Blue. One for 1947-1952, and one for 1953-1955. But there was only one orignal Dupont code for the color. Tim Lederman, Denny Graham, Brad Allen, and I are trying to guestimate why.
> CLICK - Mariner Blue codes

A local PPG store mixed a small can of "'53-'55" Mariner Blue for me this week. The code is in the PPG computer ... #10984.

My research lead me to this

PPG Paint code: DBU 27467

This is what I painted my interior and it looks spot on.

Steve if you really want to get into the interior color bit, try
looking at some of these past discussions we've had here. And
there is more if you care to do a little more digging.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=dosearch&topic=0&Searchpage=1

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I have a 54 Chevy and apparently have the 2 tone Delux interior blue option. I have to say the original two tone is one of the reasons I purchased the truck. It is wonderfully worn with use and faded naturally. I don't intend to restore it - I think it is a great combination of the two original blues they offered.

Link below (hopefully it works)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ulj1ebjaygn644t/NbddmxexRY

Scooter54,

Is the defrost-deflector at the base of the windshield the same shade blue as used on the upper dash and on the side-window interior garnish molding? I think they should be the same color on 54/55 blue/blue two-tone interiors (Greg?)?

There is a trim at the base of the windshield and side window garnish mouldings that are a darker blue. The dash and other larger parts are the lighter blue.

I added some interior shots perhaps with better color differentation.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ulj1ebjaygn644t/NbddmxexRY?m

Thank you.
I think I have figured it out. Jim Carter wasn't sure on the interior of a coppertone truck. But found out today when I removed the seatback the original cardboard panel that was maroon. So I assume it had maroon seat covers and door panels. This panel was the only original piece left other than the burlap in the seat. I did find a tag attached to the spings of the seat bottom that had a part nuber on it. I took a picture of this.
Seek and thou shall find.