The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop What is a Deluxe Blue Optioned Chevrolet Truck

Hello,

What is a Deluxe Blue Optioned Chevrolet Truck?
What are the years the Option was offered?
What was painted blue in the interior?
Was the option available for the Suburban, Panel & Canopy trucks.
I keep hearing it is a special option. True or False

Thanks,

This will answer some of your questions.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/152899/

Here is a scan of a 1954 sales brochure.
http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/ColorScans/22_front.jpg

Harold

There were a variety of interior and exterior two-tone color options in 1954/55 Advance-Design trucks. There were more than one "De Luxe" Cab/Equipment option in 1954/55.

The two-tone interior color options were parts of the RPO 430 and 431 De Luxe Cabs and Panels - Series 3000 (3105 and 3805 panels). These options included lots of chrome parts and two-tone interior colors to match the exterior color/colors. The two-tone interior options were available with the standard one color exterior or the RPO two-tone exterior.

The two-tone blue interior RPO was dark blue with light blue (I guess they were Mariner Blue and Transport Blue, but I am not certain of this). Included in this option was Blue/Blue interior paint and upholstery, and other trim like door panels, door-grab-handle, and roof panels.

By the end of 1954, there were 4 different two-tone interior options. I'll be using the two-tone Beige/Maroon interior in the 1954 pickup that I am now restoring (yellow/white exterior)


The 11 two-tone exterior color options in 54/55 were separately available from the four two-tone interior color options, RPO 438 and 439 - Two-Tone Cab Exterior Color Combinations for De Luxe Cab/Panel.

If you are interested in the "Blue" exterior colors options (RPO 438 for regular cabs and RPO 439 for Panel trucks):
- Mariner Blue lower body and Bombay Ivory upper body (might have been Pure White for a while)
- Transport Blue lower body and Bombay Ivory (might have been Pure White for a while)

There were other RPOs in 1954/55 for De Luxe Equipment or Chrome Equipment, without a two-tone interior or without a two-tone exterior. There was also a five-window-cab option available without any other deluxe options.

Here are photos of the original interior two-tone blue interior. I intend to leave mine in its current / original condition as I think it adds value vs. being re-painted. You have to scroll through some of the other photos in the folder to see the interior.
Original two tone blue interior

Richie,

Thanks for the photos.

I'll need to use your information and information from Greg Hill regarding what interior trim parts get painted what colors. Is the steering wheel two-tone?

Do you have interior door-pulls?
Was there a colored floor mat in your truck?

The steering wheel appears to have been one color - the light blue, which must have been Transport Blue or very close. It is beautifully worn in all the right places from use.

I have one interior door pull on the driver's side only.

I have a very nice fitted floor mat that is black. Not sure if that is original or not. I can send more photos if needed.

Bob

Richie,

Thanks. Is the upper dash dark blue? What color are the CHEVROLET letters on the dash?

Thanks,

Upper dash and defrost trim are the dark blue. My upper dash is faded from sun & use, but definitely dark blue. Chevrolet letters are black and don't seem to be painted in by any PO. I think they were black from the factory.

Hi,
No need to guess about the colors. This Chevy brochure shows the colors and gives the names. It also shows some of the options.
Here is a scan of a 1954 sales brochure.
http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/ColorScans/22_front.jpg
Harold

Yes, I know that Harold - those scans are mine (and, I have more GM two-tone documentation). I do not intend to guess about the colors. I like documentation and original examples to instruct me and to back me up.

I am asking questions because people have reported different "original RPOs" 54/55 two-tone interior/exterior painting "schemes". Also, sometimes GM illustrations were done by artists and they were sometimes off/wrong. One example in that illustration is the bottom exterior color on the truck going up to the top of the cab-"belt". I like that, but most two-tone exteriors that I have seen have the top-white going to the bottom of the belt.

Thanks,

Tim,
However they were painted, there is no denying they were beautiful trucks especially the two-tone ones.
Harold

Agreed, Harold.

Tim,

Is the paint color also on the door rubber weather stripping?
If so, was the rubber painted or was the rubber the color all the way through?
Do they reproduce colored door rubber weather stripping?
When you say "included lots of chrome parts" do you mean exterior chrome parts?
I've seen trucks with exterior stainless trim around door windows, but no stainless trim around windshield, did they come that way from the factory?

Jim,

Jim Carter has a very poor on-line catalog but he many Blue/Blue and Green/Green 54/55 interior items.

Go to his 1947 Early 1955 catalog
Go to Upholstery
Go to Deluxe Cab Interior Item


In RPO 430/431
Stainless:
Windshield surround
Exterior door window surround
Rear lamp body

Chrome:
Ventipane (door vent window) frame

Right side sun shade
Left hand arm rest
Cigarette lighter
Dual horns (in front of the radiator support)

You had to in get (separately) the RPO 393 Chrome Equipment for chromed:
Grill
Front bumper
Hub caps
Resr bumper - for panel body trucks, only

And, to get a chromed rear bumper, RPO 318

The interior colors are not standard exterior colors (not transport and mariner blues) The upper dash is the darker blue, the front is the lighter blue. There are black stripes to mimic the radio speaker cutout slots. The dash letters ( at least on mine) are the lighter blue. Steering column is lighter blue, doors, roof, cab interior are lighter blue. The steering wheel and hub are darker blue. The interior trim ring around the side windows is the darker blue. The center of the horn button looks as if it was a dark blue color although it does not appear to be the darker blue of the cab interior.(It is just not black) The weatherstip is black but the windlace is color keyed although it appears as much gray as a shade of blue. Shift lever for 3 speed or H-M is lighter blue but the shifter for H-M or 3 speed upper pivot is lighter blue. Shift rod that parallels the steering column is lighter blue. The inside visor mounts are lighter blue. Did I leave anything out?

The lighter blue is sort of a dark baby blue and the darker color is difficult to describe. I had the original interior colors on my truck scanned for a formula but have not had paint mixed to see how close the match is. Jim Carter sells the interior colors.

Thanks, Greg

Oh yeah, seat frame, headliner, and headliner bows are light blue.

Also, I have heard the arguments before, but I have a truck to back it up, my gas tank left the factory with the gas tank lighter blue although the tank mounting straps were natural.

Greg,

Was/is your fuel tank lighter-blue on both the front and the back of the tank? Some people have found that fuel tanks were painted in the truck, when the cab was painted (perhaps before the straps were put on)?

I think that sounds accurate per my recollection. I have not had the tank loose for awhile.

Greg

I have the same two tone blue and would be interested to know if the colors scanned accurately. If they did match, I would be grateful if let me know the manufacturer and formulas so I don't have to start from scratch.

I will look for the formulas. I packed them away but should be able to find them with a little effort. I will post them when they show up.

Is there anyone re-popping the factory correct colored windlace. "gray as a shade of blue"

Jim,

Did you go to Jim Carter's site and find the section I tried to describe? He lists some of the colored windlace.

I purchased the blue colored wind-lace (I think from Jim Carter) and it is a compatible shade of blue /grey with the interior. Have not put it in yet, but looks nice.

Classic Parts of America

Here are the Classic parts blue items. The headliner appears to be too dark (the darker of the two blues) The arm rests look more correct in my opinion. I bought some from Jim Carter and they are way too dark (almost navy blue)
http://www.classicparts.com/Late-19...rk-Blue/productinfo/03-108/#.UhjKuhgo61s

http://www.classicparts.com/1950-54...rk-Blue/productinfo/03-158/#.UhjK3Bgo61s

http://www.classicparts.com/1954-Headliner-Blue/productinfo/21-455/#.UhjLNRgo61s

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-54-Door-Panels-Dlx-Blue-pr/productinfo/19-065/#.UhjLixgo61s

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-54-Arm-Rest-Blue-ea/productinfo/19-625/#.UhjLsBgo61s

What do you think of these blue floor mats, Greg? Were they ever used by GM in cars/trucks?

I don't know Tim, I suspect they were in cars? I really doubt trucks. I have seen the part numbers for the colored floor mats but the only colored mat I have seen is the one Walter painted for his truck. It was a very nice look.

I am really thinking about a deviation from stock in having a matching carpet made but I want some sort or professional looking access to battery and brake fluid whether it be zippered, snapped, or whatever as long as it has a well finished factory possible appearance.

My 55 first has the two tone blue interior (although I have to repaint it because some one hit it with metallic green spray paint). I had a NOS clock housing that I installed and wondered what color it should be, dark blue like the top of the dash or light blue like the face?

Thanks

Joe

Dark is what I have seen. Very little of the housing sits below the rolled part of the dash that separates the colors.

You are right, there is more clock above than below. Here is a nice picture I found on the Web.


http://i1035.photobucket.com/albums/a437/mendonjo/clock_zpsca39542d.jpg

The paint formulas that I have are as follows:
Dark Blue Brand code 13906 Mixing scheme Deltron 2000(DBC) Makes 1032.72 parts...SKU DMD1684 white Incremental part 137.6 Cumulative part 137.6, DMD1683 Black Inc.197.2 Cum. 334.8, DMD1676 Blue Inc. 64.0 Cum. 398.8, DMD624 Violet Inc. 45.1 Cum. 443.9, DMD649 Clear Inc. 269.5 Cum 713.4, DBX1689 Clear Inc. 319.5 Cum. 1032.9

Lighter Blue Brand code 15474 Same mixing scheme Makes 1095.76 parts...SKU DMD1684 White Incremental part 295.2 Cumulative part 295.2, DMD614 Blue Inc. 260.8 Cum. 556.0, DMD622 Red Inc. 48.5 Cum. 604.5, DMD642 Yellow Inc. 69.7 Cum. 674.2, DMD649 Clear Inc. 58.7 Cum. 732.9, DBX1689 Clear Inc. 362.9 Cum. 1095.8

I had these scanned 6-27-2006

Hope this helps. I was told that scanned colors tended to be a hint dark but easily tint able if that was indeed the case.

Tim, I did could not find the blue windlace.
Must be looking in the wrong place.
I will call them to see what they have.

JC blue cab windlace - upper (mislabeled as lower)

JC blue cab windlace - lower

Classic Parts - upper

Classic Parts - lower

Thank You, Tim

I must be losing it.
If I would have followed your past post instructions on where it was located, I would have found it in a snap.
I was looking under doors rather than upholstery.

Thanks Greg_H for the links info.

Greg, are those semi gloss colors or do I need to specify a flattening agent on top of the codes you gave?

Joe

Most likely, they are gloss? I would think you would flatten to taste. I can imagine an electrospectrometer measuring color but not a level of gloss. I noticed two clears in each formula. I wonder if one is for flattening? That might be a question for the paint mixer.

This may be a needle in a haystack question, but I just got a heater for my two-toned blue interior truck. What color would the original heater have been? Perhaps one of the blue colors?

Heater

That is a pre-53 heater.

It will install in your truck.

It was not painted a blue color - it was an accessory (same color fits/matches all).