VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 1936 Wire wheel colors ???

I am in the process of replacing my black pressed steel spoked wheels to the optional 17" wire wheels on my 1936 Master Deluxe Series FA 5 window coupe. The body is Regatta Red (Paint Code #203) and the fenders and running boards are black (I am not sure if that was an orginal option).

What is the 'correct' paint (powder coat) color that should be used on the wire wheels? I seem to recall seeing someplace that a solid color Regatta Red car was supposed to have bright red wire rims. This would seem to appear quite 'busy', adding a third color in my case. I am planning on using blackwall tires for the same reasion.

Also, what would be the 'correct' body pin striping color? Did the wire rims also have pin stripes? What color?

Thank you for any information or comments.

First the wire wheels were standard on the 1936 Master coupes, and on the coach. According to the 1935 and 1936 Master Engineering Features there were no options but it appears that the wheels often got switched between the body styles thru the years. Some publications incorrectly list wire wheels as an option.
The 1935 and 1936 Masters only came with the fenders painted to match the body color.
The DuPont paint book shows the Regatta Red cars as having the body side moulding painted black (the larger raised moulding) with a silver stripe.
Wheels are shown as Regatta Red or Black. I am not sure if black is proper for Master. The color combination is listed for a Satndard and a Master and all Standards had black wheels.
The wire wheels had no stripe. The body had a single stripe that expanded to a double stripe where the belt moulding became wider thru the door.
The Regatta Red chip is not shown. Seeing is a high paint number (204) it may have either been a new color added later in the year or was a special demonstraor or promotional color. I do not recall ever seeing a red 1936 Chevrolet.

PS, I see that this is your first post....WELCOME TO THE GROUP :)

Thanks for the post Chev Nut.

I did not know that wire wheels were standard on the 1936 Master coupes. Both of my books 'Chevrolet: The Coming of Age 1911-1942' and 'Sixty Years of Chevrolet' stated that pressed steel wheels were standard for all models with the wire wheels optional. I am pleased that I am now making the change to the Regatta Red wire wheels.

I guess I will just live with the non-standard black fenders. I must have gotten some bad information back in the early 80's when I started the restoration.

You stated that the DuPont paint book shows the Regatta Red cars as having the body side moulding painted black (the larger raised moulding) with a silver stripe. Is the body side molding the same as the body belt molding? I thought the belt molding was the same color as the body except for the stripe.

My copy of the Ditzler Color Company for their 1935-1936 Colors has a Regatta Red chip shown for the Chevrolet but may not be correct.

Thanks for all the valuable information, it is very much appreciated!

PS: The statement "I do not recall ever seeing a red 1936 Chevrolet" sort of dates you. It was 6 years before my time, but the '36 is dear to me as my first car was a white '36 4 door Standard Sedan.

If you have the 1936 sales catalog you will notice that the pictures of the Master coupes and coach have wire wheels.Chevrolet was always careful to show only standard features unless noted. The colors in the catalog are not very accurate.
I had a hunch that you were refering to those two books. The owner of the 1936 Master Town Sedan pictured with wire wheels (in 60 Years) installed the wire wheels when he restored it. He still owns it.
It rather common to see the fenders repainted black for the mid-'30's cars.Its a no-no but should go well with the red.Body side moulding is the same as the belt moulding. There were a few combinations in 1936 that had a contrasting or black belt moulding.
I must be 10 years older than you. I don't remember the 1936 as a new car but by 1941 there were still a ton of them on the roads that I remember. The most popular color other than black was the two grays and the green.I can not recall seeing a Hollywood tan one and I believe that was a west coast color.Have seen two restored ones in that color. Wouldn't be my choice.
You will find the the Master will be a completely different car from your Standard. The ride will be beyond compare (if your Master has knees) and the general steering and road holding are much better.