VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 51 Fleetline Glove Box door paint color

a few more taken from my 51.







Note, the flash of the camera does make the grays look different than in person.

On both of our cars the top of the dash (dark metallic grey) and the face of the glove box door and gauge area (Light gloss grey) are the same. The metallic grey below the dash where all the buttons are, and the inside of the glovebox appear to be lighter in my car. Notice that the hinges on my glovebox door are the same colour as yours... this shows that it isn't the camera or flash.

Here is the photo that dads51 took of the '51 on the ranch near his place. It appears to be most like my car...ie) darker hinges, and a lighter lower dash colour. Is there any chance you can get a serial# off of the fire wall tag, Jay?

I misquoted myself. The last part of the above statement SHOULD read ....."with a darker variation by the radio panel". The lower panel, where the radio mounts, is a dark grey, much like the upper dash or the steering column.

Bob

Based on Scotti's photos, my dash looks the same as his does. Perhaps the difference in Brewsters'is the assembly plants, time of year produced or body model. Mine is a Styleline Deluxe, was produced late in the 1951 model run, in Janesville.

Bob

Look at how much darker the left hing is than the frame surrounding it. I think Bob and Scotti have the frame painted the same colour as the hinge, ie) a darker shade of grey.

I'm not sure I want to ask another color question, but...,It appears by the photos that the heater was a "different" color than the dash? I was thinking they were the same?

Dr. Scotti, since you are "I have been documenting the various running production changes for 1951" you and others might be interested in this Supplemental Bulletin dated June 20, 1951 that is hand typed and came with my color chart. It says: On or about March 24, 1951, Shadow Gray Poly, 30872, was revised. The new shade of Shadow Gray Poly is coded 30889.
Use 30872 on cars produced before March 24th and 30889 for cars made after that date.
Paint code
459 Shadow Gray Poly
and it list the ditzler codes
Not sure if they are talking about the inside or out on the above. Then it gones on to talk about the "two-toned combinations" with
460 upper Shadow
lower Thistle

461 upper Thistle
lower shafow gray

If nothing else, your initial color question will make us all intertior dash color experts.

OK, after further inspection, with the car pulled outside in the daylight, The brackets and the inside of my glove box door are the same dark gray that is on the steering column. Not the color of the main dash. hhhmmmm

Brewster,

Where was your '51' asssembled ....what plant?

Bob

Al 1951 Deluxe cars had the same colors on the dash. ie-dark gray on lower portion and light gray on the glove box door and around instruments. The steering column and shift lever were the same dark gray EXCEPT they were painted with enamel instead of lacquer and no metallic was added (or very little)...which makes the color appear different. This was true for all years.
The 1952 had the light gray (satin gray) on the lower area of the dash and the center of the steering wheel, steering column and shift lever were changed to the light (satin) gray. The radio dummy plate always matched the color of the lower dash (note Special models had a different dark gray and no light gray was used)
The 1952 Deluxe dash was colored keyed to the exterior color, with it being a gray, green, or blue on sedans (more colors on hardtops and convertibles).

I just went out and took another look at my dash in the daylight. Two things I noticed this time. The area around the gauges is painted the same colour as the lower dash area, the outside of the glovebox door being the only part that is the Gloss Gull Gray. The second thing I noticed was that the radio delete cover has been replaced with a cover with holes in it. You guys all likely knew that... it's just the first time I noticed it's a separate piece! That piece is painted the dark grey that everyone elses dash seems to be painted. I talked to my Dad last night, and he assured my that the dash has never been painted. One thing he pointed out was that the car was built on the Oshawa assembly line, with Pontiacs being built on the same line. Is it possible that all cars on this line recieved a common dash colour?


I think this is an area where we have a difference in my car and Dad51's car in the field. The bottom of the dash is the lighter grey, which you describe as a '52 colour. My serial # is 1101142440...is this late enough that the paint change occured before acctual '52 production began?

I know we're beating a dead horse here... but I also know that these things also get discovered on the judging field, and even the experts learn new stuff. It's far better to dicuss it now, then have someone with an original interior repaint it because it's 'wrong'! A lot of things are different on Canadian cars as well, that often don't show up in US literature...

I am resonabaly sure the Canadian cars could have had different colors in different locations. Note also that the cheaper Special series had a different gray. Your best bet would be to find some Canadian literature or sales catalogs.
Gull Gray was never mentioned in US paint charts.

My mistake...I meant thistle gray. I'm getting my Chev paints and model car paints mixed up again!

I would also suggest emailing Bill D., the 1951 T.A. (see front pages of the G&D) and ask him if Canadian cars used different combinations. He has been the 1951 T.A. for a good many years, attended many meets, etc. and would have picked up on it I am sure. Tell him I sent you and we are both wondering.

I love to do light purple color on my door its great looking color,.