VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood 1941 dash/garnish color

While my dash/garnish/steering column are out of my car I thought it might be a good time to return it to its original Master Deluxe color(trim number 115). I assume I could just visit a local auto paint store and have them do a color match for me, but I think all your advice/experience would be more helpful. I assume I will need a low sheen or semi-gloss paint and preferably something that could be premixed in a spray can, since I do not have a spray gun. Is there a brand, type of paint, national chain store, color mixture code, that I should consider???

I do have a retired, car guy, friend that I think would do the painting for me if you all thought that was best. I would chemical strip or media blast off all the paint myself.

I do want to mention that I am not fond of the shade of brown paint that it appears is the original color!!!

Thanks, and best wishes, Mike

If I may say this. If the color is anything like what I see on my screen it is not even close. It is more of a light brown or coco color. The factory paint was not low gloss of any kind but just a normal thin lacquer sheen.
The 115 trim number refers to the upholstery type.

I had wondered what the "Trim" on the tag meant...As for spray guns I've found several at garage sales ( Binks, Craftsman ) for as little as 3 dollars...You just need a regulator and filter, and away you go....! I've used lacquer thru them and it came out great...Easy to use, and "runs" easily sand out...

I took the following pictures from other parts I have from other 41s. It seems that the color from behind the cover of the ash tray Master Deluxe has a redder hue. Is this what I should try to match???

Thanks, Mike


Color back of glove box



Color back of dash cigarette ash tray

This paint color is behind a side rear window. Still looking for a modern paint number to paint my interior 1941 Master Deluxe. I will not be going the route of base coat/clear coat.
Thanks, Mike

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u560/41chevymike/IMG_0565_zps318686c5.jpg

After visiting two automotive paint stores today, with no success, I decided to look in my Chevs of the 40's catalog one more time. Much to my surprise I found that they supply the 1941 dash/garnish paint. They describe it as tan with a pink cast. I hope the search is now officially over.

Thanks, Mike

That color is for the Special Deluxe. The Master Deluxe used more of a coco brown color. Very different.

Hi Gene,

Any suggestions where I might find the right paint color?

Thanks, Mike

Other than the fact that it is a Master Deluxe (MD) instead of a Special Deluxe (SD), why not woodgrain it? It and the wind-shild and the window moldings, etc.

If the intent is to build a show car, then forget that but otherwise why not? After all the inside can be wood-grained (SD) and the outside stay MD. You could even upgrade the steering wheel to SD, as well. You already have the clock. Did the MD get an ashtray? If not, then you already have that too.

Or, just go by Wal-mart and get yourself a pray can of dark brown.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

You sound like my wife. The Master Deluxe does have a very plain interior. When I mentioned to her there would be less dash chrome she said, "I like the chrome, and I have something to say on this project." She and Wawuzit would get along great, speed and glitz!!!

The good thing about her and my garage is that for every 40 hours I am out there she is there less than a minute. She doesn't like the smell.

Works fine for us, Mike

P.S. There are very few things in my interior that are not Special Deluxe (clock, glove box, cigarette lighter, ash tray, extra chrome over radio, radio, door trim on upholstery, window garnish, steering wheel). I'm beginning to think you and my wife are right??? I have began putting a lot of Master Deluxe interior parts together in a box. Got them sandblasted and ready for primer. Time will tell!!!

As I see this is an older post. I sure hope you didn't paint the dash that diaper brown, or went with wood grain look. Never on a MD. The clock may have been an order option, but not standard. My '41 MD is unrestored, barn find that has never had the dash painted, nor wood grained. Just that mocha brown that Chevy Gene mentioned. Contact me if u want as I can send you pics of my cleaned up, but not restored interior, minus the clock. Only wood grain I have is around the side and rear interior windows.
Gus.
1941 Master Deluxe.

This is continued up in the '41 thread at the present time. Go on up now.

Hi Gus,

Please post to our web site pictures of your original dash.

Thanks, Mike

P.S. If you need assistance in posting pictures please call me. 989-832-7634

Mike B, here's a link to a restoration shop's website.

http://nielsenclassicperformance.com/index.php/projects/view/52

They did the work on our region member's 41 business coupe. About 2/3 down are pictures of the dash still in the car with original paint. This is the same one I painted in the previous post. I still have 1/2 a quart of the base coat left if you want it.
Jay

Jay, great pictures. I can not imagine the cost of the restoration. I had a lot of body work but this took real craftsmanship to make all the patch panels. Is there a way you could send me a paint chip of the dash color with the paint formula? I am still confused with the color and will visit a couple of paint stores tomorrow to see what I can find. I have a Dupont paint color YS243 and a Duco # 181-21684 called Banner Beige Poly (20079 DQE) to research.

I have finally realized that all my parts were from cars with wood graining so must still find paint formulas for the Master Deluxe model.

Thanks, Mike

Mike, there were no formulas for interior colors back then. And wouldn't be of any value as the Nitrocellous mixing toners are no longer available. The PPG paint store matched it by eye and didn't record what toners or how much were used. So I have no formula,just the paint. It may or may not be exact but is a good representation. I'll send you a sprayed out sample.
Banner Beige is a exterior color (code289) a tan metallic (poly) not even close the dash color.

I spent my career in the body shop and we had formulas and "factory pack" pre mixed Lucite in 1/2 pints...but they didn't match! The painter would tint by eye to get it close then blend into the adjacent panels.
Jay

Jay,
Your post brought back memories. I know that this is a little deviation from the actual subject but feel compelled to respond regardless. When I worked in a body shop in the 60s (that is 1960s) we often tried to match colors of relatively new vehicles with "factory pack" colors. The were supposed to come from large batches that were blended and shipped to the auto company body plants. They almost never were a good match and we had to tint them to close enough to "blend" with existing paint. They often were better than paint mixed locally. We didn't have optical scanners in those days. Each local paint store had their "color matcher". The best one got more business from the repair shops. We had one that moved from paint store to paint store over the years. Never did find out how much his "signing bonus" amounted to but figured it was more than a six pack.

Back toward the original subject, even existing original paint (even in areas protected from sunlight) can not be totally relied upon for a color match. The amount of color change (fading?) is a factor of paint type, sun exposure, stuff (like grease, oil, finger prints, coke, etc.) spilled on it and atmospheric conditions when originally painted. Yes, higher humidity lightens most colors when sprayed. So close is good enough. Yes, we should do our best to get it right but realize that this is like a game of hand grenades.

Chipper I appreciated your comments,they were right on.