VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood 31 paint colors and dash inset

I need some more help guys. I have a '31 5 window coupe (job# 31567), and I'm in the process of determing what colors to paint it. The plate on my firewall shows a paint number, but I can't make it out. The stamping isn't clear. It's either a 66 or a 68, or it may be an 86 or an 88. I presume that would give me 4 choices of colors, but in reading the color combinations at Bill Barker's site, some of the colors have the word Coach or other body style in the heading. Were there only certain colors used on each body style, or could I actually have 4 choices for my coupe and still be correct?

I've read some old threads, and it appears that date of manufacture has something to do with the color of the dash. I think my car was built in late '31. Should my dash be body color or black? Or should it be two-tone? Should it have a decal around the instruments? Ray Miller's book, Chevrolet: The Coming of Age indicates that closed cars had a grain like pattern around the instruments, and that open cars had an engine-turned panel there. Is that correct? I know that the Filling Station offers the engine-turned decal; is the grain like pattern available somewhere? Could a piece of vinyl upholstery be used to provide the grain pattern? Did some closed cars use the engine-turned panel?

Your thoughts on these topics would be appreciated.

Combination 66 would be Black with Cream Medium Stripe. Wheels would be Black or Cream Medium. Instrument Panel (dash) Black.

Combination 68 would be Boulevard Maroon and Black with Pale Gold Bronze Stripe. Wheels Black. Instrument Panel Black, Instrument Panel Depression Boulevard Maroon.

There are some combinations for early production that lists the Instrument Panel body color. If this is the case it should have the early hood, double bar bumpers, flat top doors, and fabric covered garnish mouldings on the back three windows.

Hope this will help you some.

You would be doing yourself a favor if you take Ray Miller's book and hide it somewhere and not use it as a reference guide!

When the dash transfer was used on both the 1931 open and closed cars, it had an engine turned design. The transfer used in 1932 on the open and closed cars had an "Art Deco" design. Do not use upholstery material in place of the transfer because upholstery material would be too thick, and it would look "weird" as well.

Thanks Back Roads, I'm leaning toward Combination 68, and in looking at Barker's charts, under Boulevard Maroon it says "see Harvard Crimson". Are they really that close to the same color?

Thanks Dog, I questioned Ray Miller's book, 'cause I hadn't seen any other reference to the grain like pattern. Was the engine turned design used on deluxe models, or did it depend on where the car was built?

I have my own opinion about Harvard Crimson and Boulevard Maroon being the same color. Why would Chevrolet and Dupont have two different names and two different paint numbers if they are the same color. Look up Crimson and Maroon in the dictionary.

I have chips for Harvard Crimson and Boulevard Maroon and they are not the same.

Color choice is a pretty big decision for me. Based on Bill Barker's web site, I know that Harvard Crimson is similar to a 1968 Fiat color called Dark Wine. Does anyone have a modern replacement color for Boulevard Maroon? As indicated above, under Boulevard Maroon Barker's chart says "see Harvard Crimson". The 1931 color charts available are now too faded to really know what a colot looks like. To make my decision, I'd like to be able to look at a fairly new color chart in a paint store, and if I think I like that shade of Maroon, have them mix a small amount, so that I can be absolutely sure it's the color I want.

Unfortunately, the various modern crossovers for the 1931 Boulevard Maroon keep referring back to the crossover for Harvard Crimson. But......the two colors are not the same. However, the modern crossover for Harvard Crimson used in 1932 says that color has the same crossover as the 1932 "Bordeaux Maroon". The crossover for "Bordeaux Maroon" is as follows:

1963-65 Mercedes. The color is Dark Bordeaux Red. The Acme number is 9493. The manufacturers code number is DB356.

:( :( :(

When I did our 31 in Harvard Crimson I had Dupont make the paint for me. This was before VCCA and crossovers. Correct or not that is my story and I'm sticking with it.

Thanks Dog, I'll check with the paint store Tuesday to see if they have the Mercedes chart.

If anyone knows the answer, I'd still like to know when the Instrument Panel Depression was painted or when a dash transfer was used.

Also, was Boulevard Maroon limited to the Coach body style as shown in Bill Barker's Duco Color Specifications Chart, or was it used on the 5 window coupe as well.

In the monthly Chevrolet Service Bulletins for 1931 there is a paragraph that says they started using the transfer on DeLuxe models. I don't have that information available at the moment, but I think it was in April or May of 1931. That should mean that early and standard cars didn't have the transfer. My Special Sedan (July '31) should have one, but I like it better in paint.

There are approximately four groups of paint combinations, commercial, Roadster & Phaeton, Landau Phaeton & Cabriolet, and all remaining body styles - sedans, coupes and coach. A few colors in different combinations were used for more than one group. For example, English Gray / Daphnis Green on Roadster or Cabriolet, and when a combination number lists "cushion retainer" you can tell it's for a Roadster or Phaeton.

Thanks d2d2, it looks like I'll be correct with Boulevard Maroon on my coupe. I'll make my decision after I have a chance to actually see the color. I may choose to paint my dash inset maroon also, but I'll need to see a few examples of painted insets and insets with decals first.

6wheel you need to contact the 31 ta he has the correct info . there were several options . hope this helps

6wheel you need to contact the 31 ta he has the correct info . there were several options . hope this helps

The April 1931 Chevrolet Service News Page 32 covers the Instrument Panel Transfer. "An "engine turn" transfer is being applied to the front face of the instrument panel on the Special Sedan, Sport Coupe, Landau Pheaton, Cabriolet and 5-Passenger Coupe."

The second paragraph stated "It also can be installed on other closed body types, on which they are not standard equipment."

This brings up the question is the car going to be judged as it left the factory or as it left the dealer?

Back Roads,
The VCCA criteria has always been as it left the dealer not as it left the factory. If the factory then hubcaps, bumpers and other items that were dealer installed on many years would need to be taken off for judging.

Chipper, I agree that is the way it is supposed to be. I have heard many discussions in Judging Seminars the statement made "it didn't come from the factgory that way." To many chief judges take to many liberties with the rules.

"The VCCA criteria has always been as it left the dealer not as it left the factory"

That statement should probably be expanded upon to include only genuine Chevrolet accessories for the year and date in question. Points should be deducted for dealer installed aftermarket accessories.

Right on JYD. The problem is that some of the chief judges take liberties with the rules.

Judging at VCCA Meets. On page #4 of the June 2006 VCCA Judging Manual it reads:
"It is the owners' understanding that when they decide to have their vehicles judged, that we as club members, are comparing their vehicles to how the manufacturer delivered the vehicles to the dealer and to the public."
It sounds like maybe that sentence may need to be tweeked a bit? If dealer's added the bumpers, that fits nicely into that sentence in the manual. But what if the dealer installed a Motorola radio? Then what?

It should be changed completely and should read "Equipment and accessories that were available or cataloged for the year of the vehicle are considered correct."....Who installed the imtems is not pertinent.Could have been purchased over the parts counter and insatlled by owner as an example.Who knows how the vehicle was equipped when delivered to the customer.

Yeah and maybe then My J.C. Whitney Dixie Horns that were sold to me by a former Genuine Chevrolet Used Car salesman are OK!
I don't think so, leave the words like they are and the proof of the item being original should be the responsibility of the one showing the car.

6Wheel, and all,
I am awawy from my material until next week. I seem to remember Dad referenced Boulevard Maroon, and Harvard Crimson as the same replacement color. I can't explain it, but thats what he did. I will attempt to come up with an answer when I get home early next week.

The reference to looking up colors in the dictonary is a fine idea, but I have noticed there are several colors used that were be called either "Grey" or "Green", and looked more like the other. This could be the case with Maroon or Crimson.

Dan.

The judging comments should be copied to the Judging Forum. My comment is that the problems with the Chief Judges using their own rules will continue until the Judging Committee has the power to select the Chief Judge at each "National" Meet and they are selected based on experience, understanding the rules and procedures and past performance. As long as the "National" meet organizers insist on selecting one of their buddies as Chief Judge then we will continue to have problems.

The judging comments should be copied into the G&D as well so every member can know how serious the problems are with the dishonest and incompetent VCCA judging.