VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Colors for 40 2dr Special Deluxe

Were '40 2dr Special Deluxe sedans delivered from the factory in two tone paint. If they were, what was the color combinations? Also what is the proper color for the engine and transmission?
Bob T

Bob,
The 1940 was the first year to offer two tone colors (in the more modern cars)..
The two tones were-
Harbor Blue lower and Kingston gray top.
Traverse Green lower and Kingston Gray top
Battleship gray and Kingston Gray top
Ridge green and Traverse Green top
Mayland black and Glamour Gray top
Ruby Maroon and Arden Beige top
Kingston Gray and Battleship Gray top

Harbor Blue,Battleship Gray,Ridge green, and Ruby Maroon were dark colors...the others were light or medium.The maroon and biege combination was my favorite.

The engine is a dark blue gray color-available from Chevs of the '40's and the Fillingstation.
The transmission was not painted.
If you do an engine paint search you will find threads that go into more detail for painting the engine (correctly).

Chevgene

Will the firewall tag tell both colors if it was 2 tone?

Thank You

Sparky

No paint combination numbers are shown for two tone colors.The two tone info. I posted is from the parts book .It shows paint numbers for solid color cars but not for two tones.The Dupont paint charts show nothing.The 1940 film strips do show pictures of two tone cars and I do remember seeing them years ago although they were rare.
Two tone paint combination numbers are listed for 1941 and up.Another one of those mysteries.

Chevgene:
The two-tone maroon and beige sounds good. The car is black now. I bought it off e-bay last summer. It was an amateur restoration and the paint job was really amateur. Do you know of any pictures of two-tone '40's on the internet?
Bob T

I will see if I can find something,

Hi huddriver,

You might want to check out the post acouple below this one.....1941 Chevrolet Sport Sedan....yeah it's 1941, but there are a few two tone paint jobs in there that will give you an idea of what they look like.

And never fear, Chevgene will find some for you too.

The only place I have found two tone 1940 pictures so far is in the 1940 accessory film strips...Feb and March rolls.The same Spec. Dx. 2 door is shown with two tone and fender skirts.I tried making a copy (35MM film) and it came out quite small.If zoomed in to enlarge it gets fuzzy but the car can be seen.They used the same break line as in 1941.Could see it in the close up of the windshield washer picture.Followed the body crease line and in front it ran just below the bottom of the windshield-just below the wiper transmission housings.
There is nothing in the Enfgineering Manual or dealer albumn or any of the other things in my collection.If the "toolman" reads this he may come up with a picture....other than that I could send you what I have-would need your Email address.

Good Morning Chevgene:
I have been searching for books about restoration on the '40 but haven't found anything so far. I'd like to see what you have.
Bob T
bobt@vcmails.com

Bob,
Most of what I have is available in reprint from the....www.fillingstation.com....examples
Engineering Features-$10.00
Accessory book $8.00
parts book (up to 1942) $39.50
Owner manual $9.50
Fisher body manual $12.00
Shop manual $20.00

They also have the monthly Service News and several general books on restoration plus sales catalogs,etc.There own parts catalog has many of the required restoration parts including decals,engine paints and such.

The above will cover cover 90% of what you will need.The other 10% can be found on this site or thru the Vintage Chevrolet Club.

In my own collection I have the Show Room Albumn and dealer film strips + some other items not readily available.

Information on the 2 tone for 1940 is minimal at best. I do have a 4 page reprinted document thar is entitled: Instructions for Refinishing 1940 Chevrolet Passenger Cars in the "New Two Tone Color Combinations". It gives all of the various color combinations and whether the color is for upper and lower body. Then it goes on to show the most critical part of a two tone combination. That is, where does the upper color end and the lower color begin where the cowl and the lower windshield posts meet. They not only show a drawing, but the document gives a detailed drawing so that you can make a template for your 1940. One of the key figures is that the 2 tone paint comes within 3 5/16" from the bottom of the drip edge to the hood opening. It is easily understood once you see the pictures. If I do alot of digging, I might be able to find a cardboard template for 2 tone on the 1940 that I purchased years ago.
Send me an SASE and I will shoot you off a copy of these 4 pages for free. If you feel guily about having me copy these 4 pages for free, you could send me a steering column for a 1966 Chevelle with floor shift as payment. Your choice.

I have a 4 page document that is entitled "Instructions for Refinishing 1940 Chevrolet Passenger Cars in the New Two Tone Color Combinations". It lists which colors are for the upper and lower body of the 1940 Chevy. It also has the most critical information which is how to finish the area on the cowl where the windshield post is located. In other words, where does the upper color end and the lower color begin? It shows a neat drawing that includes a dimension of 3 5/16" on the cowl for ending the upper color. Send me an SASE and I will mail you this for free. If you feel guily about getting this for free, then send me a floor shift steering column for my 1966 Chevelle.

With that information I would guess that the two toneing was a factory blessed dealer operation.They would take a car with the single color of the lower desired color and paint the top the "new" two toned color.That why the paint numbers are not listed-the car would have just the original lower color number stamped into the plate with no special number for a two tone combination.

Toolman,

I got the envelope for the 4 pages reprint...where do I mail it? This is my first post on this website, if the info is already posted, please advise.

I have a 1940 two door sedan.

Click on his name then click on View Profile. His email is there.