47-55.1 AD '47-'53 Grill bar ORIGINAL PAINT color options?

[89AKurt]

Q: Building a '48 (1/25 scale Canopy Express), want to paint the back part of the grill bars an ORIGINAL color. I owned a '48 1/2 ton years ago, it's was light green. I've seen white. I assume black was an option. Did color denote trim grade, or weight (for example)? Not interested in your opinion that a hot rod restoration could be whatever color you're painting it do whatever you want, that's completely different and seen several threads stating that opinion, but none about the correct ORIGINAL colors available. Thank you.

[89AKurt]

Model Cars Magazine forum



I will start a new topic in the Scale section someday.......

[mongocanfly]

ive seen black ,white, cream and chrome..on original looking trucks..

[mr48chev]

It depends on the year.

According to this stovebolt description

54-55 Grill
1947.2 -1953 1954 - 1955.1
The AD trucks debuted in the second half of 1947 with a grille sporting five horizontal bars topped with a hood ornament featuring a blue bow tie and the word "Chevrolet." On either side, between the 1st and 2nd bars, were rectangular parking lights in chrome housings. Painted grilles were standard with the outer bars in body color. The outer bars each had one stripe in "cream medium" (and matched the cab stripe).

The two outer vertical bars that attach to the fenders are the same color as the fender. The three inner vertical bars are semi-flat black (to make them less visible).

Chromed outer bars were an available option except as noted below.

Chrome outer bars not available '52 and '53
Outer bars were not striped in '50-'53
Inner bars were "Channel Green" for '47 and '48
Inner bars were "Waldorf White" for '49-'53

That snagged here https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/i...tting%20Guide/

Not every year has such complete info but on page 56 in the 1948 info kits on the GM heritage site they do show Channel green as the back ground color on the 48 grills

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Those herritage center pfd's are still the best resource for correct info.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

[...]

Inner bars were "Channel Green" for '47 and '48
Inner bars were "Waldorf White" for '49-'53

That snagged here https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/i...tting%20Guide/

Not every year has such complete info but on page 56 in the 1948 info kits on the GM heritage site they do show Channel green as the back ground color on the 48 grills

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

Those herritage center pfd's are still the best resource for correct info.

WOW, this is exactly what I was looking for! Holy smokes, found a drawing of the Canopy Express, will see how close or far off I was in cutting the opening.

The '48 I owned last century had the "Channel" green. That truck was a mongrel, was originally red and repainted, so didn't know if the grill was original. THANK YOU!
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[mr48chev]

To tell the truth I would be lying if I told you that I ever knowingly saw a grill with the back bar being Channel green. The info I gave was straight out of the GM heritage archives along with Stovebolt though.

Once you work your way though the archives https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/ to your year model of truck and scroll down the paint and trim info confirms things.
I would have sworn that black and cream were the two colors used depending on the year though.

[89AKurt]

LOL Now you're going to be looking at all the grills you see now, aren't you? The fact my truck was green, and seeing that it was listed, was good enough for me. I'm sure most people change the color to black or cream when they restore, would like to know. Thanks again for helping.

Anyway, here is the finished product.