Serious early truck restorers often ask 'What is the interior color of the original cab sheet metal parts, versus the exterior color?' The answer for the 1934-46 trucks is simple.
The removable panels from the cab interior were always the inside color. If a component was welded in as part of the cab structure, it was sprayed the exterior color during the total cab painting.
This allowed successful coating of interior panels. As they could be placed flat during painting, there was a better guarantee of success for their specialty coatings. Wrinkle surface was placed on 1936-38 and a hammered appearance was used on most 1940-46 models.
Examples of these removable panels are the dash, rear interior corners, wiper covers, interior door panels, the above windshield cover, and upper door frames.
The outer cab color will also cover the seat riser and firewall as these were part of the total assembly. One exception is the rocker panels below the door. They are attached to the cab with screws but are the exterior color.
The two removable floor sections (covered with the floor mat) appear to be their own color, a black primer.
It is interesting that the interior colors in the finished new cab could have been painted even in different states and then the parts shipped to the assembly plant.
The following photos are of an all original 1941 Chevrolet truck interior.
Removable dash, Interior color
Removable rear panels. Interior color.
Welded in panels at factory. Exterior color.
All of door exterior color, except inter removable panel which is interior color.
