The 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Factory Correct Restoration Thread

[Revoh]

I don't know that I can add too much.

This is the original bed in my '63. The floor used to all be black, but obviously, the black has all faded away.


The headlight bezels on a '63 with a painted grill should have a black ring around the inside. No one ever seems to put that back, though. There's black paint behind the grill, too.


I don't know what you can get off of this, but it's pretty original in here. Someone added an aftermarket windshield washer bottle along the way. There are actually some faint chalk marks on the firewall, but you can't see them in this picture.


These are the original wheels with the original paint on my '63. They used these hubcaps from '61-'63. Usually, they were painted white like the grill. They don't make them aftermarket, so guys'll often put the '64-up type caps on the older models.


I guess that's not all that helpful, but those are a couple of the bigger things that don't seem to get put back on a lot of the restored trucks. I like theastronaut's thing about the interior color, too. Seems like interior panels and headliners are often painted body color on restored trucks, but I do usually think the stock fawn beige look goes a long way in making it look correct.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by Revoh

The headlight bezels on a '63 with a painted grill should have a black ring around the inside. No one ever seems to put that back, though.

You are absolutely right on that detail being missed nearly every time. I grabbed a factory promo shot from another thread that clearly shows the black trimmed headlight bezel on a painted grill. Interestingly, it is hard to tell if the aluminum grilled trucks had that detail. Hmm, maybe not. ?

[Revoh]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Interestingly, it is hard to tell if the aluminum grilled trucks had that detail. Hmm, maybe not. ?

No, I'm pretty sure they didn't do that on the aluminum grill.

[GMCNUT]

Originally Posted by Revoh

No, I'm pretty sure they didn't do that on the aluminum grill.

I have a single NOS Aluminum 63 grill bezel new in the GM box, and it does not have the black paint - the White ones were the only ones to get the black trim coloring.....

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by oem4me

You are absolutely right on that detail being missed nearly every time. I grabbed a factory promo shot from another thread that clearly shows the black trimmed headlight bezel on a painted grill. Interestingly, it is hard to tell if the aluminum grilled trucks had that detail. Hmm, maybe not. ?

I believe the 1963 aluminum grill bezels did not come from the factory with the black trim. Here is an NOS aluminum trim ring I have still in the factory packaging. Part # 3822813

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Revoh

There's black paint behind the grill, too.

I love that truck! Here's some shots of a repainted grill shell and fenders with the correct pattern. I've been told that the black shouldn't be gloss though.

[65chevysub]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

I love that truck! Here's some shots of a repainted grill shell and fenders with the correct pattern. I've been told that the black shouldn't be gloss though.

Is that the factory light Blue? Code 507? My 65 Suburban was that color and is going back to it. I also think the gloss black looks great. Easier to clean than flat