What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Folks:
I am getting ready to spray the bedsides of my 1966 1000 series GMC with fenderside bed. I am curious what color the angle bed strips that are welded to the bedsides should be painted? For the folks with original trucks, were the angle strips painted the same body color as the bedsides or were they taped off and painted satin black like the rest of the bed strips?

Thanks for any advice you can offer. My truck isn't completely original, but I like to keep it close when I can.
Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Steve,

There is a thread in this section called "Calling all two tones" that had some color charts which indicated what section of the truck was painted what.
In the case of my wide side they showed the wheel tubs painted black, but mine were body color. I think there were some variations depending which plant assemble the truck. So take that into consideration. If I was doing it, I would use body color on the bed, make the wood it's own color or finish.

gg

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

I'm going with black wood, wheel tubs and strips as in the early photo ads. Hard to get in a fight if you follow the old pictures. The inner bedsides will be the lower body color. (Canyon Blue).

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Gentlemen:
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Here is an early production 1960 GMC Wideside, with original bed paint. This truck was built in Pontiac, and adheres to the 1960 GMC Painting Regulations. That said, I have seen some presumed original trucks from the Oakland Ca. plant that deviate from this standard. So if your truck is eastern or western production, it could have varied from the plant. The 1960 GMC Painting Regulations call for black wheel wells and black bed(strips and wood). The original wood was Heart Pine treated with Lamp Black. Good luck with the truck and please let us see the progress. Hope this helps,GM

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Here are the 1963 GMC Paint Regulations. Sorry for the poor quality, but this is the only copy I have located. Does anyone have a copy of the 1966 GMC Paint Regulations? You might check with bigblockv6. He knows a lot about paint and is always glad to help. I did a thread exploring all the 6066 paint codes. It lists all the color options by year. But I have yet to run across the later paint regs. Good luck,GM

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

1960HDGMC:
I believe my truck was an Oakland, Ca. truck because of it fawn firewall instead of body color. My truck isn't an all original, but I like to keep it close where I can, thus the question. Attached is a picture of my original firewall before I resprayed it and an after pic as well.

Thanks for your help.
regards,
Steve

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Hey Steve, I approach my truck in the same manner. While not exactly original, I like to keep it in the ballpark. I only have the one 1960 GMC so most of my research has focused on 60-61 information. I would expect the western trucks to continue with the variations. I only know about the 1960-61 variants. The western trucks sometimes have a white bar across the top of tailgate. And the inner bed and wheel wells are sometimes white. I do not know if ALL western trucks feature these variations, or if it is a matter of some but not all. The serial number will tell you the plant where the truck was made. At least that is the case for 1960-61 GMC. 1002 P XXXX A. The P is for Pontiac Plant. Other letters (as the fifth digit) denote other plants. I am sure the code is floating around here somewhere. Good luck with the truck and thanks for the pictures, GM

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

Sclor if you paint them how do you keep them from getting all scuffed up? Extra clear coat? I tried painting a working area and it just scratched right off but I don't know what I'm doing.

Re: What was color of original angle bed strips?
 

I went out and looked at my 62 that was assembled in Oakland. 2 tone paint, firewall body color, tubs, body color. On the white on bed extends upward from seam to top of bed, the white on the tail gate was just on the top edge, from what I can see of what is left. It didn't go down to match the line from the sides, it was a lot thinner.