What color were the wheels originally on my 1962 K1000 Suburban?

[Ledslinger]

The exterior is Pearl Gray, which I assume is what it came as. It has the 17.5" wheels and white grill and bumpers. Very early 1962 production I think.

[Ed Snyder]

Originally Posted by Ledslinger

The exterior is Pearl Gray, which I assume is what it came as. It has the 17.5" wheels and white grill and bumpers. Very early 1962 production I think.

My '62 is also Pearl Gray with Olympic White trim around the windows. VIN is K1001CJ1121A. How does that compare to your VIN?

[Ledslinger]

Mines about 84 earlier than yours. Mine is all gray.

[Ledslinger]

I've concluded the original wheels were black.

[Ed Snyder]

Originally Posted by Ledslinger

I've concluded the original wheels were black.

The original wheels on my '62 were an off-white.

[Ledslinger]

Originally Posted by Ed Snyder

The original wheels on my '62 were an off-white.

May have been that the 17.5 wheels were black. No reason anyone would have ever painted them since new other than me, and I've owned it since 1978. Little reason for the wheels to have been painted in its first 17 years of life since it was a university owned vehicle kept at their field camp in Wyoming and used two months a year in the summer and stored many of those 17 years.

All evidence on the remaining paint is they were never anything other than black.

[Ed Snyder]

Originally Posted by Ledslinger

May have been that the 17.5 wheels were black.
All evidence on the remaining paint is they were never anything other than black.

My original white wheels were 15". My spare is still mounted on one of them. The other four are long gone.

[GMCNUT]

Originally Posted by Ledslinger

I've concluded the original wheels were black.

The 1962 GMC data book says all wheels were Olympic White so since we don't know at what point the 17.5" were installed, we have to assume they were a previous owner or dealer installed upgrade from the 15" or 16" it likely came off the assembly line wearing. It came from the factory with Olympic white wheels of whatever size they were and now it has these, but I would absolutely not leave them Black - re-paint olympic white because it looks a ton better with grey anyway

[gmccollector]

The wheel color on any 1962 K 1000 was white . No black wheels on a GMC until the larger series trucks . A very well known and very low mile 1962 GMC K1000 Panel still usings its original 17.5s with white wheels is out there for pictures .

[Ledslinger]

Originally Posted by GMCNUT

The 1962 GMC data book says all wheels were Olympic White so since we don't know at what point the 17.5" were installed, we have to assume they were a previous owner or dealer installed upgrade from the 15" or 16" it likely came off the assembly line wearing. It came from the factory with Olympic white wheels of whatever size they were and now it has these, but I would absolutely not leave them Black - re-paint olympic white because it looks a ton better with grey anyway

Since I am the second owner of this Suburban, and the original owner was the University of Missouri Geology Dept, I assume and have no reason to believe it wasn't as ordered when I bought it in 1978. It was optioned for life in the field at their field camp in Wyoming when it was ordered. Three rows of seats, 4 sliding windows in back, 4 speed, big oil bath air cleaner, heater, 4WD and 17.5" wheels.

The possibility that the 17.5" wheels were added later is slim. Just kind of improbable in a car pool situation. But maybe the offroad performance or ground clearance was lacking, and a dealer suggested them. They will stay black as they have always been.