1954 Factory Primer Color?

[Eric F.]

I've stripped this body and found primer in the engine compartment, interior and exterior that is a dark brown color; it was under the original lacquer paint. It can only be seen in a few places as overspray but it was clearly visible under the engine blackout and the sportsman red in the trunk and fuel tank cover. Has anyone else encountered this color primer or does anyone know for sure if this is the factory colored primer?

[Chris S.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

factory primer for these is a brown primer
I have found the exact same thing
I did not find it in the engine compartment - but it was all over the body

[Eric F.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

Chris, Thanks for the verification. From what I saw it appears the whole car was sprayed with it. I also wondered if it was a thicker primer (like a feather-fill of today) than normally used on steel cars of the time so it would help hide the fiberglass strands and fabric. This video of the first corvettes being built briefly shows primer being applied that is very dark in color (probably the brown). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxyy8_K03w0. There isn't sound in the video and the quality is random but it's nice to see old factory videos. Eric

[Chris S.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

I am sure it was a laq based product...
I do love that video
I love the guy who kicks the front end at around 19.50....sumbitch..take that...

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

The primer I see on 54s is more dark gray than brown. Almost all of the 50s cars up to early 63 used the dark gray.

Here is a picture of a 54. It happens to be one of the odd white gel-coated bodies.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

54 vin 2184, 57 1093 ,57 4450 and several other c-1s's i'
ve stripped had dark gray primer as wayne shows. mike

[Eric F.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

Thanks for your input Wayne and Mike. It's interesting that 2496 and 3803 had dark brown primer. I wonder if the factory changed in mid production or if they used whatever color was available. This is the only car I've ever seen with dark brown primer and there is no doubt it was from the factory. Maybe the change took place after the move to Flint. Does anyone know, with certainty, the first 54 manufactured at Flint?

[John L.]

Re: 1954 Factory Primer Color?

Hi Eric,
I am working on an early 54 #66 and it had the brown/red primer as well. You were questioning the first 54 to be produced in Flint - I believe you are meaning the first to be produced in St. Louis. 53's were produced in Flint and in November 53 as I recall 54 production begin in Flint but after several cars were assembled, production moved to St. Louis beginning of the 1954 year.
Interesting note on your video which I have seen several times but did not notice. At the very end of the clip where the completed 54 is driven out of the building you can see parked in the lot several beige convertible topped cars but there is a single black topped car. is this a last production 53 or as some may have speculated some of the very early 54's had black tops??? Was this part of the video the back door of Flint which I always assumed or perhaps the St. Louis facility. Looks like it was cold enough to see the exhaust but no one was wearing heavy coats.
The convertible top on my early car is long gone so no way of telling if it came with the left over black top or not.