Any pics of the 70's paint scheme on an 80's truck?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
217
Reaction score
151
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
I wanted to stop by and ask if anyone knows how that idea works out. It looks like the "stripe" that runs down the side of the 70's trucks, is slimmer than the one found on 80's trucks. If you have an 80's truck, you don't get a different colored roof unless you don't have the paint stripe running down the side. If you have an 80's truck with a roof that's a different color than the hood, you just have the very bottom strip that's the same color as the roof.

I'm not sure it would look good if you had the wide 80's wider stripe, and a roof that matched it. Some of these ideas sound fine, but don't pan out very well in real life. So it's best if you can see a picture first. I'm thinking that maybe I could just use the 70's paint scheme, on my 87 model truck. And then the creme-colored roof would still look pretty good with the side of the truck being that color too. Just like it would have been in the 70's.

Any pics of 80's trucks with the 70's paint scheme would be greatly appreciated!
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,882
Reaction score
9,623
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
^I thought of that commercial. Lol
It would look fine. And only look weird to squarebody people. Hahaha
But I think the normal 80s center stripe and a white roof would also look great. And less weird.
Just don’t paint the A pillars white for god sakes! I’ve seen a couple like that and it makes my brain hurt!
 

Shorty81

Baby Boomer
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
2,850
Reaction score
5,056
Location
North West ohio
First Name
Darren
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
496
I painted my cab white, but didn't paint the white center. Looking back I think I should have.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20190704_082159.jpg
    IMG_20190704_082159.jpg
    108.3 KB · Views: 62

Big Chip

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
Posts
4,656
Reaction score
6,728
Location
Michigan
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C35
Engine Size
454
I painted my cab white, but didn't paint the white center. Looking back I think I should have.
I like it without the big white stripe and just the white cab personally. Maybe because it has the white wheels but in my mind there would be too much white and not enough red.
 

newguy11

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2021
Posts
76
Reaction score
129
Location
New England
First Name
Private
Truck Year
1972-1987
Truck Model
C/k 10
Engine Size
305/350
No sure what decade this paint scheme falls into but, I think it’s cool as hell.
 

Attachments

  • 09660420-4D43-4EDF-83AC-A97CA447D0D8.jpeg
    09660420-4D43-4EDF-83AC-A97CA447D0D8.jpeg
    223.7 KB · Views: 45
  • BBAF09F0-3A88-4B77-A249-950E9ED8C40D.jpeg
    BBAF09F0-3A88-4B77-A249-950E9ED8C40D.jpeg
    204 KB · Views: 52

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,882
Reaction score
9,623
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
I painted my cab white, but didn't paint the white center. Looking back I think I should have.
I was thinking of your truck when the OP posted. And how cool it would look with the factory white stripe down the sides. (Not that it doesn’t look awesome like it is.)
True, factory 80s paint options only with included a different color roof (white more often than other colors from my unofficial tally viewing a lot of pics before settling in on going back with the OE scheme on our truck) with an otherwise solid color truck or solid color with a lower second color below the trim line.
That said I feel that white (roof, 2 tone side) is the “classic” squarebody look.
 

PhotonFanatic

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Posts
217
Reaction score
151
Location
Arlen, TX
First Name
Wilhelm
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
5.7
I painted my cab white, but didn't paint the white center. Looking back I think I should have.

You could play it like this - Enjoy the solid red for several more years. Later on, add the stripe. You got to have the best of both worlds. Long time with red, long time with stripe.

True, factory 80s paint options only with included a different color roof (white more often than other colors from my unofficial tally viewing a lot of pics before settling in on going back with the OE scheme on our truck) with an otherwise solid color truck or solid color with a lower second color below the trim line.
That said I feel that white (roof, 2 tone side) is the “classic” squarebody look.

For the 80's, it looks to me like they usually painted the roof the color as the bottom of the truck. The lower "stripe" if you will. I had an 81 that was dallas cowboy colors from the factory, navy blue and silver. Silver roof. Neighbor has an 85 that's brown and copper, with the copper roof. That's just what I've seen. I haven't seen many white ones, but I'll start looking for them now.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,882
Reaction score
9,623
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
I painted my cab white, but didn't paint the white center. Looking back I think I should have.
Would also be an easy ish vinyl wrap job.
 

HotWheelsBurban

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2023
Posts
1,664
Reaction score
3,577
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Carol
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
That falls into the 80s aftermarket conversions paint schemes.
Yeah that's an '88-'91 Burb. In Houston we call those conversion Burbs "Westheimer Burbs" cause when they were newer, they were quite common on that street in west Houston. Early 90s I worked there and saw lots of them. The OBS ones are around too but the squares were really popular. I wanna say I saw one on one of my online yard searches recently.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,856
Posts
903,621
Members
33,370
Latest member
mitchell1128
Top