Original color of my instrument panel?

[Cipriano]

Could anybody tell me what's going on with this panel front? It has a silvery (very silvery!) coat underneath a black coat that is starting to peel away. I'm wondering what the original color might be and how to proceed with painting.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

They were all black as far as I know. For some reason they have some kind of chrome finish on the base layer.

That will be hard because it'll probably keep flaking even after a recoat. But the fresh paint would technically lock the rest in.

Blow as much of the flakes off with the air compressor as possible, then wipe with glass cleaner, let it dry, paint it.

 

[xm20k]

Should be black plastic with a screened-on silver high light some have wood gran decals as well but those were black plastic as well. Unless maybe it's an old reproduction that was made to look like chrome that someone painted over.

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[Finkaire]

Black underneath, California check engine light in the middle FYI

 

[75gmck25]

There were also multiple different woodgrain patterns, depending on trim level.

My ‘75 Siverado panel is black, with a very slim silver trim glued on around the outside edge, and a woodgrain pattern over the center. The woodgrain matches the right side dash and the door trim.

 

[Rustisbest]

They were chromed first from the factory then coated/painted with black. This one was from a 76 that I put on my 79. Eventually I got the correct one but for this one I just scuffed the loose off with a scotchbrite, wiped it down with alcohol, painted it with Rustoleum Satin black 2X then went around the gauge holes with a chrome molotow pen. Held up decent for the 5 or 6 years it was on there.

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[hoagster]

here's what I did amine looked just like yours in spots! Just used everyday Rustoleam black and silver. post #322 of my build.

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[hoagster]

This is what I started with!

zoom in after pulling tape!

 

[bucket]

The '73-'77 bezels were made differently than the '78+ bezels. The earlier ones, if a trim level that got chromed gauge openings, the chrome was applied and then paint came after. On the later ones, the chrome was applied to the plastic just where needed.

 

[xm20k]

The '73-'77 bezels were made differently than the '78+ bezels. The earlier ones, if a trim level that got chromed gauge openings, the chrome was applied and then paint came after. On the later ones, the chrome was applied to the plastic just where needed.

That explains a lot my original was cracked, and you could tell it was just black plastic with silver added on around the gages etc.

The oldest "square" I've had was a 77 but it had an aftermarket setup in it when I bought it similar to what I have now but an aluminum panel with holes cut in it for aftermarket gauges vs the current plastic panel.

 

[Rustisbest]

I found out the hard way the wiper switches changed/moved around a little bit down there too through the years along with the gauge opening depths.

I thinks its 73-74, 75-77, 78 to whenever interchange and line up perfectly, but not 100% on it.

First couple of years are like @hoagster
Small square switch opening and shallower around the gauges.

Then the one like I had from the 76 fit my 79 but the wiper switch wasnt centered in the opening and there was a gap around the gauges and heater controls.

Then the 78 to whenever were deeper yet around the gauges and heater controls and the switch was moved/changed.