Dashboard / Dash pad color combos

[William]

A '69 with a red interior would have had a red dashpad. The lower part of the dash including the glove box and ash tray doors would be painted semi-gloss red on a standard interior car; custom interior cars had the faux woodgrain. The upper dash area would also be red but with a 'suede' flattener added to the paint to reduce glare. Suede sort of resembles the 'wrinkle' finish often seen on small toolboxes; flat or semi-gloss is not correct.

One inconsistent area was the finish on the VIN plate for cars with non-black dash tops. Sometimes they match the dash; sometimes they were left black.

[Charley Lillard]

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[Lynn]

So, who sells the suede flattener to put in laquer paint? I checked with several paint manufacturers a few years ago, and no one knew what I was talking about. Even talked to Jerry McNeish. He referred me to another guy (can't remember who) to whom I wrote, but he never responded.

Hobby Lobby sells "suede" paint in a rattle car, but it is labeled "not for outdoor use", so I figured it would not be durable enough for the top of the dash. I realize, the inside of a car is not techincally outdoor, but still exposed to sunlight from time to time.

Lynn

[William]

I had a local auto paint shop mix up rattle cans of it years ago but it may be a lacquer only compound. Do not know if it can be done in enamel.

Try these guys: www.towerpaint.com