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What color are these interior window trim pieces supposed to be? Is the color of these pieces correlated to an interior color or body color? Hard to tell if they were a dull tan color or something else.

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On 1940 junior models they were wood grained as the dash but not sure about 1941 seniors although I expect the same.

Per the 1940 Data Book [160] (available for free download in the Literature Archive):

"Window garnish mouldings with wainscotting below are
handsomely finished in silver grey aspen graining to match
the instrument panel. Even the little rubber plungers in
the rear window mouldings which control the door locks
are in harmonizing color. Front door locks are of the remote
control type—safe and positive always."

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I didn't mention in the initial post that this is a 1940 160 club coupe. But, you guys got it!

Is the wood grain on the dash painted on or like a decal?

Mark

I can't say for certain exactly how Packard did their woodgrained dashes and window trim but there is a video produced by the people at GrainIt Technologies on the history of woodgraining. In the video they show examples of procedures used including some showing various pieces being made in an auto factory of that era. I would imagine Packard followed the method where a large prepainted sheet of metal was cut and formed in a stamping press.

youtube.com/watch?v=0RT9RCAV89s&t=50s

The DIY repro procedure using the plates and rollers that GrainIt came up with works fairly well after a bit of practice even for non talented people. If you are not interested in the DIY approach there are some who offer their services to refinish pieces using the GrainIt method along with some who do the old school talent needed methods of hand painting and using various things like sponges, rags, and feathers to form the patterns

The graining is painted

Thanks for the replies. Looking at Grain-It's website, they have multiple patterns available. I'm not familiar with what the original wood grain should look like. Is it known which of their patterns might be the closest match to the trim and dash for the 1940 160?

Mark

You might be able to see a bit of pattern in the photo of the 160 dash on page 49 in the 1940 fact book although it is not the best. The written description is fairly detailed though. Window trims on most models usually follows or at least complements the dash.

If no one else posts a decent photo or description of the dash and window trim you might also check the 40 photo archive and see if there are any interior photos. Factory photos might not be that much help since most were of the outside or taken of interiors to only show general layout and space but some of the 160 photos owners took of their cars might show original details or at least efforts taken to get things correct.

Joe Santana went to great lengths to do his 160 convertible sedan correctly so you might see a few details in the photos posted on his 160 convertible sedan blog . I don't know how much difference there might be in woodgrain details or colors though since the models are different.

There is a category with photos or details on various features of unrestored cars at the PAC forum. I don't know if any 40 cars are shown but since the forum there is locked down unless you are a PAC member maybe not an option to view anyway.

It appears some things have changed on the Grain-It site. Call and talk to Evan Westlake. For 1940, I chose the wrong base coat color, after much research you can see on the Duchess Project blog, before Page 30. For the Basecolor undercoat, which goes on top of metal primer and sanding primer until it is baby bottom smooth, use Driftwood GBC-DW3. Then use the Mottled Aspen plate (Aspen is mentioned in the 1940 Data Book) GIP-020. Get a 10" plate. It's not that hard and forgiving. If you don't like how you applied the grain, it's water soluble, so wipe the grain off and try again. The base coat is not water soluble, so just grain over it. If you like it, let it dry. Next day shoot it with clear, dry, sant, shoot, like that.

This is the start at Post 178, but it's tedious, trying to figure out what to do.
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... ic_id=5878&order=ASC&status=&mode=0

Goes to here with some pieces finished (but the wrong base color...o well)
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... ic_id=5878&order=ASC&status=&mode=0

Grain should look like this. Something to discuss with Evan.

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