Original Paint Color

[MAllen]

Is there anyway to know the original color of a '50 CJ3A, short of pealing back through the layers of paint or finding a place that wasn't painted over?

Also, I see pictures of jeeps that have a main body color with a windshield frame painted black. Was this a factory practice or an owners personal preference?

I am a newbie when it comes to things like this and have found a lot of good information on this message board, but nothing that specifically answers the questions I have.

Thanks for taking the time to review and respond.

[1955CJ-5]

I think the only way is to find a spot that hasn't been painted over..like up behind the dash board, under the tool box lid, and often just above the transfer case...that area often has been coated with oil and the original paint can be found underneath.

Maybe also under the data plate or under the dash plate..

[athawk11]

The black windshields started to show up on CJ3As fairly early in 1952.  This practice continued into CJ3B production.

Prior to this change, the windshield would have been the body color.

Tim

[JeepFever]

to expand on what 1955CJ-5 and athawk11 have shared:

As athawk mentioned ->� your windshield would have been body color
to add to 1955CJ-5's list of places to check - >� the most pristine original paint on my '51 3A was under the rubber of the windshield gasket.� �If yours has original glass,� then I bet the original paint is there.� �Very doubtful anyone would remove the windshield glass to repaint.

Oh . .   nice looking '3A you have there!

[MAllen]

Thank you all for the valuable suggestions.

[macrisel]

You may want to check several different places on the jeep to determine the "original" color.  Through the years, jeep owners had a tendency to swap in parts from other body styles (2A, 3A, M38, etc) so you may end up with a "factory" red windshield, a "factory" green tailgate and a "factory" OD green fender.

To my knowledge, there is no way the factory color was identified by tags on the jeep itself.  (Later model vehicles usually have RPO codes on a tag or sticker somewhere that would identify the original color).

All part of the fun!