Original gas tank color

[plainred65]

Hi all,

I'm replacing the gas tank in my 65 due to leakage. The new/used tank had been painted black. I'm in the process of stripping it and the tank looks like the rear had no paint and the front half was originally painted the fawn interior color. Is this the way they were painted when new?

[jocko]

I believe they were bare metal when new. Get a 2nd opinion though - to be fair, I'm somewhat guessing/somewhat basing on experience.

[55reasons]

I just pulled the original out my 64 and it's bare metal.

Might have been galvanized even.

[oem4me]

Are you guys saying your WHOLE tank is bare metal? or just the backside? Every truck I have owned (all west coast) has had a fawn painted tank like the rest of the cab. Never pulled one out to check the backside though. A charcoal colored cardboard panel concealed it all when new. Very few of these panels remain intact.

[55reasons]

Here's what mine looked like.
Nevermind the rat sh!t.

[MisterC]

My mounts and the tank appear to have been untouched. With that said, here is a picture of my tank from when I installed the new sending unit. It appears to be fawn.

[tc64]

mine before i pulled it out to clean up behind it.same color on the backside.

[theastronaut]

Another vote for fawn, front and back.

[koda360]

The one in my 60 is bare metal, front and back. BUT.... the inside of the cab is silver, so if the tank received some over spray somehow, there'd be no way to tell. Might be where the faun paint is coming from, idk.

[1963c-10]

My 63 was only painted on the side facing the back of the bench, and it has never been removed, but I have a 66 tank that is painted on both sides (also was never removed prior to me removing it) with the fawn paint. Maybe the early 60-63 were raw or only painted on 1 side...it seems the 64-66 guys are saying both sides are painted. It'd be interesting to know if it was left up to the assembly plant to decide. Maybe some plants did and some didn't.

[plainred65]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

My 63 was only painted on the side facing the back of the bench, and it has never been removed, but I have a 66 tank that is painted on both sides (also was never removed prior to me removing it) with the fawn paint. Maybe the early 60-63 were raw or only painted on 1 side...it seems the 64-66 guys are saying both sides are painted. It'd be interesting to know if it was left up to the assembly plant to decide. Maybe some plants did and some didn't.

The tank I'm stripping is what year Jon? With the replies so far now I'm sure the color is fawn on the front only. The rear side was not painted. I'm wondering the same thing, is this year specific or different plants did it their own way, like the firewall fawn painting. Here is a pic with a bit of fawn that I left showing a number 35 still on from the factory.

[1963c-10]

That tank was out of a 61 apache 1/2ton. Very cool that you found the inspection mark. I dont know that I have ever seen one on a tank.

[64fleetside]

All the ones I've owned were all bare galvanized-cab painted first, then tank installed-all are from the St Louis plant.

[plainred65]

My original in the 65 has been brush painted. I went out and scratched some away, fawn towards the seat back, galvanized toward the bed. Baltimore plant. Appears the cab was painted before tank installation. Do you have the vin for the 61 Jon? Curious as to the build location.

[1963c-10]

I dont have the number on me, but I do know it was a St. Louis plant truck. Spent its whole life in Missouri until the last year or two.

[1963c-10]

My truck was built in Baltimore and is only painted on the front

[gimmy 64]

ok 64GMC just looked at tank and it is painted grey. paint behind tank is gray looks to not have been repainted. is this right?

[koda360]

MY 60 C-10 was built in Norwood, Oh. Again, it's bare steel front and back...

[1963c-10]

Here is a tank that was pulled from a 66, painted fawn on both sides from factory. Inspectors stamp still visible on bottom of tank.