[Grandpa]

For late 1930s and early 1940s there has been ongoing debate about the finish (or lack of) on the cowl mounted Fisher Body data plate. The attached image clearly shows that the aluminum Fisher Body plate is not painted body color.

One could also make the argument that (when new) the car body could not be properly primed, sanded, painted, and polished with the plate installed.

Grandpa

[keiser31]

I am not so sure if the under hood area was sanded and polished.

[Grandpa]

Keiser31,
I think that it is likely that the primer was sanded on the firewall. Polishing the color coat is doubtful. In any case, the image shows an un-painted data plate.
Grandpa

[OLBUICKS]

What is the year of the body in the pictire? My plate is on the right front of the fire wall. My 38 47 still has the original paint on the fire wall and the plate seem to have been painted black..

[Grandpa]

Hi OLBUICKS,
On my 1941 Buick, the plate is mounted as shown in the factory photo. The plate is not painted on my 1941. I am not sure of the year car shown in the photo. The photo was taken in a GM plant, but the car may not be a Buick.
Grandpa

[OLBUICKS]

I have another 38 Buick. It has been repainted... I will look at it to see if it is black or red the color it was painted.. The car was originialy blue.. I'am slowly restoring this car.. (Coupe)

[Grant Magrath]

Hello!
My friend has a 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe coupe, and the original paint was under the aluminium plate. He used it to get some matching paint mixed up. The paint is a sort of beige color that must have only been used in New Zealand, because It's not on any paint chips I've ever seen. Since Chevys and Vauxhalls were assembled in the same factory, it may well be a Vauxhall color. Just like early Honda Civics that were assembled in the same plant as BMC Minis, Marinas, and Allegros were painted in BMC colors!
Cheers
Grant

[40series]

A painted plate is a clear sign of a repaint or early restoration of some degree. Plates where never painted from the factory.

[DaveCorbin]

To all on this thread:
There's a simple and conclusive way to tell if the plate is painted or not. Look at the tag you're talking about and ask "Does this tag have the paint color information on it? (Paint code of 530 on my 1939 Roadmaster as an example.) If that answer is yes, it IS painted. If NO, then it's not.
Those tags with Buick model numbers and Fisher style numbers and paint codes are the only information the shop guys had on what the body was to be. They were mounted at the very start of the body line and referred to by all workers, INCLUDING THE PAINTERS!
Regards, Dave Corbin

[Grandpa]

I respectfully have some doubts on Dave's post that the Fisher Body data plates were attached before painting (for plates that are stamped with a paint code number). If a forum member has a late 1930s to 1940s GM parts car, please take a look under an unmolested Fisher Body data plate to see if it has body color or primer - Also, please note the paint code that is shown on the data plate.

I feel that other administrative procedures could have been used to communicate the painting and trimming of the car to the factory, such as a build sheet. With a build sheet procedure, the data plate could have been attached after painting.

Grandpa