M38A1 Instrument Panel Color

[madmike]

On my 1961 USMC ordered M38A1, the instrument panel and glove box door were both painted what I thought was a dark grey. Today, I applied some cleaner wax to get a better idea of the shade of grey and determined it was actually faded flat black.

My question is whether anyone has seen the A1 panels painted flat black? All that I have seen are body color but this panel could be a replacement. If so, it seems odd the glove box door would also be black. The gage labels appear to be a raised decal, cut on the ends unevenly. Anyone seen this before?

And the mystery continues....

Mike

[wesk]

The tough chore ahead is to determine when and by whom the flat black was applied. I see no reason for the panel to be replaced just to make it black. It could easily have been done by masking it off or simply unbolting it from the cowl and painting it by itself. The glove box door would have came off with the full panel. Obviously someone in the 50 year history of that jeep thought flat black would work better on the dash. Could have been anyone during the past 50 years.