Ken, it was originally supposed to be leather grained. Sounds like it has been painted in the past.

Starting in '53, all dashes were painted, not grained, but still had the vinyl on top of dash. The colors in '53 were maroon, blue, brown, and green. I think '51 and '52, colors were mar.,blue and brown. 1950, brown and blue, 1948-49, were 2 toned blondish and brown, depends on what the exact year, and model. I'm not sure, just have seen numerous examples of '48, depending on build date, some dashes are a dark two-tone brown?. I have also seen '48 Commodores with no drivers side glove box?a few with different colors of stripes in the seat material?.

Doug,

My 51 pacemaker is the same color scheme as Mike Sheridan's light blue, white steering wheel, red dash colors you recently restored. I need to repaint my steel dash front. Mine was all rusty and I removed most of the paint from it. Can you recommend a type of paint for the front of the dash?

Thank you,
Ken

I guess I forgot to ask, how is the "Leather Grained" paint created?

Hello Ken. The woodgrain is a process that has to be done. First you have to apply a base color, grain over that the desired grain, then clearcoat. There are many on this forum that have done it. Colors are usually a custom mix to your preference.

Doug, Does your shop offer this service? I'd like to have this done for the 50 Commodore, or at least for several offending window garnish pieces.
I had a friend do the older style wood graining using original plates and rollers...guessing the leather can be done with the newer kits.

If Doug doesn't do this, I highly recommend Chris Davis. Very nice work.
HETcjrcbd4@consolidated.net take off HET
(217) 345-5885
Charleston, Illinois 61920

I guess I must be wrong, but I didn't think any of the Pacemakers were leather grained dashes in 51, but painted solid colors. The LWB cars of 51, Supers, Commodores, and Hornets were all leather-grained. The Wasp of 52 (formerly the Super, but on SWB) is leather grained, as were the senior cars, not sure about 52 Pacemakers. Of course the first year Pacemakers all had the unique burlap dash -- one year only and only on Pacemaker. Even for those models, the window surrounds were all painted solid colors of a grey-brown tint, and they did not have the large wood/leather grained panels just below the windows on the doors like the senior Commodores or Hornets. But I couldn't find any clear indication one way or another for how those 51 Pacemaker dashes were done. Must be in some sale literature somewhere.

There is a 51 pacemaker at my shop. The dash was painted a maroon-reddish color. Looks factory. No sign it was ever redone.

The '51 Pacemakers all had a maroon-redish leather grained look on the dash finish. It was really quite attractive. The only thing I didn't like as a kid was the lack of chrome around the instruments and glove box door.