Engine Compartment Colors

The Silver Dome Era

Information is from [Buton n.d.] with major corrections an updates by [Curtis 2000] and [Benj 2000]. For 1933 confirmation of details is by [Motor 1933] and [Butler 1978 58] and in some cases by original paint on author's car.

Component	Model
	Q, U	30-U	PA, PB	PC, PCXX, PD	PE, PF, PG	PJ	P1, P2	P3 to P14
Head	Silver			Standard: Silver. Optional high compression: Red		Silver
Block	Black			Black with possible exception of dark green on PC	Black			Silver
Intake manifold	Black
Exhaust manifold	Natural or silver					Natural or black
Clutch housing	Black							Silver
Water pump	Not Applicable	?	Black					Silver
Thermostat housing	Not Applicable	Head color (silver)
Delco-Remy Electrical Components	Black. The Delco-Remy manufacturer tags on early cars were black and silver (bare metal) later units were red and silver. See note 1 below.					Not Applicable
Auto-Lite Electrical Components	Not Applicable					Black
Vacuum advance unit and fuel pump	Natural cadmium plate color
Flexible fuel and oil lines	Dark rubber and cloth braid
Steel fuel, oil and vacuum lines	Natural color with possible exception of black					Natural color
Carburetor	Cast iron parts were black, pot metal parts were natural "as cast" color
Oil Filters	Black, orange, medium blue, or red
Firewall	Black (see photo below)						?	Body color
Builders Plate	Early cars use a black on aluminum color scheme. Later cars use a red on aluminum scheme. See note 2 below
Horn and horn bracket on engine	?	Black
Lower radiator hose elbow	?	Black
Oil Filler Cap	?	Black

This 1933 PD being disassembled for restoration shows the color break between the original Limousine Blue paint and the black firewall.

Note 1: Delco-Remy Identification Tags

It is unclear when the change from black to red plates took place. There is some suggestion that all Plymouth Delco-Remy units originally had black tags and any red tags are because of components being replaced. However some, but not all, 1933 cars (and at least some 1934 cars) have been found with what appears to be original electrical components with red and silver Delco-Remy tags. This is an area that in this author's opinion requires further research.

Note 2: Builder Plates

Some sources indicate that the red plates came into use in the late 1930s however the author's car had what appeared to be an original plate that was red.