Headlight Bezel colors????

[ThreeFJman]

Im trying to figure out what color the headlight bezel was from the factory on my 3/71 FJ40. Right now its kind of a gray color. In the original owners manual it shows a pic of a 40 with a non-white bezel. (Top left pic) I guess I always thought they were all white, but maybe not. My paint is the original Breath Green. Its a light mint green to me. I dont know if I should paint the bezel or leave it.

Any help would be appriciated.

 

[nelsonjm624]

Cygnus white ?

 

[ThreeFJman]

Mine is def not that color. I have a 72 that is white like yours. Are you saying that they are all the Cygnus White? Or are you saying that the Breath Green should be cygnus white? I thought they were all white until I was browsing the original owners manual. I guess I wont paint the bezel until I know for sure. Anyone else have a gray bezel???

 

[zags]

The standard regurgitated answer is cyngus white, but I don't think they were all that color. I think older ones were T302 shell-ivory. Although I have never seen paint code information on the bezel specifically, I found that for at least '68 to '71, the the paint code for the roof was T-302, shell ivory. It could be that there were more years painted that color, but the scope of my research was limited to the restoration on my '70 FJ40.

When I looked at the 1970 sales brochure, the top and the bezel appear to match, and they have a distinct tan-ish, off white color, which leads me to believe that they are both T302 shell ivory. It shows up pretty good against the snow.

There was no 1971 brochure, but if you look at the 1972 brochure, the bezel definately has a bit of a tannish hue compared to the white on the FJ55 next to it.

http://www.toyotareference.com/landcruiser/1961-1983

 

[Chamba]

Some overseas markets had chrome as an option but as far as I know, all US models had the cygnus white Bezel, wide side up. The older ones had an antique white, but it was still white.

Tom?

 

[Chamba]

The standard regurgitated answer is cyngus white, but I don't think they were all that color. I think older ones were T302 shell-ivory. Although I have never seen paint code information on the bezel specifically, I found that for at least '68 to '71, the the paint code for the roof was T-302, shell ivory. It could be that there were more years painted that color, but the scope of my research was limited to the restoration on my '70 FJ40.

When I looked at the 1970 sales brochure, the top and the bezel appear to match, and they have a distinct tan-ish, off white color, which leads me to believe that they are both T302 shell ivory. It shows up pretty good against the snow.

There was no 1971 brochure, but if you look at the 1972 brochure, the bezel definately has a bit of a tannish hue compared to the white on the FJ55 next to it.

http://www.toyotareference.com/landcruiser/1961-1983

My parents bought a 72 fj40 brand new and I have pics of it from new. It has what looks to be a cygnus white or ivory Bezel. We still have that rig and it still has what looks to be a cygnus white or ivory Bezel.

 

[zags]

My parents bought a 72 fj40 brand new and I have pics of it from new. It has what looks to be a cygnus white or ivory Bezel. We still have that rig and it still has what looks to be a cygnus white or ivory Bezel.

I think that the shell ivory fades to a grey-ish white over time, which is adding to the confusion.

The subject of paint codes and colors has become a mini obsession for me, and I have spent way too much time researching it!

Is there any way you could verify that it has not been repainted, pull it off and buff out a small area of the inside to get a good look at the original color? You would be helping out a lot of purist restorers!

I have no real proof, but I have a feeling that Cyngus white did not start being used until 1975

 

[ThreeFJman]

Zags

I will pull the bezel and take it to my auto body buddy and see what he says. I will get some good pix of the back of the bezel as is, then with a light buff and see what we find out. Now im becoming a paint addict as well. So for the early 71 am I calling the green the right color??? Is mine a breath green or is it a spring green?

 

[Chamba]

I think that the shell ivory fades to a grey-ish white over time, which is adding to the confusion.

The subject of paint codes and colors has become a mini obsession for me, and I have spent way too much time researching it!

Is there any way you could verify that it has not been repainted, pull it off and buff out a small area of the inside to get a good look at the original color? You would be helping out a lot of purist restorers!

I have no real proof, but I have a feeling that Cyngus white did not start being used until 1975

Next time I'm out at my aunt and uncle's farm I'll pull it off and see what the back looks like; the paint on the front is pretty faded.

They live about 15 miles north of me so shouldn't be long.

 

[Chamba]

Here are a couple of our 72 FJ40 from '73 and '74 respectively, followed by a black and white of the rig with me in front of it and the Tetons behind it to prove provenance.

 

[motoloco]

Zags is correct, the earlier trucks were more of an off white/ivory color. When i purchased the truck that threeFJman has a pic of above, it has absolutely never had exterior or bezel paint.

 

[zags]

Zags

I will pull the bezel and take it to my auto body buddy and see what he says. I will get some good pix of the back of the bezel as is, then with a light buff and see what we find out. Now im becoming a paint addict as well. So for the early 71 am I calling the green the right color??? Is mine a breath green or is it a spring green?

Thanks!
Your 40 looks to be Spring Green (T1028) to me. Breathe green is a little darker and wasn't available until 1972.

 

[zags]

Here are a couple of our 72 FJ40 from '73 and '74 respectively, followed by a black and white of the rig with me in front of it and the Tetons behind it to prove provenance.

Man, I love those pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Chamba]

Man, I love those pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

You're welcome. I have dozens like that as my father was a photographer and loved cruisers nearly as much as I do.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

sand or scratch down a couple spots on the bezel and see if there is a previous color under what you currently have. I doubt most people completely strip down the paint to bare metal before they paint.

 

[ThreeFJman]

Chamba,

Post more vintage pix! Those are awesome! The storys they tell are intriguing. I like the pi$$ed off look you had holding the stick. Kinda had the, "dont touch this cruiser look." Thanks for sharing.

 

[Chamba]

I was a bit happier here, how's this?

 

[Chamba]

And this is why the poor rig was so bashed up so early: It was the first 4wd my father had which did not die at his hand. He had a Jeep wagon, Rovers and a Scott before this and said once he found the Land Cruiser he never looked back.

 

[Chamba]

Sorry, here we go: You can kind of see me in the back.

 

[ThreeFJman]

Chamba, thanks for sharing these awesome photos. They are simply irreplaceable!