Were they originally painted silver/light gray with dark gray inserts? I read somewhere that the wheel was painted but the outer edge was polished and elsewhere that they were completely polished.

Does anyone know for sure how they left the factory?

Also, the inside surface of my wheels were painted (not the back side - the surface inside the tire). Is that normal?

 

The earliest Kent wheels, circa 1975-78, were polished except for the 'insert' areas which were black/charcoal/grey/whatever. After that they were painted silver with the dark grey inserts. However, it was fairly common for dealers to have the painted version polished (or even chromed) locally.

I recall the Kents I've had being painted on the inside....a light grey color. That's something that might've changed over the years.

Aside: They were at least two, maybe three slight variations on the Kent wheel in terms of the casting itself. some have a 'harder' edge at the insert areas; others a softer edge.

Others will chime in

Cheers
DD

 

Later versions had slightly larger brake vents around the edge and were lacquered.

Never seen any paint finish on the rims or the back of them.