Maybe the initial ones were painted, but the ones I had from the Frito 6 packs in '65 - '66 were solid color plastic without paint.
My Dad was a dentist, and he used to be able to get plain MPCs by the bag (just a plain bag), from companies that sold "prizes" for Doctors and Dentists. He had them available through most of the 70s, as well as those smooth gray plastic dinosaurs, rat finks, little trolls, flicker rings, chrome space rings, etc.
I've gotten almost nothing but positive love in this place. now I've seen people have opinions but they were pretty polite. I think part of having a forum is to be able to discuss the things we like. And in discussing not everyone will agree. But really I have to give this site props I have never experienced the the amount of positivity and kinds like I have here.
To say this site is overwhelmingly positive in its responses to pretty much ANYTHING that's shown is a vast understatement. Why deprive yourself and others of the joy of sharing these old treasures because complete unanimity is impossible? Can anyone point me to the threads where these vintage toys are being disparaged and degraded? I'm closing in on 13,000 posts, and I can't recall anything like that happening in all my posting travels.