Matte or semi-gloss grey with grey or white tusks, or a ‘battleship’ grey. The battleship grey color was either unpainted grey plastic or white models painted a battleship grey color with same grey tusks and only the eyes painted black. The battleship grey can be seen in the 1963-1965 catalog. There is a JAH article that mentions the Donkey debuted in 1956, which was also an election year, and could have been released, perhaps at the same time as the elephant, as election memorabilia. Both these models first appeared together in the 1958 catalog.
In 1958-1959, the Elephant #94, included a detachable red plastic howdah.
In 1976, a special Election release was made, with a special Election box, but was not advertised in the 1976 catalog (separate record).