Ron's got you figured on the ash pan.....if you need more of a description, speak up & we'll get some info with pics, etc.
the speckling is the beginning of the Black fading to gray.....actually one of my favorite "colors", not an actual option no, but that one looks really, really even.....
Here's one of mine, "Bob", my favored smoker.......
You can wash it down like Ron said, or oil the whole thing lightly & that will bring it back to Black for a time.....has to be redone from time to time to keep it rich, deep Black color............