Chassis color questions

[sak]

I was just wondering if there is some kind of formula for determining the proper color of a chassis. I understand 50's era cars used were sprayed with red oxide. Up to what point was this done? After unibody construction I would assume the subframe would have not been this color. But on my 73 plymouth the chassis and subframe are both yellow, same as body color, the subframe being heavily oversprayed with flat black paint from the engine bay. I thought that mopar chassis were grey primer oversprayed with body color only at the rockers. And on Gm cars, when would the chassis be body color, if at all. Or is flat or semi-flat the correct choice? I don't suppose anybody out there knows of a assembly line image database. I tried ebay, but full chassis shots are few and far between. I sent a picture of the coronet that I am working on, and I doubt its correct and thats ok for me, but for future reference.

Edited December 27, 2009 by sak

[Jairus]

Wow!

What a question.

The answer depends on a ton of variables. You building a brand new Show Room stock or used?

I won't even get into street or custom builds....

Show Room stock depended greatly on the year and the manufacturer. Research, research, research is the only answer. Find a real example at a car show and ask the owner a bunch of questions. Or buy a magazine that only reports on that brand and read until your eyes bleed.

Example is Ford Motor Co. back in the 30's used to paint most everything underneath a semi gloss black to keep rust in check. Engine colors varied because of low-bid and whatever pallet of green they had available.

Later on Ford suspension components were left natural steel which began rusting during transit. Of course dealerships made a killing then on "undercoating" especially in the North. By the late 60's they began using undercoating at the factory

Like I said... it depends largely on way too many variables to answer definitively.

But if you are building used.... then I paint everything a tan which Floquil calls "foundation" and build up from there with lighter and lighter tans dry brushing to bring out details. A black wash around the engine and where ever grease and oil accumulates.