For a late ‘50s early ‘60s hot rod look on a ‘32 Roadster what color have you seen on the bottom of the car. Black is common, seen white also.
when my dad built this car in the late fifties he painted the bottom gold. I did the same when I rebuilt it. build thread here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/33-chevy-3w-time-for-a-cool-change.863287/
I figured that you had a black frame and then body color on the body. I really like the gold and I do remember seeing quite a bit of white in the little books.
I painted the bottom of the floor tan to match the firewall. Frame is maroon and matches the body color of the roadster. What aint painted is polished or chromed.
I didn’t live it, but I believe it was popular to paint the frame red. I am on board for the white firewall and red wheels, but I think black still works for me where the frame is concerned. I have some pictures, from Detroit Autorama- threw in a white one for good measure.
Black = stock, hides stains, visually lowers and hides. (Since a 32 had some of the frame body color stock, it's a unique variation to this). Light Gray or White = shows leaks (race car stuff), visually sticks out, high contrast Body color (or contrasting) = meshes/complements body and either looks like a highly detailed build or like they didn't have any masking supplies!
I drive mine all year around. Black rubberized undercoating applied over semigloss black spray bombs.
Frame, body color, white 9.3 rear and engine, polished stainless trunk floor panels, and more polished and painted bits.
I did a 55 Chevy a few years back and did the bottom candy brandy wine. I thought the owner was crazy and still do. The thing is that if you don’t stay after detailing it you might as well just paint it black.
Copy cat !!! flat or satin black , while not “ fancy” keeps everything nice and neat looking , is easy to touch up and if you drive your car , no worries about scuffs , scratches and dirt !!
Normally black unless you body matched the color as is often done now. I kind of think that the white painted frames were somewhat regional and may have followed the circle track thing of painting your chassis white in the same time frame. That was probably to show up better under the lights at the local speedway on Friday or Saturday night.
I’ve always heard they painted dirt car undercarriages white , so they could easily spot what started leaking.
Most of my hot rods have had black paint under the body, but my old orange roadster was painted orange top to bottom. HRP
All my builds get the underside of the cars painted with Rustoleum gloss black paint. Cheap, and easy, and holds up great.
Is that when they say "the curtains match the carpet" ? Or maybe I'm thinking about something else...
Nobody will know what color it is painted unless you run over them...and then they won't really care!
I have heard that before but I was at the dyno shop one day and saw a buddy's car on the hoist...what a mess. It's like saying "I don't need clean underwear, no one will see em". Until they do! Even my daily gets an annual clean up down under.
I painted the floor metallic blue because I got the paint for free. Doesn't match anything on the car but I like it.
I have a buddy that had a 33 Ford Coupe. The entire floor pan was polished stainless steel, the frame a bright red (to match the top of the car) and the suspension was all chrome! After every road trip, he put it on his hoist and polished it. You had to get down on your hands and knees to see under the car. The guy drove it 10,000 miles a year! Yea, he was crazy.
Crazy like a fox! I actually have no idea what that means. But I respect any guy that details em and drives em. Repeat when necessary.
She had a PINK Bottom.... Did have some fun a few times at rod runs asking about curing a rear end leak tho' sorry guys...couldn't resist
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