Under Hood Color

[Jack McClow CLC #15840]

What is the correct color for the underside of the hood for a '53 Cadillac?  Flat black (or whatever shade of black it should be) or body color?   Would this be the same for other GM products of 1953 as well do you suppose?

Thanks.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Jack, '41 was satin black, and it is probable that it was the same until they went to pads. Perhaps someone else can pin it down further.

[Walter Youshock]

Probably chassis black.  Definitely not body color.

[P W Allen CLC# 20193]

Jack, The entire underside should be a satin black (very little gloss), including the hinges and mounting brackets. A vinyl covered hood pad with a jute backing is then glued on and is correct for a 53. I did a lot of research on this subject during the restoration. This is what it should look like.

Paul

[Jack McClow CLC #15840]

Thanks, everybody, for the info ........ it is very helpful.
And thanks for the picture, Paul ........ that is very useful, too.  And that is a very beautiful '53 CDV you have there.

Jack.

[Ted in Olympia WA]

Just to add to this Eldorados up through 1978 were all satin black also.  Don't know about later than this.

TED

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

It's not correct that all Eldorados up until 1978 were satin black. 

I have an ORIGINAL 1973 and the inner fender wells were most definitely GLOSS black
as well as the radiator support, etc.  I don't know when the change-over from satin to
gloss occurred prior to this.

As far as the 50's Eldorado's, the '55 inner fenders were BODY COLOR as well as the '56
and I believe the '54 as well.

Mike

[Walter Youshock]

And '57.  '58 went to black inner fenders.

Was your '73 built at Clark or Linden?  Wonder if that would make a difference in the gloss/satin?

[Otto Skorzeny]

I thought they were all built at Clark?

[Ted in Olympia WA]

Okay maybe I should have just said black, also I was talking more about under hood color and I don't think this is very gloss.  But you are right the inner fender are gloss.  But everything under the hood is black (of some finish) for up through 78 Eldorados.

Thanks for the correction.

TED

[Walter Youshock]

By '73, I think Linden was already opened.  Southgate started in the late '70's.