Which cars had the radiator support painted black?

[Ed]

I was looking at some pictures of a restored Z. Though I doubt it was painted the original color (red) it had the front of the radiator support painted black. Now I know some of the early Z's that were lighter in color (green, white, yellow) had the radiator support painted black at the factory. I was wondering which years or colors had this painted? Anyone? I'll try and find a picture to post.

[Ed]

Here is the picture:

[Arne]

My yellow '71 has the black rad support. Don't know about others.

[a7dz]

My 70 has just the front side painted black and only the lower half that you see through the grill from just below the vent inlets. Color code 918 orange

[DatsunZGuy]

FWIW...my orange (color code 918) '72 has sections of its radiator support painted black too.

Also, while thumbing through Wick Humble's book tonight, I also noticed there are photos where it shows the radiator support painted black on his dark green project car as well.

[kenz240z]

The radiator support on my '73 was painted black. Original color was 918 orange. Mine is like a7dz's, only painted black below the round vent inlet holes.

The other interesting thing I noticed is that the black paint appeared to be brushed on by the factory, not sprayed. There were even a couple of runs in it where it was brushed on too thick.

[Arne]

Mine appears to be brushed on too, not just the rad support, but inside under the kick panels as well.

Seems to me the Trumble book mentioned that they brushed it on.

[Ed]

The other interesting thing I noticed is that the black paint appeared to be brushed on by the factory, not sprayed. There were even a couple of runs in it where it was brushed on too thick.

I've noticed this also on a few early (70 model) cars. Flat black hand painted.

[a7dz]

Mine was hand painted as well. I too read about the hand paint out of the factory think it was a post here.

[Victor Laury]

Quickly and poorly hand painted with brush strokes and gaps in a flat or more like a satin finish black

[zhead240]

a previous discussion on rad support paint
http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=17632
but i think ed want to know about the whole support being painted black.

[Ed]

Thanks for the link but it doesn't answer what I'm looking for. I know it was painted black for contrast reasons.

But my main question is "Which colors and years had this area painted?"

[montoya_fan01]

I'd bet that ALL of them had it from the factory. Why would any 240 zcar NOT need it for contrast or to avoid color showing through the grille?

[Alfadog]

Alan had some very interesting info regarding the brushed on paint at factory... I searched but cannot find it. Sorry! In regards to colours, I would have thought it would be painted regardless of colour.

[Victor Laury]

I can say that it has been SOP through the 60's, based on the roadster's and trucks I've worked on. The only cars i've seen body color are so called "Restorations". Roadsters came in black (505 thunder black) Even that car (the one I change a grill on, 68 SPL) had the area painted flat black. I think the instructions to the fellow at that station of the assem line was, "Paint the area black" with no special instructions on exceptions.

[1 Bravo 6]

My 8/74 260Z radiator support is black. Colour code 312

Rick.

[rtaylor]

Mine is all black original factory, A 1971 yellow build date 2-71.

[Ed]

So far we have identified these as being painted:

918 Orange
919 Yellow
112 Yellow
907 Dark Green
905 Red
904 White
114 Brown

What about:

110 Red
920 Gold
113 Green
903 Blue
115 Blue
901 Silver



Sorry Rick, I couldn't find your color "312".

[26th-Z]

Oh my! I didn't see this thread until now. All S30 chassis front radiator supports were brush painted flat / satin black. Now, I'm going out on a limb by saying that because I have come to learn that as soon as you establish something consistant about the S30, you find the exception. So except for the exceptions, the front of the radiator support is brush painted black. The picture you posted, Ed, is the car I associate with Harry Figg? - an exquisit over restoration.

Here is a picture of the area from an early 1970 build with 23,000 original miles from the national convention.

[Ed]

Your correct Chris about the picture. I used this as reference. Hope he doesn't mind. Reason I started this thread is because my car didn't come with the black paint. (110 Red).

[Victor Laury]

Reason I started this thread is because my car didn't come with the black paint. (110 Red).

That guy called in sick that day!

Some day, we'll have a true concours system, and you'll get points deducted if the area is not painted or painted too well

[mdbrandy]

Oh my! I didn't see this thread until now. All S30 chassis front radiator supports were brush painted flat / satin black. Now, I'm going out on a limb by saying that because I have come to learn that as soon as you establish something consistant about the S30, you find the exception. So except for the exceptions, the front of the radiator support is brush painted black. The picture you posted, Ed, is the car I associate with Harry Figg? - an exquisit over restoration.

Here is a picture of the area from an early 1970 build with 23,000 original miles from the national convention.

Chris, does #26 have the paint? #215 does NOT, but I know that the car was repainted the original 901 silver. I know that some of the engine bay was (badly) painted, but the front of the radiator support looks original compared to the areas that I know were repainted. Pic attached...

[kenz240z]

Mark, I'd guess that the front of the radiator support on #215 was also repainted. Just a guess, as the hood springs are painted silver, too. They should be black. Not conclusive, but a good indication.

I don't mean to be nit picky , but like you say, not a good paint job in the engine bay. I mean, jeez, the paint code label was painted over!

[Go240Zags]

Mark, I'd guess that the front of the radiator support on #215 was also repainted. Just a guess, as the hood springs are painted silver, too. They should be black. Not conclusive, but a good indication.

I thought the hood hinges were unpainted, just had the cadmium plating, that's the way mine are. BTW, my radiator support is painted black. Original body color 905 red.

[=Enigma=]

Well based on memory I thought mine was going to be the exception. Apparently not. My Dark Brown Metalic '73 240Z has also had the radiator support hand painted flat black, and a poor job it is. It was not painted from top to bottom but started about 6" down from the top of the support and stops right at the base before the front crossmember. You can see where the paint ran down onto the crossmember and then down the front. What a slop job. I'm glad it's not visible from the outside.

[26th-Z]

26th was not a good example as she has been painted a number of colors over the years. I should go out and check 27th but it has been so dark lately! I have to wait for the weekend.

I have that same picture in my files, Ed. They were on a web site some years ago when I copied them for references.

I think the hinges are supposed to be painted the color of the car. I have seen the plated ones and I don't know what the deal is there.

[billcapp]

My 8/71 originally white ( white 904) had the same treatment...kind of sloppy, but without it, it would have looked funny.

[mdbrandy]

Mark, I'd guess that the front of the radiator support on #215 was also repainted. Just a guess, as the hood springs are painted silver, too. They should be black. Not conclusive, but a good indication.

I don't mean to be nit picky , but like you say, not a good paint job in the engine bay. I mean, jeez, the paint code label was painted over!

You're right. And don't worry about being picky. That's what I'm trying to be right now - I want to find out what this car looked like when it was new. I may not be able to afford to get all the way back to 100% original, but I'll do the best that I can. The paint code was the least of their problems. They even painted over the engine bay dataplate! (on the engine bay passenger side).

I went back through my pictures (many hundreds) and found the attached image that I took before disassembly. Wiring harness, back of the horns, and the front of the radiator are all oversprayed silver! So obviously the front of the radiator support was painted...

Thanks.

[26th-Z]

Here is another picture I found of the same car - early 1970 with 23,000 original miles. Looks like painted hinges and black hinge torsion bars. There are a number of guys around with original, low mileage cars; especially the later models. Give Charlie Osborne a shout, or Mike McGinnis. They would know a lot more about the later models.

Stock horns, by the way, are olive drab dark green, not black.

[kenz240z]

Hi Gary, I've seen the cad plated hinges, but I think the hinges were originally painted body color on the Z's when they were new. When I mentioned the hood springs I was referring to the two torsion bars which mount between the hinges. Those should be black AFAIK.

I've noticed other New/Replacement parts that have the cadmium plating, but which are painted over on the car, such as the hood hinges. Several of the coolant plumbing parts on the engine seem to be available now with the cad plating, but were originally painted blue like the engine. These include the coolant outlet elbow at the back of the block, the "Y" pipe that connects to the heater core and the intake, etc...

Also, a lot of the nuts & bolts used on the suspension appeared to be cad plated although they were painted black.

[Go240Zags]

Hi Gary, I've seen the cad plated hinges, but I think the hinges were originally painted body color on the Z's when they were new. When I mentioned the hood springs I was referring to the two torsion bars which mount between the hinges. Those should be black AFAIK.

Also, a lot of the nuts & bolts used on the suspension appeared to be cad plated although they were painted black.

Kenz, thanks for the clarification. My car is far from original, so maybe they were replacement hinges or something. Gary

[1 Bravo 6]

Hey Ed,

Don't ask me WHY I typed in 312. It's NOT 312. I know it's not 312. Yet I typed in 312, knowing full well that 312 is incorrect.

Now, knowing that 312 is wrong, ....... WHY would I say it was 312 ?. If "Precious" was painted in code 312, then you would have known what colour she is.

I can't even blame the mistake on a typo 'cause the 1 & the 2 are nowhere near the correct numbers on the keyboard. Had the number been 321 or 324 or 314 I might have been able to blame the mistake on my thick fingertips. However, by typing in 312 I have proven beyond any shadow of doubt that it's not my fingertips that are thick, it appears to be my head.

Enough waffle.

The paint code is actually, .... Ummmmm, let's see now, ..... I think, ........
oh, yes, that's right,

[CENTER]301[/CENTER.

Rick.