Undercarriage Paint Color?

[Brucel]

I need some advise.  I've cleaned the undercarriage of my 1970 Plum Crazy Challenger and now I am ready to paint it before I reassemble with all new parts (brake lines, fuel lines, gas tank, etc).

Question is:  What color should I paint the undercarriage?

I just want your 2 cents worth since I have seen them painted in body color, black, gray, and whatever.

Leaning towards dark gray or black.  What do you think?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

[Racer57]

I have a 4 post lift so Im always tinkering under the car. I  soak a rag with Prep-All and wipe down the bottom side of my Cuda all the time because its Orange. If it was black, I wouldn't see the crap and not worry about it. 

[anlauto]

From the factory they were grey with purple over spray from the sides. That seems to be the latest trend. I still have customers that want the complete body colour underside which looks great in my opinion.

[djw383]

There was a thread, here I think, that asked "what would you do different if you had to do your restoration over again?" Many people said they would not paint the undercarriage body color to reduce maintenance. Also btw, many said they would make their motor less radical and more drivable.

[Brucel]

I have a 4 post lift too and I have EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING removed from the undercarriage. I have been stripping and grinding and cleaning the bottom a little everyday for a month.  I also have had the axle, leaf springs and drive shaft sand blasted and painted.  I have all new parts including the original match exhaust pipes, resonators, mufflers, heat shields, fuel lines, gas tank, brake lines, bolts, screws, clips, etc.  So I have spend a bit of money.  But I really like the this matching # 440 six pack Challenger so I want the bottom to look as good as the rest of the car.

But I'm still undecided about painting the bottom the final color.  I think the dark grey would look good but I don't want to do the overspray thing even though like Alan said that it would be most original.  I would just paint it black but then it would be difficult to see all the pain I've been though restoring the undercarriage....haha.  I guess I'm vain.  Maybe just go with dark gray or body color.

Still trying to decide.

[skdmark]

There was a thread, here I think, that asked "what would you do different if you had to do your restoration over again?" Many people said they would not paint the undercarriage body color to reduce maintenance. Also btw, many said they would make their motor less radical and more drivable.

 
Add me to that list.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'll be going black for sure. The body color is sure impressive when looking at build pics, but it seems like a real pain to keep up.

I'd consider tintable Bedliner if someone really wanted body color. Durable, knock some noise and heat out of the cockpit while not having to maintain a pristine finish.

[GreenFish]

Rhino liner

[Fred]

I like the idea of body color or grey (not dark).  Even if you didnt keep it pristine, it would provide a nice contrast to everything and would be easy to see if you have issues anywhere.

[74 challenge]

I like the look of Body colour under the car as a number one choice and if you use a spray wax on it once and awhile the cleanup is fairly simple. I have black now and I hate it - shows everything and way more than cars that are painted body colour in my opinion.

[anlauto]

I think black or any kind of textured black is way harder to keep looking fresh compared to body colour

[ChallengerHK]

Rhino liner

This is my plan as well.

[67vertman]

My car is black....so undercarriage decisions were simple...some what. 

However, since I was planning on my car being a driver I went with Eastwood Chassis Black.  It is semi gloss 80% and has extra hardener in it.  It has been on it 4 years now and is holding up very well, and all I do is once a season wash.  Not many people will look at the undercarriage at shows, unless you lift it up or put mirrors under it to show off all your hard work.

[jordan]

There are a lot of options, especially if you dont care if it is stock.  Bed liners are pretty permanent, and usually textured, making it hard to wipe clean.  Personally I dont like the body color on the underside.  Looks too over done. Unless its an over the top show pony.  I do like gray paint.  It looks stock, and you can still wipe it off easy.  Stock primer looks correct, but is not very durable, and attracts moisture.  When I did my own car, totally not stock, I used Chassis Saver semi gloss black.  Tuff as nails!  I have a hard time sandblasting this stuff off of metal brackets.  It doesnt look stock, but still wipes up easy, and I dont care if it is correct anyway since Im not ever doing judging again.  There is only one right way, but any of the other options may be the right way for you. 

[JoeGrapes]

I painted the underside body color. It looks much better that way. I dont find it to be high maintance at all. In fact i dont do anything to maintain it at all and it still looks good. Its not like you drive it on dirt roads or in the winter.