OEM shock absorber colour

[birdsandbees]

I had presumed flat to semi gloss black, both front and back, but then I see Mopar John's NOS find for his Bird and they're a tannish color?

The ones I bought to install are blue... but thinking of painting them to correct OEM color.

Thanks for the replies!

[69bfan]

The problem with using NOS or dealer available parts is that they are simply that.  To actually  determine what is truly correct to put the car back to the stage that it left the factory, you need to view actual assembly line parts and untouched cars.  From my experience, factory original shocks were a semi gloss black, service replacements from across the dealer parts counter were usually a gold color from back in the early 70's and later into the late 70's and early 80's you started to see the blue shocks, but I have never seen a correct part number shock in a blue color.  Even into the 90's, you could purchase a parts store shock that had the factory style radius or tulip style upper shock cartridge that the OEM shocks had.  It all depends on what level you are looking to achieve with your restoration in my opinion.

[birdsandbees]

Okay, thanks.

I have aftermarket shocks, just want them to at least be a colour that would have been correct on assembly... so it sounds like semi-gloss black it is.

[birdsandbees]

Bonus.. pulled out my shock boxes and the rears are already black!!  So I took my numerous paint test plates for "black" and picked the one that matched the rears. Sanded the front blue ones and shot the first coat.. waiting for it to flash so I can shoot the second!

Thanks again!