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MG MGA - Radiator colour

Just about to repaint my radiator after a re-core and I wanted to confirm the orginal colour. Clausager says flat black which I assume is matt black but not sure if satin black is what is meant. Barney suggests it should be satin black.

Any views? John


John Francis

There are multiple of shades of black ranging from high gloss to coal flat (looks like dry black coal powder). In between shades might be called Satin Black (less glossy than Gloss Black), or Flat Black, far less glossy, but maybe not as bland as coal powder. A commonly named color for chassis paint is called Chassis Black (surprise). I believe this usually falls in between Satin Black and Flat Black.

Original color for all chassis parts, heater box, and maybe anything else black underneath would be Satin Black (not quite glossy). If it is obviously not high gloss you can call it Satin Black, still looks nice when clean and new.

The term Flat Black is sometimes used interchangeably with Satin Black, with the general intention to imply that it is definitely not Glossy. Paint used on the radiator, especially after modern day repairs, may be much more flat that the original Satin Black. I suppose Flat Black must be a common standard practice for radiator shops.

It is my humble opinion that Gloss Black paint on anything under the bonnet is as abnormal and irritating as anything in the engine bay being chromed. But that's just me of course. Cars with Gloss Black paint under the bonnet and on the chassis parts seem to do very well at concours car shows, as the concours judges don't seem to care that it is not correct. Public Vote or Exhibitors Vote shows also suck up the Gloss Black paint scheme.

It is my impression that the intent of concours show is not entirely originality, but to improve on it a little, closer to perfection. Start with an all original car as delivered from the factory. Realign the body panels to be in better alignment than the factory would ever bother with. Buff up bare copper parts to a non-original shine. Clean and clear lacquer coat any parts that were originally bare (master cylinder and wiper motor). Then clean and polish everything to much higher standards than original issue. I suppose Gloss Black paint falls under the blanket of "polish to higher standard". So if you like Gloss Black, I guess it is nothing to be feared, more of a personal preference. It is somewhat a pity that a perfectly original car would never win a concours contest.

On a related note, chrome wire wheels were never supplied by the factory, but they were a common period accessory part.
Barney Gaylord

John, it's your car and you should paint the radiator how you think it would look the best. Personally I'm not keen on matt black or high gloss black but feel that a good semi gloss black is just right. If it's too shiney it looks false and you can see all the imperfections and if it's too dull it looks lack lustre so I think that an 80% shine is perfect and will show well.

Andy
Andy Preston

Barney and Andy

Thanks for your views. I know its really a personal perspective and your comments on showing imperfections etc are well taken. I've powder coated all the other engine bay parts satin black so will stick with that. The suggestion from the restorer is that the core should be painted matt black for thermal properties although its manly a convector not an emitter so not sure that that is really important.
John Francis

This thread was discussed between 25/01/2010 and 26/01/2010

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