The Ford Barn

Jerold Ebke · 03-06-2022, 11:45 PM

My front seat track/base for my 1955 Ford had remnants of light gray paint.
Can someone please verify this is correct or provide me a correct color to paint them.
Thank you.
Jerry

paul2748 · 03-07-2022, 08:34 PM

Usually, that kind of stuff was painted black

Lamar Wadsworth · 03-07-2022, 11:39 PM

They are black on my '55. My parents bought the car new, so the black is original.

Jerold Ebke · 03-08-2022, 03:33 PM

Sounds like black it is.
Thank you.

Daves55Sedan · 03-10-2022, 08:36 PM

I have seen a lot of factory original '55/56 Ford cars and they all had heavy zinc-coated or galvanized front seat tracks. Zinc and galvanized protection for the bare metal doesn't last very long due to coming in contact with rain water and winter road salt. As a result, the tracks are often heavily rusted from the bottom up, unless you find that rare car that has been babied and garaged all it's life.
Never, ever seen a 55/56 seat track painted any color from the factory. I've seen cars from several factories. The seat tracks are made of very heavy metal (about 1/8" thick) and it stands to reason they wouldn't bother painting them, since the cars were only designed to last ten years. I'd be very surprised if one of the plants had a policy of painting all the tracks they produced.

Jerold Ebke · 03-11-2022, 11:43 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

That makes sense. My front tracks had a lot of rust but some areas appeared gray.
Zinc coating certainly explains what I am seeing.
Guess I will return to my gray paint.
Thank you.

03-06-2022, 11:45 PM	#1
Jerold Ebke Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Nebraska Posts: 49	Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford My front seat track/base for my 1955 Ford had remnants of light gray paint. Can someone please verify this is correct or provide me a correct color to paint them. Thank you. Jerry

03-07-2022, 08:34 PM	#2
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 4,010	Re: Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford Usually, that kind of stuff was painted black __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

03-07-2022, 11:39 PM	#3
Lamar Wadsworth Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 315	Re: Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford They are black on my '55. My parents bought the car new, so the black is original.

03-08-2022, 03:33 PM	#4
Jerold Ebke Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Nebraska Posts: 49	Re: Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford Sounds like black it is. Thank you.

03-10-2022, 08:36 PM	#5
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford I have seen a lot of factory original '55/56 Ford cars and they all had heavy zinc-coated or galvanized front seat tracks. Zinc and galvanized protection for the bare metal doesn't last very long due to coming in contact with rain water and winter road salt. As a result, the tracks are often heavily rusted from the bottom up, unless you find that rare car that has been babied and garaged all it's life. Never, ever seen a 55/56 seat track painted any color from the factory. I've seen cars from several factories. The seat tracks are made of very heavy metal (about 1/8" thick) and it stands to reason they wouldn't bother painting them, since the cars were only designed to last ten years. I'd be very surprised if one of the plants had a policy of painting all the tracks they produced.

03-11-2022, 11:43 PM	#6
Jerold Ebke Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Nebraska Posts: 49	Re: Color: Front seat tracks 1955 Ford Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That makes sense. My front tracks had a lot of rust but some areas appeared gray. Zinc coating certainly explains what I am seeing. Guess I will return to my gray paint. Thank you.