Hi guys.
I just joined the Cougar community message board and this is my first post.
I am in the middle of restoring my 1968 cougar that I’ve had for 20+ years. I picked up several “new to me” pieces from West Coast Classic Cougar including a complete rear quarter, trunk lid, passenger door, and front fender. All of those pieces are installed and nearly ready for final paint. I’d like to find out the proper way to paint the underside of the car. I’ve heard some cars were painted orange underneath and others were black and yet others were body colored. I’ve also heard some of that varies depending on which plant the car was built in. The engine bay was black but I’m not sure what gloss level I should go with.
Attached is a picture of my car before the restoration and one of it with all the metal work done just after the first primer coat.
Welcome to the insanity George Nice looking baby cat in the before pic and i’m sure someone here with more knowledge will point you in the right direction. You definitely found the right place to tap the knowledge of those in the know
The engine compartment is a semi-gloss. The underside was painted with a rust color primer. Over spray of black made it onto certain areas of the primer. Here is a picture of Gry’s XR7G restoration showing the underside.
The engine bay is a semi gloss black, the under carriage could be grey or red oxide or even a greenish color, you would have to do some peeling of paint off of the floor pan to know for sure, my guess is red oxide. The only body color on the underside would be from over-spray from painting the lower part of the car, the whole bottom was never painted body color from factory.
My body guy found black under the undercoating on my car. I 2nd what catlover said, peel off some of the paint (or undercoating) to know for sure. John
Thanks guys for the replies. My car has already been media blasted all over so there isn’t any original paint left on or under the car to check. However I’ve had the car for many years and I never noticed any orange paint. I believe my car was a San Jose plant car. Not sure if that makes a difference.
Would love to see some more detailed photos of the underside of correctly painted 68 Cougars so I can understand where paint was applied from the firewall back to rear of the car. Also were the wheel wells painted semi-gloss black?
Welcome to the forum! Half of the things I learn I learn from other people’s posts so thanks for asking that question. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle (sorry, 11 yr old me just quoted GI Joe).
Nice looking baby cat in the before pic and i’m sure someone here with more knowledge will point you in the right direction. You definitely found the right place to tap the knowledge of those in the know 
