I know older Mustangs and Cougars were red oxide underneath when new. What color were 1971 Cougars? This car was built in Dearborn.
I don’t have the answer but I know it depends on the plant where they were built.
They were all built at Dearborn that year. Generally the underside is a batch color made up of every color of left over paint. If they painted lots of metallics the day before then you will see lots of metalflake. Then the body color overspray is present in the rear wheel wells and the black paint used on the pinch weld is all over the edges.
In general, document what you can find and copy it. There’s no right or wrong answer and no two were alike.
That clears things up. Thanks.
Depends on when and where the car was built. Its about the details
Typically it depends for 71 like other years at Dearborn when the car was built. Over the last six months or so we discussed the finishes on another 71 Dearborn Cougar that was batch.
Reply #110 in traffic circles - The Garage - Classic Cougar Community Forum
Because of this its important to know when your car was completed and for those offering their observations.
Should also mention the undersides were painted in a two step process. from the firewall rearward (from jets mounted below the body as it passed over) and from the firewall forward (by hand) that included some of the front wheel well before body color and engine compartment paints were applied
Unless you are surveying the colors of the cars built the previous day…you are just guessing ….I’ve always had good luck pulling the rear axle bumpers off the frame rails and seeing what color is under….of course with a 71…the area above the fuel tank might lend a clue….of course ultimately it’s your choice…check with your paint supplier…there is always a quart or two of mistakes around at a great price….just make sure they are close to ford colors…then mix your own batch of “batch”
For batch I’ve often used to start with a early 2000’s VW color and added a little blue or green to that when all else fails. Provides the general look of allot of Dearborn dark grayish floor colors
If I would help I could post the code
I’ve been meaning to post the underside of my July 71 built 71 XR-7. This is the main floor area. You can see it is a light Gray. This is after I removed the sound deadener.
This is the area above the gas tank. It is mostly body color. I have seen this on a few other 71/73 Mustangs and Cougars.
The advice to find out what was used on others built close to the same day is sound. Looking at your pictures it looks like your may have been a light gray kind of like mine was.
Good luck with your project.