Bird cage color?

[Tom L.]

I'm finishing the final body prep on a '70 convertible and will be ready to put the body back on the chassis soon. Does anyone know what color the exposed parts of the bird cage should be (behind the dash and the rocker rails)?

I've seen many examples of restored C3s with a green primer. However, I'm pretty sure that mine was all black originally. I have a great deal of original looking black paint, but I didn't find a single trace of green paint anywhere on the cage. I guess it only matters to whatever extent you can see the bottom of the rocker rails from underneath the car. Thanks.

[Tom M.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Have you seen Kevin Mackay's black/black 69 L88 see-thru car ??

It's Green,
Tom

[Jim T.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Tom I saw a lot of the green primer in the inside of my 1970 when I had the top dash pad out. Another area to see the green is behind the kick panels which exposes the birdcage frame. The area surrounded by the body mount in this location was all green primer.
When I replaced windshield framing on my 1970 I used Dupont 215S Acrylic Primer first on replaced and undistrubed framing before topcoating with black. The 215s is a highly corrosion resistant acrylic lacquer type primer for use under standard refinishing especially in critical areas to prevent rusting.
It has been many years since this was done. It is posted in the archives that the Dupont 215S is no longer available because of EPA. It was a green color, but not the same green color as what was applied at the factory.
Something similiar might be still available for aircraft use.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Below are two pictures. One is the spare body for my 71, originally painted Ontario Orange. Note that the birdcage is a more-yellow-than-green color. The other is my 71, which is Bridgehampton Blue. Note how much of the birdcage has blue overspray on it, and how much more green the birdcage paint appears. Interestingly enough, the birdcage paint on the 72 I'm working on right now, and Ontario Orange car, also is more-yellow-than-green. I do not think that the birdcages were tinted to match the eventual color coat, but find it interesting nonetheless.

Patrick

[Tom M.]

Re: Bird cage color?

http://www.corvetterepair.com/see_thru/see_thru.htm

[Thad L.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Tom
My 70 vin 8114 had an all black birdcage. All metal under the dash was also black.

Thad

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Bird cage color?

I find this interesting, so many different replys. Did the production vary that much? By the way, in my July build '71 the dash and winow frame and kicks were a zinc oxide green color. We used to use it on aircraft as someone mentioned. I assumed when I first saw it it was the same stuff.

Ken

[Tom M.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Tom
My 70 vin 8114 had an all black birdcage. All metal under the dash was also black.

Thad

Thad, My 69 is green, they might have changed every year ??? or so ??
Tom

[Terry M.]

Re: Bird cage color?

My 1970 is zinc oxide green. Reminds me of my Air Force days long, long ago.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Bird cage color?

My 1970 is zinc oxide green. Reminds me of my Air Force days long, long ago.

Ditto, Terry.

[Tom L.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Thanks, everyone, for your input. After looking at Patrick's pictures, it occurred to me that I'm probably looking at generous amounts of Laguna Gray overspray, not black paint. I've attached some pictures. Please disregard the red paint in the one picture. The car was, and soon will be, Laguna Gray.

[Alan S.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Hi Tom,
If that's exterior color overspray it's so even in coverage that it surprises me.
Regards,
Alan

[Doug F.]

Re: Bird cage color?

Just looked at some pictures of my Bridgehampton Blue '71 LT-1, built Jan 5, 1971. These were taken while I was restoring dash, gauges, etc. My bird cage is black with some blue overspray. The round diagonal braces are natural.

[Dennis D.]

Re: Bird cage color?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/zinc.php

[Keith L.]

Re: Bird cage color?

My A22 70 is green where yours appears black.