Shock absorbers

[naifmakol]

Hi guys, my 3 year+ highly detailed restoration may be completed this summer. I started with a 27,000 mile dead original, one owner car. All shocks were the correct Ford shocks with correct part numbers. Upon disassembly of the car the front shocks were found to be painted black but the rear were a light coco brown. The authenticity manual says black for all shocks. Has anyone ever seen light coco colored original rear shocks??? Please share your thoughts with me regarding what color to now paint the shocks. Thank you.
Naif Makol

[Doc]

I think the decision ultimately depends on your intentions with the car. If you plan to compete in LCOC events it's possible that you might be penalized for having shocks that don't appear to conform to the manual. On the other hand, in a concours type situation the likelihood of the two colors being detected or penalized is virtually nil. And of course, if you don't plan to compete, then go with what makes you happy. Personally, if you're convinced the shocks came mismatched, I find that a neat curiosity about the cars--makes you wonder where they pulled the parts as it was assembled. Was your car early production?

Let's see some pictures, if possible--of the shocks and of the whole project.

[Barry Wolk]

Shocks came from outside suppliers. It's doubtful that Continental gave a rat's ass what color the shocks were.

With 27,000 miles and 55 years on your car it's likely that the shocks were replaced at some point, even though they're the correct part number.

[DkBlueII]

I just spent last Saturday putting an all new (and correct) exhaust in my Mark II, and i can tell you after close inspection of everything under the car, our shocks are also this light brown-type color. Contrary to what's listed for car #1832 here, the car is very close to all original with 48-ish thousand miles on the clock now. I can't tell, but the rear shocks may actually be original to the car.

*Edit 04/30/13: I'll be under the car again this week doing oil/ trans fluid changes. I'll try to get some decent shots of the shocks.