Original Rocker Panel Color

Question have been asked before. Try the search option. On my 77 GTB originally the rockers were black only on the very lower part below the last bent where the rocker is almost horizontal.

 

Black here, from the factory ('85)

 

I think its some sort of rubberized black paint? Like a chip resistant paint? Its also black on my car but its a different texture.

 

Mine were like this. Body color beneath the door, then turns to black as the last of the rocker turns parallel to the ground. Essentially it appears all body color when viewing from the side when standing.

That said, seems to be some variability on this depending on year. Mine is an 82GTSi.

 

Here too. A much tougher, thicker finish, for the road debris. Almost like a non-tacky undercoating.

 

US 84 QV Black

 

US '85 Black texture stuff

 

FWIW, a book I have (don't remember which one...) says that this paint is "PVC-based".

 

What ever it is it works. I would expect a lot more chips being so close to the ground. PVC paint, who knew. Thanks for the info!

 

Rick,

I'm sure it is not entirely body color, but body color until the crease in the panel, and from the crease in the panel to the bottom, its lowest part is black.
We have been trying to find some logic in this lately on a french forum, discussing from different cars owned by friends. It would seem that the change occured in, or about 1984.
Before the 1984 QV's, all cars here (Vetroresinas; steel-body carbed cars; GTB/S "i" and the first QVs) seems to have the two tone rocker panels: body color on its first half until the crease in the metal, then black.
In 1984 and after, QV's have then entirely black rocker panels. On the 328, we know of course that they should be all-black too, during the entire production range.
That's the best I can provide, but probably not a definitive answer...

Best

 

I have the '77 GTB/GTS brochure book, all the cars in the book have black rockers.

 

Color is depended on year. The textured stuff is usually called stone guard. You can get it in spray cans for 3M among others. It was big for rockers and front valances back in the 80's and early 90's before plastic rockers and bumper covers were the trend.

 

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o540/GVosburgh/ferrarirockerpanel.jpg

This is the best picture showing the rocker, it seems more prominent in the book.

 

My car is an early '84 (euro, French market), and panels are all black which supports the above statement.

 

And now as I see this picture I see no black at all! On a '77!

 

Do you know how certain clothes make you look "chubby" and other ones make you look "thin"? Well, I believe this is the case with the rocker panels, and I can understand why they evolved into black units.

This is what happened to me and my Miata, and we actually discussed this on a Miata forum some years ago. When I bought my 1990 Miata, it was pretty beat up; so I started doing a lot of things to it; one of them was a repaint, because the paint wasn't in the best shape. All NA Miatas have the rocker panels painted matte black from the factory; but I decided to go with the same body color, since I thought it would suit the car well. It didn't. Somehow, the car ended up looking "chubby"... it was like its "belt-line" grew up! So I went back to the matte black again.

The thing is that the black paint actually takes the attention off that part of the car, making it look "slender". The "chubby look" is even worse if you happen to run small tires (like TRXs) along with the body color on the rockers.

Just check out a picture of a late QV car and compare it to a late 70s one... the basic dimensions haven't changed, but somehow the QV looks much more "slender"!

Now, if you're trying to keep your car original, I believe you should dig up what was the original finish and go for it; but if what you're trying to do is improve the overall appearance of the car, and doesn't car all that much about originality, I guess the best way to go would be to get those rockers all blacked out! ;-)

 

I think you make a good point here, they went to black rockers later along with doing the front louvers in black which in general improved the over all look of the car. I agree that using the body color on the rockers with the 14" wheels will create a heavier look. My car apparently was made that way so in the interest of bringing it all the way back, I'm going to go with body color rockers.

 

that pretty much sums it up...

just to show a comparison :

1. pic from the net: body coloured rockers, balloon tires, stock suspension (maybe a little high ?)

2. pic of my car: black rockers, 16" wheels and tires, bilstein/eibach adjustable suspension


your choice

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Spray Shurtz, and it comes in black......

I have Boxer Trim on all mine, THAT solves the problem! LOL!