Why a white bottom?

[JoeC]

A light color will reflect more heat, but I have read that some people would paint the underside white so an oil or fuel leak would be more visible. The white may also have been done for "style" back in the day.

[68l30]

I read somewhere (MCR interview with Jenkins ?) that the Strickler car was painted to easily find cracks in the frame and suspension.

[Mr70]

I know Bob Hamilton's 1970 Drag Chevelle "Red Alert" had the engine block painted Yellow so any oil leaks would be easily visible.

[Belair62]

68 I read the same thing years ago....Strickler etc. used white paint to make frame cracks more noticeable.Makes sense too.Not that a 62 frame would EVER crack.Much too tough for that !

[Chevy454]

There is a local truck puller here that is also in old Chevys, who insists on painting his driveshafts, and recommended it to me...it makes it a lot easier to tell if it's twisted or cracked.

[68l30]

I've seen the same thing with axle shafts,thet will twist sometimes 180 degrees!Thats torque!Anyone else gone to the old school?

My Dad's 70-1/2 E/Stock Camaro had the firewall, bottom of the hood, and the underbody painted white for various reasons but mainly it was to reflect light. Some tracks he visited had very poor lighting at night, and when using only a drop light to work under the car, the light color allowed more light under the car as opposed to a dark color. (the car was a factory black car)The inside of the trunk and underdash were also painted white for the same reasons. He also painted the fuel tank white, so while sitting in those long staging lanes that were blacktopped, Bristol specifically, the white paint would reflect the heat from the pavement. Thus keeping the fuel cooler than if the tank was black. Just thought I would throw my two cents worth into this......Rat Pack...