Body Color Paint, Part II: The Battery Box

[Ed Cave]

After receiving several responses to my recent posting, "Body Color Paint in the Wheel Wells", a member of this group suggested I move the same issue under the hood, more specifically behind the grill, to see what everyone thinks about a body colored battery box, particularly on lighter colored cars so...

Should the battery box be painted the body color of the car or is black a better solution?

For discussion purposes, a photo is attached.


Download Attachment: Battery Box.jpg
48.42 KB

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[TheEngineer]

My battery box is inside the car, like behind the headlight you show in your photograph. But it's a nice looking headlight! I have made a battery tray from polypropelene which fits snug and has a lip, so that, if my battery spills, it does not get the body. I'll sell you one for $25

1969 280SL,Signal Red, A/T, P/S, A/C, Both tops.    Ret. engr. 1967 230SL - Sold

[hauser]

I think it should be black so it would blend in with the grill and radiator. This way the front will have a more uniform look.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[hauser]

quote:Originally posted by theengineer

My battery box is inside the car, like behind the headlight you show in your photograph. But it's a nice looking headlight! I have made a battery tray from polypropelene which fits snug and has a lip, so that, if my battery spills, it does not get the body. I'll sell you one for $25

1969 280SL,Signal Red, A/T, P/S, A/C, Both tops.    Ret. engr. 1967 230SL - Sold

Peter, would you post a pic of this tray?

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[gwuisman]

I have a silver blue collored car. The batery box is black. In my opinion black is nicer as a lghter collor disturbes the strength of the grill design.

Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl

[Cees Klumper]

AFAIK the common opinion is that both the battery and the air filter box were painted flat black (with a brush!) at the factory, to accomplish exactly what Hauser and Gerard point out: to achieve an uncluttered, clean look.
When I first got my Pagoda (now 5 years ago), the air filter box was white, much like in the photo posted by Ed. A colleague who knew absolutely nothing about Pagoda's one day took a glance at the car and said to me "you know, it doesn't look right, that white piece of metal behind the grille, I think you should paint it black".

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Ed Cave]

I just re-read the restoration journal that Brian Peters is maintaining on his website www.motoringinvestments.com about his work on my car. At the end of Page Three he states:

 "With the car coming apart we notice some areas where dull black paint is brushed over the finish paint coat.  Most notable is ahead of the battery behind the grill.  But there are other areas also such as the edge of the air cleaner enclosure and around the defrost vents of the dash."

He also notes that this is absolutly one of the most original cars he has restored this seems to confirm Cees' opinion below. Consequently, it appears black is correct, as long as it is brushed on by hand! <grin>

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

[TheEngineer]

So sorry, Guys! I never really noticed the battery box looking through the grille. Mine is black. And for you, Hauser, attached is a pic of this plastic tray of mine. Thank you

Download Attachment: BatTray.JPG
29.93 KB

1969 280SL,Signal Red, A/T, P/S, A/C, Both tops.    Ret. engr. 1967 230SL - Sold

[hauser]

I guess you can also call it a battery tray liner, sort of like the catch-all mats for the floor board.  What a great idea!

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[Malc]

My poor old girl is painted semi-matt black in the engine bay, boot, boot lid and the battery tray (what's left of it   ) is also black
Malc

[SL113fan]

My '70 had black paint hand-applied to the area around where the hood attaches to the inner front fenders.  I thought this was not original, as it seemed like a good way to mark the exact position of the hood attachment prior to removal.  Thinking it was non-original, I easily removed it with brake clean applied to a rag.  Upon removal there were traces of both painted (body color) and unpainted metal.  I remain stumped as to whether this black paint was factory applied.

[Benz Dr.]

Black behind the grills is very correct. The air cleaner canister is spray painted. Only the leading edge of the metal that holds the rad on that side is painted black - very early cars had the whole piece black. The area that the rad sits in is the black area - maybe 30mm wide. Defrost vent areas are also blacked out as well as the front egde of the wood facing the windshield. This area was done by hand with a paint brush.

Battery tray and hold down cover are black but not the same colour - more like satin black. You could use that on the front too if you want.

Daniel G Caron