59GT Hard Oil Line Color?

[Chris Frank]

I have seen period photos of the 59 GTs with Cad bright plated oil lines (Mainly works cars) and SCCA period photos where the lines appear black including images of Jennings floor with some black oil lines. What is correct, or was it car-to-car dependent? Ours are currently silver cadmium.

[Joris Koning]

Chris, they were black originally

[Jacques Lefriant]

Hi Joris
i never paid attention to that detail however i worked on a period customer 1960 T5 coupe and the lines were made from aluminum tubing not painted.
j

[Joris Koning]

Hi Jacques,

All the original cars I have seen have had black lines. The lines on my cab are original and also black. I have the restoration notes from several GT speedsters Tim was involved with and they also note black. Pictures I have of a very original C2 also show black. Blacking them out fits with the practice of the factory blacking out several parts underneath the car. That said who knows what they might have done so unpainted lines might have crept through.

See you in three weeks,

Joris

[Dick Roth]

While I'm not refuting any of the previous comments, I can simply note that my 59GT in unrestored condition had weathered, unpainted hard lines in aluminum. I was very fortunate that the entire oiling system (up to the engine compartment components!) was in place, including the 2 front oil coolers.

[Chris Frank]

Our car has the original hard lines they are cad plates and steel and not aluminum. Dick, the lines on your old car based on the last time I was near it must have been steel since I was able to get a magnet to stick to them, this was in the 1990's. I have only seen steel lines on these cars. I have seen some photos from Bruce Jennings shop with black lines, and factory photos with bright lines.