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gwistrup
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-- 02-28-2026 @ 1:56 PM
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I'm in the process of removing the suspension and cleaning under my 1940 Tudor Sedan to paint the frame, suspension and under the body. This car is really clean and the best I can tell is that the color of the body underneath the car is primer brown. The exterior color is cloudmist gray. I have consulted the 1940 Ford book and it said that Ford didn't apply much paint inside and under the body when the car was built. Does anyone have a suggestion for color and type of paint to apply on the exterior of the body under the floor of my car? Thank you, Gil
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kubes40
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-- 03-01-2026 @ 7:28 AM
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Gil, while there was most likely not a coat of paint that resembled the outer body applied to the underpan, there was still enough to cover the sheet metal.
Did that happen 100% of the time? Considering the assembly line was meant to move very fast and factoring in human behavior, well, there were probably a number of cars that got "cheated".
The INTENT / DESIGN was to cover the underside of the body as well as the floor with color. Thus, the underside on your car should be Cloudmist. On the concourse, anything other than matching color should result in a point deduction.
The car in my photograph is surely well beyond what Ford did but should give you an idea of the "intent" Ford had.
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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kubes40
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-- 03-01-2026 @ 7:33 AM
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Oh, I forgot to mention [paint type. Considering you are not removing the body, I would suggest a single stage enamel.
I'm not quite certain how you intend to apply the paint. Still, single stage would be my choice.
I use a base / clear polyurethane when I spray the underside / inside of my cars. I can't imagine how that could be done with the body on the frame.
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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gwistrup
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-- 03-03-2026 @ 8:17 AM
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My car apparently got cheated. I find it interesting that they called the color Cloudmist Gray instead of Cloudmist "Green" but I guess that was a marketing decision. Attached are a couple of pictures of the bottom of my car (primer) and a shot of the body inside the left rear fender (Cloudmist Gray). I plan on using acrylic enamel with a hardener to paint the body color. Enamel with a hardener is a great product that is far superior to the original paint. I will probably use POR 15 to do the gloss black frame and suspension unless anyone has a better suggestion.
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kubes40
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-- 03-03-2026 @ 8:53 AM
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Keep in mind, after 85 years, any paint that had been on the bottom would often enough be long gone.
I agree with you... Gray it isn't. However, Ford got to decide what they called it 
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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JTHOMPSON
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-- 03-03-2026 @ 10:41 AM
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I had heard that another car company used the same color and called it Cloudmist Green, so of course, Henry couldn't use the same name. How true that is, I can't say for sure...
Love the 40 Coupe in this color. I had a 1940 Standard Opera Coupe in the same color. Loved this color.
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kubes40
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-- 03-03-2026 @ 3:17 PM
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Jthompson, here's another thing Ford got to choose whether or not it made sense. There is no such thing as a '40 Ford Opera coupe.
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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JayChicago
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-- 03-04-2026 @ 5:18 AM
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Here’s another “heard this but don’t know if it’s true”: The fashion industry was going through a gray phase in the late thirties. The color gray was considered high-fashion, so marketing would like to use that word.
Didn’t Ford call the beige rubber floor mat (something?) gray?
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kubes40
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-- 03-04-2026 @ 6:24 AM
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Ha! I never considered that. You have a (very) plausible theory indeed.
I'm certain you and others have noted today's auto advertising focuses much more on image than the car itself. Many commercials there is hardly any view of the car but rather a lot of the pretty couple entering some swanky place.
Or the Jeep going up a mountain that will rarely happen in real life. Image...
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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