'65 exhaust

[kram350]

Thanks Charles. Looks like the color is natural aluminized, correct? 

[CharlesTurner]

I'd say yes for the bottom pic, but the one above could be either with black/white photo. 

[mygt350]

Appears pipes were shipped "natural" as well as painted black. Bo's (Texas Suede) picture shows side pipes as natural with the intermediate pipes black. Jesse at Shelby Parts and Restoration said his experience was that if intermediate pipes were black, so were the side pipes. Would venture to say there were some cars that had the intermediate pipes one coating with side pipes another. Suspect a Judge would not "ding" you if painted intermediate and side pipes or left them natural or mix and match...I was told the intermediate pipes were not welded to the flanges until after the "mufflers" and side pipes were properly positioned.Then, spot welds were done to the flange before they were removed and welded all way around. Lot or processes were evolving at SA. Can easily imagine painting tailpipes might have been one of those that evolved...

[Bob Gaines]

Appears pipes were shipped "natural" as well as painted black. Bo's (Texas Suede) picture shows side pipes as natural with the intermediate pipes black. Jesse at Shelby Parts and Restoration said his experience was that if intermediate pipes were black, so were the side pipes. Would venture to say there were some cars that had the intermediate pipes one coating with side pipes another. Suspect a Judge would not "ding" you if painted intermediate and side pipes or left them natural or mix and match...I was told the intermediate pipes were not welded to the flanges until after the "mufflers" and side pipes were properly positioned. Then, spot welds were done to the flange before they were removed and welded all way around. Lot or processes were evolving at SA. Can easily imagine painting tailpipes might have been one of those that evolved...

Jesse had better review the vintage photo of the exhaust system because it clearly contradicts his statement you said he made. As I said before the turn out pipes (side pipes) were ether left natural steel pipe (not aluminized) or painted  black like the headers ,flange pipes and glass pack muffler typically were. Pretty simple really. If someone deviates from those two typical configurations in concours expect push back. A entrant should have any reasonable proof available to explain their point of view.

[mygt350]

So from your Judging perspective in Concours class, flange and muffler were typically black, unless there is some evidence showing car as delivered, had something different. Side pipes should be black, but could be natural without a deduction.
I will send Jess that photo and leave it at that. Interesting discussion at least.

[kram350]

If not aluminized maybe painted silver? One original assembly line picture appears that the exit pipes were unpainted. If left bare you would have thought rusty pipes would have been a warranty or at least a complaint issue?

[Bob Gaines]

If not aluminized maybe painted silver? One original assembly line picture appears that the exit pipes were unpainted. If left bare you would have thought rusty pipes would have been a warranty or at least a complaint issue?

Bare steel or painted black. If silver paint was tried on some it was not typical . As Special likes to say "that's just the way is is".

[texas swede]

There is another picture from the assembly line at LAX that matches exactly what Bob is saying.
Of course, the picture is staged but I have no reason to doubt that they are the correct ones.
Texas Swede