Re: 55 Mercury engine compartment-gloss, satin, or?

[Virgil & Sue Klein]

The firewall is not black but painted the same as the lower body color.  The balance of the parts you have listed were painted black as noted.  The manufacturers did not buy expensive paint for these parts.  If I had to choose I would go with gloss black which is what I see on most show cars of the era.  Most show cars are way overdone and better than anything the factory could afford to produce.  “Better than factory” is not a true factory restoration, in my opinion, but it is what gets you judging points if that is what you are looking for.