it should be semigloss black, but if you are going the restomod route, it can be any color you little heart desires. my personal choice is krylon appliance epoxy, in the rattle can. the cool thing about it is good primer and one coat of paint, it is a semi gloss, two coats gives you a little more gloss, and three coats will equal about any single stage paint you can put down. my engine compartment has 2 coats, you can check it out at my cardomain gallery.