Another 1955 F-100 bed board question. Were the bed boards painted on both sides flat black/truck body color or was the underside of the board originally done, by Ford, natural/unfinished?

 

The beds were painted as a completed assembly after the wood was installed. The top side of the wood got whatever was applied on the interior. It's doubtful they wasted too much on the bottom. It probably didn't get much more than overspray.

 

I've pulled apart two of my Express beds and have found paint remnants on the wooden cross members and on the bed boards. Stu