'68 Chevy with new wood floor Need opinions.

[speed-racer]

Putting new wood in a '68 chevy long bed. The truck gets daily driven so the bed will get used. I believe correct is to paint entire thing (wood and metal strips and bolts) black. So far the wood is staying finished in its natural color. What color to paint the strips? The pictures below show it in bare metal and also with the strips painted black.

[Longhorn Man]

An early 68 would have the whole floor painted black (real easy to touch up later) a later 68 would be body color...again, wood and all.
IMO, if you don't want to paint the wood, then body color would look better...black doesn't look right to me.

[cdowns]

if you dont want the natural wood you could always stain it black and then seal it with a satin polyurethane// if i was going to do a painted finish on the metal strips i'd have them powdercoated

[PanelDeland]

My take on this is to have your cake and eat it too.I would finish the floor however you like,i.e.varnish,stain or whatever.Then take 2 sheets of plywood and a piano hinge.Make a false floor to lay in the bed that folds to more easily get it out.Carpet the downside and use a liner material on the upper.The bed should stay nice but be very useable.