TR3a hood lift assembly color

["Rob Robertson" <robandmaggie@email.msn.com>]

What color were early TR3a hood lift assemblys (spring loaded bonnet
popperupper)  when the cars came out of the factory? Piggott's books make me
think they were body color like the stay rod. I've seen a few black ones,
but that might be because they were easier to repaint black. Mine had enough
red on it under dpo's half assed pearl white repaint that it could have been
mostly body color, or it could have been factory overspray. Anyone know?
TIA
Rob Robertson
TS 25054 in Seattle