Concerning the appearance of strut rods: yes, "natural steel color", but that covers a lot of territory.

Like many forged suspension parts, strut rods were hot worked and took on a bluish-black mill scale. You can closely duplicate the factory new appearance by getting them squeaky clean (de-rust, wire brush, scrub multiple times with "hot" solvent like laquer thinner or MEK, absolutely no fingerprints) and apply gun bluing, several coats. Follow with RPM wax.

Top rod is treated with bluing. Bottom one is untreated, "natural steel color". (The photo was taken under yellowish fluorescent light. In sunlight there would be a bigger difference between the two.)