Original paint cars

[Tommy]

Recently I bought a 68 Nova that is from all accounts an original paint very low mileage car. The car has several irregular places in the paint in different areas. I was wondering about factory mistakes on these old cars and does anyone have any good pictures of 40 year old paint jobs. If I can get the camera to pick them up I will post some pics of my cars paint issues.


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Woj]

Tommy,

I have several original paint cars and I'm still amazed at the imperfections in paint and body work. I don't believe the level of quality back then was the same as it is today; although they still look great. Also, not being the original owner, you never know what may or may not have been touched up in the past.

It is still obvious when a car has original paint and it is still interesting to me, even though they aren't anywhere close to perfect.

Enjoy your car. Post some pics if you can.

Phil Woj.

[Tommy]

Phil, here is a link to the car in the members area. I'll try to get some pics of the imperfections soon.


POKE HERE (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/350957/an/0/page/0#Post350957)


Some of the things I have noticed are a simple run in a corner, a heavy area, and the right fender appears in different lights to be a different shade. I think the car has been retouched in a few places over the last 40 years but it really looks like most of the paint is original. The inside of the door by the striker is different than the rest of the car but there are no tape lines anywhere. I have even had the door sills off and only found fossilized insects...


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Keith Tedford]

I bought our one silver Chevelle new. Even with that colour you could see the leaded roof seams from 20 feet away. Pits as well. I could probably do a "correct" restoration paint job for all that it would take. They sure weren't perfect. I worked six months in Oshawa on the "B" body line in a lead booth grinding lead joints. Quality always took a drop when a new guy came into the booth. It takes a while to get handy with a disc grinder. Same thing happened when a new guy went into a paint booth. Perfection took a while.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Tommy, factory flaws were very common. Our 70 Orange Cooler has plenty of them..runs, dirt in the paint and lots of over spray!! Who needs that slick, clear coat, 3 foot deep finish...give me some bumps and bruises any time http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/361517-DSCN0981sm.jpg

[csx289]

Hi Tommy,

Have you taken a paint gauge to the car? It is a pretty good way to determine what is original and what is not. Of course, this is not a substitute for a trained eye familiar with original paint from the era but it sure is a good way to get confirmation of what your gut tells you. I have owned literally dozens of original paint cars and if you take a gauge to yours feel free to email me the readings and I can help you decipher what is going on.

Here is a good place to get a good, basic paint gauge/meter for short money : http://www.wholesalepaintmeters.com/?gclid=CKimn5bYmpYCFQcCswodr2zi6g

Colin

[ORIGLS6]

And even after they left the factory, things still happened.

Like brake fluid dripping from the car above it on the transporter! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Tarrytown SS427s]

I have noticed on some original paint cars that the front clip is sometimes a slightly different shade than the doors and body. I think this is because the front clips were painted separately from the body and therefore the formulas and painter's hand varied a little bit between the different items.
Steve

[csx289]

Such as GM A Body cars, the tub would be painted at Fisher Body and the front clip at GM in some cases (such as 69 GTO's)

[L78M22Rag]

I've found that the hood and trunk typically fade differently than the adjacent fenders or quarters... I thought it might be due to a different guage of steel on those panels causing them to heat from the sun and fade differently? But you're right... could be because they were painted differently.

[67BelAir427]

Someone has suggested that clear coating an original paint car is a good way to preserve the original finish but to renew the shine to the paint? Is this a good idea, or does it ruin the originality of the paint? Does a paint gauge read the thickness of the clear as a a layer of paint? Is the clear removable by any method at a later date once is has been applied?

[Woj]

Tommy,

I couldn't find any pix that showed the flaws in my original paint cars, but they are the same as listed above. The most obvious in my 69 SS Chevelle is the poor body work at the qtr/roof line seam. Every original 69 SS without a vinyl top that I have seen has the same deal. It isn't terrible, but as previously stated, it is visible 20' away. The front right fender is also poorly aligned and there are plenty of runs in the dash paint. My original paint 65 Bonneville has beautiful original paint, but it has ripples here and there that were just painted over. Still very nice though. I also have a 69 Camaro with about 50% original paint, some if the original looks good, the rear deck lid is checked, but the roof and hood are not.

I have decided to leave the flaws in my cars, even the door dings. We have to remember, these were GM production cars with a lot of hands-on assembly; there will be mistakes.

Phil Woj.

[Jacsey 70Z]

On my original paint 70Z the big thing is runs on about every sill and lower valances looks pretty much like a 10 year old painted it.
I know of a original owner car that has a hand print in the drivers door where someone close the door when still wet. He pointed it out to the dealer when he took delivery, and it's still there today, cool stuff. I love original paint suvivor cars, like they tell a story.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL17/1627096/5198843/66460527.jpg

[Mr70]

Great pic.

[TimG]

A local '67 427 Corvette with original paint has a wonderful hand print on the drivers quarter panel.

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
A local '67 427 Corvette with original paint has a wonderful hand print on the drivers quarter panel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Get a forensics team on those finger prints and lets find out just who pulled that fast one! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[MosportGreen66]

[ QUOTE ]
A local '67 427 Corvette with original paint has a wonderful hand print on the drivers quarter panel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had the same thing on my original paint '70 Camaro. In the sun you could see a hand inprint on the roof, extending from the middle of the window. I'll ask the new owner for a photo...

[1railman]

Original paint cars with clear coat are no longer original paint cars.

[1railman]

On my 71 LS6, original paint on valance under grill felt like 60 grit sandpaper.

[Tommy]

I'm going to try to get some pictures Saturday. I just got in from work..... 8 Am until 11PM http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif...


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Okay, I have several photos to post. The first is inside the the passenger door area near the footwell. The paint has lifted over the years and shows primer. A similiar primer is shown in the next set in a small area just above the headlight brow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002920.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002919.jpg

Here's the spot above the eyebrow where the paint has rubbed off..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002927.jpg


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Here are some of the runs in the telephone receiver areas.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002924.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002925.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002936.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002937.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002938.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002939.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002940.jpg

Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Here is the trunk weatherstrip which as all the rubber on the car appears original. Also notice the sand or grind marks above the doors http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002932.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002941.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002923.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002929.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002930.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002931.jpg


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Here are a few more. A stain in the paint on the driver door ? A close up of the olive vinyl flooring. and some pictures of bolts holding the front cap and hood hinges on. Reason for that is that the shims and bolts have a lot of surface rust that the rest of the car doesn't have.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002948.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002949.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002950.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002951.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002952.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002922.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002921.jpg


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Here are just a few more. I have never seen a key holder like this, the ignition key folds into the tube.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002942.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002943.jpg



The color on the ash tray and glove box is different than the rest of the dash. This is also true on my low mileage blue car. Don't know why they did it but it's kinda cool...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002945.jpg

Heres a couple of the rear wheel wells.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002934.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002935.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002955.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002956.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002957.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002958.jpg


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Tommy]

Okay, thats all I got. feel free to tell me what you all think.


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Denis]

[ QUOTE ]
Okay, thats all I got. feel free to tell me what you all think. Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome. I don't know about the other folks reading this but this is like car porn to me -- just love original cars.

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Okay, thats all I got. feel free to tell me what you all think. Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome. I don't know about the other folks reading this but this is like car porn to me -- just love original cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, me too!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002941.jpg

Tommy was this car built on a Friday or a Monday? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Xplantdad]

Car porn...good one Denis! Hey, you got snow already?

[Salvatore]

Excellent, excellent pictures Tommy. Very well done. Thanks! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Tommy]

[ QUOTE ]
Tommy was this car built on a Friday or a Monday? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Don't know the answer to that one but I am sure it wasn't the pick of the litter when it hit the dealer lot.... The Runt always gets picked last..... I can somehow see this car sitting on the lot when the 69's were coming in...


Tommy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[firstgenaddict]

It is insane... CAR PORN... I love it... can't wait to see the next picture... what will it reveal?

[HPMIKE]

BTW This is my very first post on this site. I am glad i found it. Great stuff. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif



I have a low mile original paint 1971 Hemi Challenger. I thought only Chrysler was sloppy. Great stuff. Keep it up.

Mike

[ORIGLS6]

Welcome aboard Mike,.................... but you don't really think you can tease us without showing some pix do you? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

An original paint '71 Hemi Chally! C'mon.......... we're dyin' here! Too http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[HPMIKE]

OK here are a few... Hope you all enjoy.. 2834 original mile car. One of the 58 4 speeds made in the last year of production '71. Inspection sticker expires Oct 1973.

[HPMIKE]

Interior shot. How do you get the pic to show up in the body of the post??

[HPMIKE]

Untouched original trunk detail with original dated trunk mat and space saver.

[Mr70]

Nice car.
Type in front of and in back of your attachment text in those replies.

From this..

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/362521-Challenger%28Medium%29.jpg

To this..

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/362521-Challenger%28Medium%29.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Hey Mike, Welcome aboard. Cool car. Looks like it was all business. Gotta be some drag racing involved with those low miles. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[ORIGLS6]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif I wondered where you were! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Very http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Mike. Let's get Bruce over here and see about a write-up. I'll bet there's a story or two to go along with this gal. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[HPMIKE]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Mike, Welcome aboard. Cool car. Looks like it was all business. Gotta be some drag racing involved with those low miles. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Yep, you got it.

It was bought with virtually no options. Was raced briefly, but fortunately all original components were saved and were all there. I even have the original battery to this car. Only deviation was 12.5 pistons, Rat Roaster and Racer Brown solid. I purchased ftom the family of the original owner who was tragically killed while street racing in a Corvette in '75. The car was never run after that date, until I got it. I brought the engine compartment back to stock spec, otherwise the car is all orig.

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif I wondered where you were! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Very http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Mike. Let's get Bruce over here and see about a write-up. I'll bet there's a story or two to go along with this gal. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Mike...sounds like a great car for Members rides...why don't you send me some more pics and write up (history, etc)?

The Members Rides area is Here! (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/rides)


My email is [email protected] http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SS427]

Another Welcome Aboard Mike. Great looking car, love the color as well. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/68sschevyII/original%2068/IM002937.jpg



What year did they start painting with the striker and latch/screws installed? or was this different by plant and model? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/101_5767.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/101_5755.jpg

Other than a run in the black paint on the top interior of the drivers door that won't show in photos it was tough to find this run in the trunk on my 65 SS...( but I know it's there http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif)

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/65z13/101_5772.jpg

['69Novajoe]

[ QUOTE ]
I have noticed on some original paint cars that the front clip is sometimes a slightly different shade than the doors and body. I think this is because the front clips were painted separately from the body and therefore the formulas and painter's hand varied a little bit between the different items.
Steve

[/ QUOTE ]
My car came exactly as you've noticed Steve. In some pictures it's really quite evident.
This is a great thread. I have some areas that I'll take pictures of soon for all you original "porn" addicts!! It's amazing what we accepted as "quality" back then.
Joe

[firstgenaddict]

The strikers were different... 69 camaros as Norwood were painted VN was clean... I beleive JohnZ said it depended on whether the assem plant was a fisher plant or GMAD (General Motors Assembly Division)

[napa68]

Lookin for original paint? Here's one

['69Novajoe]

It's kinda hard to see in this picture, but there are some "grind" marks around the edge of the opening on the trunk and some "phantom" drips on the right side. Maybe some kind of chemical?
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/7291/imgp0122ot0.jpg

This shot is around the rear window on the drivers side. Looks like they re-shot some paint in that area. I've had guys almost accuse me of lying about the paint being original when they see this overspray. I even started to scrape it off but thought better of it. It's the way it came!!
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/5310/imgp0127ki2.jpg

And lastly, the engine compartment. What the heck spilled in here?? I just noticed that all these "flaws" are located on the driver's side of the car. Maybe that side of the assembly line was "drunk" that day??!!
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/5976/imgp0128xg8.jpg

[al8apex]

[ QUOTE ]
I have noticed on some original paint cars that the front clip is sometimes a slightly different shade than the doors and body. I think this is because the front clips were painted separately from the body and therefore the formulas and painter's hand varied a little bit between the different items.
Steve

[/ QUOTE ]

Fisher body painted the bodies and whatever assembly plant painted the front end components separately, the metallic paint cars were ALWAYS mis-matched ... from day one. I worked at the main Pontiac plant from 71-74 and was amazed at how different certain colors would look, but since "that was the way it was done" no one seemed to care that the fenders never matched the doors ...

[1969l78]

My nova has the same kinda of "grind" marks as nova joes car has around the trunk. I will get some pics.

[Salvatore]

My Lemans Blue SS does too. My original SS nova back in 1969 (Dusk blue) had them also. A lot of the leaded areas, seams have the file/grind marks it seems. I love em now, but we all hated them 40 years ago! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[1969l78]

Gotta love those original paint cars http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[JohnZ]

With Fisher Body painting the body from the firewall back and Chevrolet painting the front sheet metal, color and gloss mismatch arguments between the two plants' Plant Managers, Chief Inspectors, and Paint Shop Superintendents were a daily feature at the end of the Chevrolet Final Line. The ashtray faceplate, glove box door, and steering column were also painted by Chevrolet, in a separate small-parts paint system, and the main welded-in instrument panel was painted by Fisher Body, so they seldom matched either. That's just "the way it was" in the Fisher/Chevrolet assembly plants.

Think that's a dumb way to paint and build a car? The bodies for the 60's-70's "E"-bodies (Riviera, Toronado, Eldorado) were built, painted and trimmed (from the firewall back) at Fisher Body-Euclid in Ohio, then trucked to the Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac "home plants" in Flint, Lansing, and Detroit for final assembly, with the same never-ending paint arguments.

We've come a long way since then. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif