[bogusracer]

[ QUOTE ]
You have to remember that the front clip was not attatched to the rest of the car when it was painted. Even thought paint from the same batch was supposed to be used the environmental and spray conditions were probably not the same. With heavy metallics (even if the paint came from the same can) differences in humidity, air pressure at the spray gun, gun distance from the panel, and spray pattern could cause the paint to lay out differnet or the metallic to settle different.

[/ QUOTE ]


Perhaps I can shed some light on the process for painting the cars in an Assembly Plant since I have approx. 30 years experience in the Paint Shop in an Assembly Plant.

During that time frame, the sheet metal was on a seperate carrier from the body. Also the Sheet metal was "Dip Primed", where the body was Elpo coated and spray primed.
However there was a "Marriage Point" where the sheet metal carrier and the body carriers joined up in sequence so they both went through the paint booths at the same time, sheet metal ahead of the body.

It is my opinion from looking at the photos that one of two things might have happened during the painting process.

1) As the fenders were being processed the Reciprocators that spray the Metallic "Dust Coat" to eliminate the "mottled" (Dark Splotchy appearance) ran out of paint, or were shutdown prematurely due to a mechanical issue and never completed their final strokes on the fenders. That's why the rear lower portion of the fenders shows the most "Off Color" area.
(Recips are mounted in the spray booths and have "Arms" that move in a vertical up / down path with automatic spray guns attached. As the cars go by they paint the sides of the cars and apply a uniform coat of paint that properly orients the metallic flake in the paint to eliminate mottle)

2. The primary color coat applicatios failed to paint the rear lower fenders and part of the upper fender area also. This caused the off color (Dark areas) on the fenders due to the fact that the recip coat does not apply enough paint to achieve "Color Hiding" by itself.

In either instance there is insufficient "Film" build (Paint Thickness) to achieve a proper color match.

Unfortunately, I have been witness to numerous occurrances such as that in our Facility over the past 30 years. Not to say it was OK to ship something like that, but the reality of the situation is that some got out the door back then.

Quality Standards being what they were in the late 60's and early 70's it is not suprising to see a car like that make it out of an Assembly Plant and to the customer.

Additionally as has been pointed out previously, since both sides exhibit the same appearance, it was definitely a "Factory Error" that you see on that car.

Just wanted to share my knowledge with you concerning this and give my opinion of what may have happened.

As for my opinion of the mileage, well perhaps the lady who bought the car didn't like the paint job and couldn't get it repaired by the dealership, so she just decided to park the thing instead of drive it. .........

Just my 2 cents worth ........LOL


Bogusracer