[ QUOTE ]
The MARKETING guys explained the flat black paint as being a "No Glare" surface, so that the sun wouldn't blind you when driving. The concept came from the Air Force, as an aid to the pilots.
[/ QUOTE ]
Here's an example of a flat black anti-glare panel as applied to the prototype Convair YF-102 "Delta Dagger" interceptor. Anti-glare panels were applied in the days when military aircraft were left in their natural metal finish from the factory. You can imagine the sun reflecting off of that new aluminum skin and creating all kinds of visibility problems for the pilot.
The F-102 was fondly known as the "Deuce" by its pilots.