BugFreak

I'm in the process of rebuilding my father's 62 and the time has come to rebuild the fuel system. I pulled the tank today to replace it with a new one and noticed that it was black under the tank while the rest of the car is red. I know this car was repainted at some point in the past so I have been trying to find the original color. So far I have removed the seats but unfortunately the crayon marking was painted over so I have been trying to find spots they might have missed during repaint. Is this one showing the car was originally black?

If not, does anyone have any ideas on usual spots missed in a repaint that I might find the original color?

66jack

I'm just guessing here on this, but, why would they paint under the tank, that would be a waste of $$$

John McGraw

Absolutely, the tank compartment was not painted at the factory.

Lots of little hidden areas in the trunk and behind the door pillars that seldom get completely painted an re-sprays. That being said, a properly prepared body body off paint job, will show no remnants of the original color.



Regards, John McGraw

BugFreak

Thanks for the replies.

That's been my problem. While the repaint is showing it's age it was a good repaint from what I can tell. So far I can't find any definitive proof of the original color. The odd part is the hardware replacement (missing/wrong bolts, seals, etc) is so-so but the paint seems like a quality job from years back.

Another question: The black seats are showing red through them in some spots like the edges and on a small crack. Is this normal or could they have been dyed long ago?

DansYellow66

I would say the seats have been dyed in the past. Factory soft vinyl is was not and still isn't typically dyed by manufacturers or suppliers. Hard vinyl, yes on some cars, but not soft vinyl.

Tearloch

My seats were the same way. I knew going in my car wasn't "original" so it was no big deal. They were most likely dyed. The question then becomes were they the original seats?

Donald #31176

Look in the area of the steel taillight harness cover ( under the carpet next to the door) On my 62 I found evidence of the original Fawn Beige paint there.

Ironcross

I could be mistaken, but I believe the body color was the whole car, including under the tank......Logically this would be true as they will not spray a small section different than the body...Like under the tank...Should have a piece of material under it also that the tank rests on

John McGraw

Never seen a C1 with the tank compartment painted, and I have restored a few. Every one I have seen, the compartment as well as the underside of the tank cover were bare fiberglass. Not even any primer. I believe that the tank was installed, and the cover was installed before the body was painted.



Regards, John McGraw

BugFreak

I think they are the original seats or at least original in nature. I say that because everything has been original to this point. The driver seat had the little paper tag still on the springs but I can only see part of the numbers. Do they mean anything in regards to finding out if they match?

Interesting. That would be more support that it was repainted at some point since mine is black under the tank. The underside of the cover is bare though. Thanks for the tail light spot Donald, I'll check there.

At this point I guess it will be a red on red car when I finish unless I find another color somewhere.

John McGraw

That is the beauty of these cars. As long as it is one of the original colors offered that year, nobody will ever know whether it is the original color!

Regards, John McGraw