I believe the story was that the assembly line did have a trunk latch installed during painting, but that latch was replaced with a clean new latch afterward, and the same painted bolts were reused for the new latch.

I know that sounds crazy wasteful and hard to believe, but that's the story.
I would guess that the painted latches were reused for painting other cars?

Jules used to resto the latches, but someone else is doing it these days.

Tav