While disassembling my car for resto, and going over old pics, I notice that the lock mechanism bolts were painted body color but the lock is natural, and when it was removed there is the obvious outline of a mechanism that was there when the car was first painted. Was there a template or dummy lock used to line up and sprayed or was the original sprayed while attached with the bolts? I seem to remember reading where the bolts would be attached and sprayed, but curious on the outline - shop is curious also as I told them bolts should be body color, thanks

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

That's all I could figure Tav, as wacky as it sounds...Jules did all my stuff, pretty sure it was some of the last stuff he did as he apologized to me a few times on the delays as he wasn't well but reassuring me it would all get done...a real gentleman, RIP JD. On a side Tav, do you know if this was across the board or just a E body thing? TIA

There you go:
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post2013296

^Yep, that's who I was thinking of.
I need to find a way to remember your name.

Tav

Pretty sure that I heard the story here on Moparts many years ago. It originated from someone who had been at the assembly plant and seen a pallet sized box of multi-colored trunk latches being disposed of, and they asked what was going on. I think the story was relayed by someone who had interviewed this person. Maybe it was Dave Walden?

I was mainly focused on E bodies at the time.
I'm not sure what other cars it would apply to (if any), but my guess is that if that was the process, then it would have been used on other cars made at that assembly plant. (Hamtramck)

Tav

The trunk lids were held open by a long fixture that allowed the car to go through the dip process without moving, it was affixed at the normal mounting points.

It was tall enough that the painter could paint the inside of the trunk when the car got to that part of the plant.

The lower fixture / latch bolts went back into place when the fixture was removed & the latch added.

The upper latch & bolts were painted on the decklid & moved as needed after paint to adjust to the latch once installed.

Well, that certainly makes more sense than what I had heard before.
Still wish I could find the whole story where I heard that.

Thanks again for the great info Barry!

Tav

I was looking through some pictures today, and this caught my eye after reading this post. This is from an unrestored 11,000 mi Hamtramck 70 Hemi Cuda. I’m pretty sure the latch had not been moved from when it was fitted at the factory. You can see the outline, similar to the one shakerjoe posted. Interesting…I never noticed this detail before.

My 70 Challenger also didn't have body color under the trunk latch.

My 70 'Cuda also didn't.

I'm not sure about my 70 Roadrunner. It's mid restoration. I flipped through the pics I've taken so far, and I think the trunk latch remained installed through all the sheet metal work. It might still be installed. Haven't painted the car yet.
I'd expect it to be the same as the other cars, but being as it's from a different assembly plant, I guess I'll have to look.

Tav

nice pic B5Cuda440-6...mine is offset all the more because the previous owner didn't replace the gasket after he repainted the car, hence the difference between my and the hemicuda pic you posted, very cool thanks