69 RS SS BB

[Rat_Pack]

The tailpanels originally were not 100% gloss like the finish of the car. They were the same as the rocker panel black-out paint on cars with the Style Trim Group Z21. It is about a 70% gloss with variances in temperature, humidity, and the painter having an effect on the final finish shine. Any car that has ever had the tailpanel waxed will get shinier (?) with age as it was lacquer paint. I have taken semi-gloss lacquer and buffed it to a gloss and that is where most people think these are 100% gloss but they were not. You should be able to see reflections in the tailpanel but not like the rest of the car. The tailpanel paint on my car was original and the area covered by the bumper was about an 70 - 80% gloss but not satin, like Krylon semi gloss #1613, a little more shine than that.

The closest thing I have found is spraying Dupont #99A lacquer with a fast drying thinner to get the sheen I want. Also for rattle can users Duplicolor #T100 Universal Black is an excellent choice if sprayed in light coats. See attached picture of a car using the Duplicolor rattle can.

KurtS. can elloborate on a few unrestored cars that have more of a satin finish than gloss on cars he has seen. I too have seen this finish on some of these cars that were unrestored. A totally flat or very little shine finish would be wrong but nothing will be set in stone and this topic will never be done once and for all [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]............RatPack....................

[Charley Lillard]

The one I have looked at I specifically looked under the trunk lid near the Trunk weatherstripping in areas where you would not polish and they were Gloss. At Scottsdale 2 years ago there was a pretty neat British Racing Green SS 396 that still had the Gloss. Somewhere on my computer I have pics.

[68l30]

Just looked at a original paint 18K Cortez 69 SS.....Gloss black in the trunk jam and rear panel. The jam is rough and not well cared for (not waxed) but it is a gloss finish.

Steve

[Charley Lillard]

Here are pics of the low mile car that was at Scottsdale.

[Charley Lillard]

Another

[Charley Lillard]

and again

[Rat_Pack]

Charley, thanks for posting those pics of that 68. That tailpanel is not 100% gloss like the rest of the finish on the car. You can compare the reflections that are in the spoiler to the same ones on the tailpanel and tell that the finish does not have the same gloss. That is exactly the way mine was behind the bumper when I removed it. The term "gloss" is used too loosely in the restoration industry. There are varying degrees which determine the final sheen/shine. That is why there are more incorrectly painted tailpanels, firewalls, air cleaners, heater box covers, rocker panels, and dash boards. If the proper flattening agents and spray techniques were used then you would see more correctly restored cars done. However not everyone today can use the spray gun at home or even has access to the correct paints used so they are left to whatever is close in a rattle can.

Now there are cars out there as Kurt and I have both seen and documented that have a duller finish on the tailpanels and some with very glossy tailpanels. One example of a very glossy tailpanel was a supposedly "untouched" L78 convertible that showed up at Superfest in 1991. After close examination there were numerous areas that were repainted once we confronted the owner. So I and a few others discounted this car as totally untouched and could not conclude the tailpanel was not repainted or messed with.

Brian and I have talked about this a couple of times on the phone and at a show and came to the conclusion that there is not a set rule. Until there is a definite verified documentation from GM as to what was supposed to be used then it will be personal preference. Maybe a group like the CRG or Vintage Camaro judging at Carlisle can come up with a correct finish chart for each component.

Somewhere around here I have a picture of a 68 SS396 that has the lower portion of the fender painted a very high gloss black like the finish of the car and from the rocker panel back was not as glossy. I could never figure out why there was a difference and then it hit me, the nose stripe was gloss black and the painter must have decided to paint the bottom of the fender with the same paint instead of taking the time to change his spray gun. I may have a picture of that L78 convertible with the very glossy tailpanel, if so, I will post it when I find it.

Again thanks for posting those pics of that 68 as that does show what I have been trying to explain........RatPack........ [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

BTW, what color is the tailpanel on the watertruck? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]