Author Topic: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....  (Read 7014 times)

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« on: December 18, 2015 - 06:55:50 PM »
We've all heard the stories of things that happened on the paint lines back in the 60's and 70's....

Stories of how the painter would clean out his gun from finishing one colour by spraying it in the trunk area of the next car no matter what colour it is....

Or of how a painter would screw up and start painting the next car the wrong colour only because that's what was in his gun....maybe something else in his Pepsi too.... :smokin:

So my question is: Is any of this true ? Has anybody found the "wrong" factory colour in their trunk ? or hidden in other places on their car ?
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com




Offline blown motor

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3013
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2015 - 07:04:29 PM »
Interesting question Alan.

 :popcorn:    :popcorn:
In search of the eternal buzz!

Offline ChallengerHK

  • Moderator
  • Sr. Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 7338
  • I'm working on it - No, really
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2015 - 07:04:55 PM »
I had to cut the quarter off my first Gremlin. I found a special tool that had been dropped between the quarter and the wheel housing.


"She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

- Han Solo, Star Wars

Advice Thread - Taking Pictures Of Cars

Offline EB3-GranCoupe

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1435
  • BP23 U0B
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2015 - 07:07:30 PM »
No, but i had "Rock" autograph my convertible!

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2015 - 07:16:41 PM »
I ask this question tonight only because I found the weirdest thing in the trunk of the second Sunroof Challenger.

The two cars are sequential VINS, now I know there's ZERO proof that they actually ran down the line together, but what's weird is....the first car 250829 is FE5 red.....the second car 250830 is FC7 but there is a LOT of red paint in the trunk under the parcel shelf, and no sign of purple....on the second car... :clueless:

I won't know until I dig a lot deeper into the car, but the only other explanation that I fear :22yikes: is that the car may have been "clipped" early in it's life...pretty common in the 70's....I'm praying to the Mopar Gods that's not the case.
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

Offline jimynick

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2015 - 09:10:20 PM »
Having clipped a couple in the 70's Alan, I have no doubt whatsoever that you'll find it, if it was done. The cutting and/or welding would be the big giveaway and it was common to section panels rather than totally R&R them. You go, Sherlock!  :cheers:

Offline 73RallyeChallenger

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 236
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2015 - 02:36:27 PM »
No, but i had "Rock" autograph my convertible!


The "Rock" did my T/A as well.


73 Triple Black 340 Challenger
70 Plum Crazy T/A Challenger - work in progress (AGAR)

Offline TelisSE440

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1738
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2015 - 09:51:19 PM »
That's very interesting, on the factories weird things happen. Alan please tell us what you found...  :popcorn:

Offline DAYTONA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1760
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2015 - 12:13:34 AM »
...looked at a T/A in Chicago area many many years ago...car was E5, FC7 in places under the red inside the trunk it shouldn't have been...figured it was clipped and left it, came home with the money and an empty trailer

Offline TelisSE440

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1738
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2015 - 07:04:15 AM »
Not wanting to sound negative, but i think if the wrong color was applied to the trunk, it would be easily seen by the inspection department at the final stages (but i'm quite positive that the inspection between the different departments would have picked it up) of the assembly line and be corrected immediately, even if that was a sloppy job in the end, which was. The trunk is a place which can be easily seen by the buyer and then a negotiation would start with the dealer to deduct some  :money: from the agreed final cost, due to the sloppy finished product. I understand about the quality job back then, but the ultimate inspection department is the buyer himself, so the dealers were costing the corportion additional money for these slips. Quality of parts or the quality of the car itself wouldn't make the buyer care, unless he had auto knowledge. I just believe they couldn't do such a sloppy job in the buyers' face. I think (and hope) that someone, some day, painted the trunk red, to cover the rust or scratches etc and used what he had there...

There is a fine article about a paint mistake at the Chrysler Lynch Road Assembly Plant

http://www.deadnutson.com/building_a_mopar.html
« Last Edit: December 21, 2015 - 07:07:51 AM by TelisSE440 »

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2015 - 07:09:23 AM »
I'm talking about areas up under the rear parcel shelf. If you were a potential buyer at the dealership, you wouldn't notice standing behind the car, you would have to climb in the trunk with a trouble light.
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

Offline TelisSE440

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1738
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2015 - 08:28:07 AM »
I'm talking about areas up under the rear parcel shelf. If you were a potential buyer at the dealership, you wouldn't notice standing behind the car, you would have to climb in the trunk with a trouble light.

Agreed on your point, wasn't thinking the rear parcel shelf.  My Challenger was bare metal there when i was painting it. I thought all E -Bodies were not painted there, just like the upper sheet metal portion, in front of the dash (i've only seen my Chally so no experience at all in that regard). Maybe it was hastily painted years later by someone who wanted to rust proof it or just cover the mess there...
« Last Edit: December 21, 2015 - 12:51:21 PM by TelisSE440 »

Offline 'Cuda Hunter

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 9102
  • Tastes Like Chicken
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2015 - 11:13:52 AM »
Can't wait to hear the outcome from what you have Alan.  Very interesting.  Makes since.  Empty out the color on the non visual parts.


You guys that have the rock signatures, put your pictures over here please.   http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=69297.0
great thread. 
"All riches begin as a state of mind and you have complete control of your mind"  -- B. Lee

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2015 - 12:25:18 PM »
I'm finding signs of a lot of metal replacement, but at this point no signs of any funny business, :2thumbs:
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

Offline 74 challenge

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1247
Re: Factory Original Paint Line Fables.....
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2015 - 12:29:09 PM »
could you grab a picture of it? might help the conversation.
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2