Black patches under TA spoiler

[ChallengerHK]

I've seen TAs with black patches under the spoiler on the quarters. Are these paint or decals? And what it their purpose?

[burdar]

It's a decal I think.  Just the T/A's had them.  It was so you wouldn't see body color under the edges of the spoiler.  There was a black piece along the back of the trunk too.

[ChallengerHK]

So basically, it's cosmetic, not functional?

[TorOrange]

I thought it was paint, but haven't seen one in person yet. Rarely see them, but a lot of people don't do 100% correct restorations so that explains that.

Since it hides the paint I'd say it's functional.

[burdar]

I'm pretty sure the pieces on the quarters are stickers.  I'm not sure about across the trunk.  I would think that would be a sticker too.

[ChallengerHK]

Since it hides the paint I'd say it's functional.

While I've seen them, I only notice them when the deck lid is raised. So if I don't notice them otherwise, whether they're in place or not in place, they don't seem to make a perceptual difference.

[burdar]

I'm sure you'd notice the body color under the spoiler if they weren't there.  It's kind of the same principal as blacking out the rad support or the A-pillars.

[ChallengerHK]

I think that if I were specifically looking for them, I'd certainly notice them. But I've looked at a lot of TAs and clone TAs over the decades, and the only time they've ever drawn attention is when the deck lid was up. Some of the cars had them, and some didn't have them, but I've only noticed them being there or not being there when the deck lid was raised. So, as Spock once said, "A difference which makes no difference is no difference" 

[Chryco Psycho]

The original cars had them , decals to my knowledge , that is what we used when replacing them

[mrwfp]

According to Jim Schild on page 26 of his book, "Original Challenger and Barracuda 1970 -1974", he states, "The top of the rear quarters under the end of the spoiler is painted flat black for appearance."

[ChallengerHK]

Good, that's what I thought. Worst case scenario, I can always add them later if I decide it bothers me.

[Super Blue 72]

As far as functionality, I could imagine over time the sun would fade the body paint but where the spoiler covers the body color (if no flat black paint/decal) the body paint wouldn't be faded with the rest of the body?    Am I making sense? 

[ChallengerHK]

Yes you are. Hadn't thought about that, and you raise a very good point.

[joelson6]

found this in google images.

[ChallengerHK]

See, that bad alignment would annoy me a lot more than mismatched paint from fading. That looks like crap. thanks for finding it, though.