trunk wheel well paint

[Patrick M.]

I purchased a 59 corvette from the original owner. This past weekend we had it judged and it got a top flight at a chapter level. One of the issues was the wheel well paint in the trunk. The wheel wells in the trunk were painted black along with the mat and back board. The rest of the trunk was painted silver like the exterior of the car. The interior is black. The judges stated that the trunk should be all silver. Has anyone else run into this problem. I spoke with the original owner and he said nothing was ever touched in the trunk. Thanks Patrick McPherson 55168

[Edward L.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

I assume that the wheel wells that you are referring to are the depressions on each side of the trunk, not the tire tub. If that is the case, I'm betting that the black "paint" is actually primer that did not receive paint coverage at the factory. Primer color was a very dark grey, almost black for the 1958-1962 cars. As to the cardboard bulkhead liner and trunk mat, those items should be black to match the interior color.

[Patrick M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

I assume that the wheel wells that you are referring to are the depressions on each side of the trunk, not the tire tub. If that is the case, I'm betting that the black "paint" is actually primer that did not receive paint coverage at the factory. Primer color was a very dark grey, almost black for the 1958-1962 cars. As to the cardboard bulkhead liner and trunk mat, those items should be black to match the interior color.

Thanks for the information. I am referring to the wheel wheell humps not the depressions in the side. They are right next to the back board. I can send a photo if that would help. Thanks again Patrick McPherson

[Bill M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

I purchased a 59 corvette from the original owner. This past weekend we had it judged and it got a top flight at a chapter level. One of the issues was the wheel well paint in the trunk. The wheel wells in the trunk were painted black along with the mat and back board. The rest of the trunk was painted silver like the exterior of the car. The interior is black. The judges stated that the trunk should be all silver. Has anyone else run into this problem. I spoke with the original owner and he said nothing was ever touched in the trunk. Thanks Patrick McPherson 55168

Our one-family white '59 was all white in the trunk. I took this picture before I stripped the trunk:

[Patrick M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

Thanks, but here is a photo of the original untouched trunk of my car. It came directly from the St. Louis factory by the owner and he states it has never been touched. Has anyone else had a trunk painted like this one? Patrick McPherson

[Roger W.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

What were those holes used for that were repaired ?

[Bill M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

Thanks, but here is a photo of the original untouched trunk of my car. It came directly from the St. Louis factory by the owner and he states it has never been touched. Has anyone else had a trunk painted like this one? Patrick McPherson

My all-white trunk car was assembled in December '58. Was your car a very early '59? What color is the well for the soft top? My well is all white, but earlier cars ('53-'58 ?) had the trunk and soft top well painted the interior color.

[Patrick M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

The original owner had glassed in a compartment for an oil can and the other one was for a few tools. I glassed them all back to the solid pan. The question I have is the wheel humps painted black. Thanks Pat

[Patrick M.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

Soft top well is painted silver as is the exterior. The trunk is painted silver except the humps over the wheels.

[Thomas H.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

The original owner had glassed in a compartment for an oil can and the other one was for a few tools. I glassed them all back to the solid pan. The question I have is the wheel humps painted black. Thanks Pat

I'm no expert, but I've seen several original trunks over the years, none painted like this. My guess would be that along with doing modifications to the fiberglass for storage, the PO painted the well humps to match the floor mat I believe a black floor mat was used with silver cars). Looks like the floor mat may have been used as a mask also.

My .02.....

Tom

[Mike E.]

Re: trunk wheel well paint

Pat,
I know you would like to think that the black came from the factory. It is not out of the realm of possibility, but very unlikely. It is also definitely not typical factory production, and will be judged appropriately. Realize that to paint those black would have been an extra process that the factory didn't do in 1959 and up. The choices you have are to leave them black and receive the deduct, or paint them silver for judging credit. It's your car, and you get to/have to make the decision.