1962 Painted Wheels

[Gary H.]

For those cars receiving blackwall tires, whether they be 5" or 5.5", were the black-dipped wheels masked off in any fashion, before the body color was applied to the face of the wheels? My instinct tells me they probably weren't since any overspray wouldn't be visible with the tires mounted, but I want to get this right. If the Judging Manual or the Archives address this painting procedure, I have somehow missed it. I was once told the wheels were simply mounted between two rollers and spun as the paint was applied, but I have no way of knowing if that is correct or not.

If you know, please advise. Thanks.

[Mark F.]

Re: 1962 Painted Wheels

For those cars receiving blackwall tires, whether they be 5" or 5.5", were the black-dipped wheels masked off in any fashion, before the body color was applied to the face of the wheels? My instinct tells me they probably weren't since any overspray wouldn't be visible with the tires mounted, but I want to get this right. If the Judging Manual or the Archives address this painting procedure, I have somehow missed it. I was once told the wheels were simply mounted between two rollers and spun as the paint was applied, but I have no way of knowing if that is correct or not. If you know, please advise. Thanks.

Wheels, radiator supports, and the hundreds of smaller steel and iron parts (brackets, reinforcements and engine dress components) were processed in the main passenger/truck plant [St. Louis] and delivered from there to the Corvette plant in various sizes of racks and containers for use on the line. There was no raw-metal prime or paint facility in the Corvette plant other than the small crude zinc chromate primer system in the basement used for the Birdcage (Cab Frame).