Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

[Michael H.]

Ok, one more time just to make sure we have it right for judging. I'm helping a friend prepare a 63 for judging at Kissimmee and I told him the tab AND rivets should be gloss body color, just like in the pic below.
His car is a different color but same deal. Painted gloss body color rivets and tabs, no matter what the color combo is.

Agree?? Disagree???

[John H.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Michael -

As I have always understood it (and saw being done in '67), the end tabs and rivets were only painted (in Final Paint Repair) when the interior color contrasted with the exterior color. When the interior color and exterior color were the same, no masking/repaint of the end tabs was required, and the rivets were unpainted (black oxide in '67).

[Michael H.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Michael -

As I have always understood it (and saw being done in '67), the end tabs and rivets were only painted (in Final Paint Repair) when the interior color contrasted with the exterior color. When the interior color and exterior color were the same, no masking/repaint of the end tabs was required, and the rivets were unpainted (black oxide in '67).

Thanks john. That would be correct for 65-67. (possibly late 64 too) The 65-67 process was not the same as 63-64. (for a logical reason)

The 63 car in the pic above in my first post is unrestored, original paint and interior.

[Kenneth S.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

[Kevin M.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

"I left the rivets black to avoid an argument with the judge"
I'd never deviate from an original known finish to please a judging manual or judge especially since you submitted original rivets as evidence. I think Michael post was to confirm the painted theory in 63 and I'd restore it the correct way if it was my car. Paint those rivets.

KM

[Michael H.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Thanks Ken. The car in the pic above is somewhere near the same month of production as yours, if I remember correctly.
I've owned quite a few 63's and 64's over the decades and every single one, no matter what the interior/exterior color combination, had gloss body color painted dash tabs and rivets. I currently have two 63's that still have original paint on the tabs and rivets and I know of a LOT of original unrestored cars that are the same. All tabs and rivets painted gloss body color.
Because of the lack of responses from people that have original or restored 63-64 cars that have matching tabs/rivets and body color, maybe we should request pictures/input from anyone that claims to have interior color dash tabs with non matching interior/exterior colors, or anyone that has what they believe to be natural unpainted black rivets.

Anyone? We're not going to learn anything if most people ignore this. It's only a short walk out to the garage.

[Michael H.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

I received two more pictures in email from one of our members of another 63 that has unrestored door jambs and dash tabs. Original paint on these items.

I've asked for comments/pictures of more but it looks like there are no more 63-64's with unrestored door jambs/dash tabs and rivets? Have all the rest been painted? Are they painted correctly?

[David D.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Here's a photo of the unrestored door jamb on my late build (June 2) 1964. The rivets are painted body color. (Obviously, black interior and red exterior).

[Jim W.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Mike,

The dash tabs on my "unrestored" E64 are not a great example because Bubba painted this white car red. However it was painted over top the white (not first class either) so there is evidence of original white all over including the tab/ jamb area. There is white overspray on the bottom of the corner w/s garnish which you can see in the pic on both sides. This car had and will again a red interior. So I guess its safe to say this car had white body color tabs all the way to the dash pads. Also on the right side some paint is rubbed off a rivet and its black. I'll do a closer inspection and take some red paint off a rivet with thinner to see if there is white under it before it goes all the way to the natural black finish. Hope this helps some.

[Jim W.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Try again on the pic

[Mike M.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Yes, Michael, this has been my understanding.
My two Red/Red SWC's and a Convert were all painted body color probably due to the interior tab color being a bit "duller" and a smooth match was desired, resulting in painting all tabs. By mid-'64 somebody decided it wasn't worth the effort, or cost for those that matched, in & out.
See you in Old Town?
HaND

[Paul J.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

The pictures below are the best shots I have of my early 64 tabs. Only the seat covers and carpet had been replaced when these photos were taken. The tabs and rivets are original and they are painted body color. The black is some foam weatherstripping that bubba left for me to clean up.

[Jim W.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

New pic of right side after red overpaint removed with thinner shows original white paint.

[James W.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

My January 1964 built red/red convertible serial # 9258 that I bought back in 1980 from the second owner had the rivets painted red also. The picture I have included from December 1980 is not good quality and the exterior of the car had been "Bubba'd" in rattle can gray primer before I bought the car but the jams were still the original red.

Hope this helps!


Regards,

James West

[Michael H.]

Re: Dash panel End Tab & Rivet Color

Thanks everyone. We're getting some pretty good pictures/documentation on this now. I think the original paint on the tabs and rivets in these pictures pretty much confirms our point. (interesting that most of the cars have red interior though)
I still have two 63's with original paint and both have gloss body color tabs and rivets. One black/black and one tan/tan.

There's a good reason why all the tabs/rivets were painted gloss body color on all 63's and at least most 64's. The process changed for 65-67. I'll splain a little later........