1956 trunk lock rim

[Bob McDonald]

My trunk lock rim does not look like pictures in restorer's guides. I seem to be missing the upper half of the molded rim. I have owned this car since 1964 and prior to that my sister owned it. It was not new when she bought it. The trunk was not damaged or replaced in the years we owned the car. I have studied the lock area very closely for hints of change, from the inside the area is untouched that is no sign of fiberglass repair, black paint overspray is visible in the lock cavity. Outside has no body filler at all, the only thing I notice is a slight change in color of the fiberglass in the upper cresent where the rim should be, the glass is also slightly more fibrous than the surrounding surfaces. I have noticed other areas on the car that have the appearence of repairs made at the factory such as rebuild of headlight edges, could it be possible that the same thing happened to the lock area and they wiped out part of the molded rim?? If so should I just leave it as it has been for forty years I've owned the car or should I rebuild the lock rim as pictured?

[Theodore K.]

Re: 1956 trunk lock rim

Bob,
I have a 1957 and my rim is gone also. In My case I think it was done by the guy who restored it from a wreck in 1972. He also glassed over the exhaust openings in the back of the fender. Just recently reopened them and put on new exhaust system. Looks much better. Unfortunatly, by removing the rim he also lost a lot of the strength around the lock mounting. I have a tough time with getting the lock installed and retained. I have had to use a rubber insert to try and get it to stay.

If you do fix the rim, I would appreciate getting the details on how you did it.

regards,
Ted

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1956 trunk lock rim

I think more than several rims have been removed on purpose or accidentally. A DA will lose one quickly. Mine was missing on my 57 so I found the good picture in Noland Adam's book and reconstructed the lip with bondo and then repainted just the trunk lid. Mine didn't involve any structural issues and looked just fine after painting.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1956 trunk lock rim

Have you tried the bondo trick on your newly acquired Airstream? mikie

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 trunk lock rim

It was to divert water away from the lock, also a rubber insert or if you won't a gasket was behind the S/S bezel.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 trunk lock rim

It was to divert water away from the lock, also a rubber insert or if you won't a gasket was behind the S/S bezel
, same as 55 up Car.