Solid Axel Primer Process

[Ray C.]

I am in the process of restoring the body on a 1961 Corvette. The previous owner installed a 1959 or 1960 left fender. I am currently chemically stripping the lacquer paint from the car. Under the 1959-60 paint I find a gray primer or putty material and under the original 1961 body parts is a hard black coating. What was the primer system used on solid axel Corvettes?

Thanks Ray

[Eric Eade]

Re: Solid Axel Primer Process

Ray, from what I have seen and heard, the original factory primer is black. That is what I have found on my 62. The grey would be consistant with a body shop repair. Eric

[Ray C.]

Re: Solid Axel Primer Process

Thanks! Eric
Ray

[John M.]

Re: Solid Axel Primer Process

Ray,
While I cannot speak to the 61-62 cars, all the other C1 cars that I have ever seen used a kind of reddish brown primer with spots of red spot putty to fill the pin holes. The hard black coating that you see is probably a gelcoat which was not factory applied, but probably was applied in a previous restoration. There are a lot of people who still swear by gelcoat for their restorations. It is a bitch to sand, but is unparalled for providing a smooth hard surface that will stop a lot of the fine little spiderweb cracks.

Regards, John McGraw

[Ray C.]

Re: Solid Axel Primer Process

Hi! John

I am the third owner of the 1961 and the previous owner restored it over 35 years ago. He purchased it with the damaged front clip. There are two topcoats on the car. The original sateen silver and the jewel blue repaint that the previous owner applied. The car had been damaged on the left front and the damaged section was replaced with a 1959 or 1960 front head light clip. There were signs of red paint on the replacement clip with gray primer or filler under the red ( I believe this to be body filler by previous owner). The sateen silver paint has a smooth black under coat and then fiberglass.

Thanks for the help!
Ray