C2 inner fender/ upper fender bond

[Ian S.]

Hello,

What was the typical factory finish of the inner fender to upper fender bonding seam that is visible on the inside of the engine compartment? I have seen cars with this seam completly sanded smooth and cars with the seam not so finished and showing slight bonding material ooze etc. I always thought that this area was never really sanded too much on original cars.

Thanks,

Ian

[Michael H.]

"Very Ugly Grinder Scars"

Ian,

The correct finish for the area that you mention would be "ugly grinder scars". I know many will disagree with this but the reality of it is, the skirt was bonded to the fender top, the bond oozed out and a guy with a big ugly grinder came over and removed the excess bond. The deep scars ran in a slight arc from top to bottom and at times, the edge of the disk actually contacted the skirt a few inches below the actual junction of the fender and skirt. There was no such thing as sanding for ANY under hood areas, including the trough or skirts. Everything was primed/painted in it's natural rough unfinished form. The trough should have the look of natural unsanded rough textured glass, something like the quilted look of that aluminum foil that they advertise. Very few restorations, even high quality restorations, retain this feature. Most have been over restored in this area and look nothing like the real thing.

[Ian S.]

Re: "Very Ugly Grinder Scars"

Thank you Michael,

That is the one thing that you just can't restore back into a car is the texture in places that were never sanded. Unless you start out with a never restored car and strip it in a way that preserves it, it seems there is no real way to put it back that I know of.

[Roy B.]

Re: C2 inner fender/ upper fender bond

Don't for get too you never ever see where the panels were bonded together any more from the outside.