Factory "priming" of 58-62 cluster housing

[Mike E.]

I've noticed on a number unrestored Honduras Maroon with black interior cars that the edges of the instrument cluster and speaker ring on 60-62 cars has a maroon "bleed through", in that you can definitely see that there is maroon paint underneath the black. I'm reminded specifically by my 69k mile 62 fuelie that has original dash pad, carpet, etc., etc. I've only noticed this phenomenon with that color combination (but have never owned a honduras maroon with fawn interior that was unrestored. I've had probably a dozen other unrestored different-color-combination solid axles over the years that had no indication of this.
1) Have any of you noticed this on maroon/black or other 58-62 color combos?
2) Have you discovered any type of factory primer when stripping an unrestored cluster housing or speaker grille ring?
I'd love your input!!
Mike Ernst #211

[John M.]

Re: Factory "priming" of 58-62 cluster housing

Mike,

My guess is that it was a mistake. I have had seen several car that had interiors matching the exterior, where is was obvious that the speaker grille and bezel were originally painted on the floor of the car. The outline of the bezel and grille were on the floor pan on the driver's side. My guess is that it was painted maroon and then pulled out of the car and repainted later. I do not know if this was common practice, or whether this was a mistake.

I have stripped several clusters, and all of them were painted with the same red/brown primer as the rest of the car. I do not specifically recall whether the bezels were primed, but I would think they were.

Regards, John McGraw

[Mike E.]

Re: Factory "priming" of 58-62 cluster housing

John--
I've seen too many of the maroon/black originals to believe that it is a mistake. Do you think that they used the maroon as a primer instead of what they used on the other colors? By the way, with each of the last two, for sure, and maybe others, there was/is no evidence of the cluster being placed on the floor for painting--although I've seen that on one other 62.
Regards,
Mike

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory "priming" of 58-62 cluster housing

Hi Mike,

I got this speaker bezel from a original 61 Corvette along with a speaker and radio. I don't know what the cars' exterior color was, but may be able to find out with an email to the owner. I believe it's unrestored, but appears repainted beige over red, but some chips in the paint show a brownish-red primer underneath. I took a few magnified close-ups for you. The photos are high resolution so you can zoom in on them too. BTW, the speaker grille was red with beige over it also.


Hope it helps,
Rich Mozzetta

[Richard M.]

It's not rust, definitely primer......more pics

I love these archaeological digs!
Rich

[Bill W.]

Re: Factory "priming" of 58-62 cluster housing

Mike the cluster on my fawn beige ext, red interior 62 had been painted fawn then repainted red. We used to get "new" rubber bumper covers from G.M. that had been pained 2 or 3 colors. then shipped to the dealers as service parts. I think they used what ever was handy . Bill