Was 1966 a transition year for zonalite trunk paint to body color?

[AR67GTX]

I've noticed a few 66 Hemi Satellites with zonalite painted trunks including this one.

The one I'm purchasing is the same but I'm pretty sure it was re-sprayed during restoration.

I've focused on Hemi cars pretty much as I figure their value promotes staying with original as-built finishes for any restoration or freshening up. I've notice more cars having body color painted trunk areas. Was 66 a transition year for this by chance? Or could it have been a Lynch Rd, Michigan oddity? Or is it just plain incorrect for a 66?

 

[Fran Blacker]

Mine is painted St Louis plant. Build date 3/8/66. Maybe check early build dates maybe to see if early cars had zonalite? Look in hard to spray areas or get the sandpaper out.

 

[R413]

I’ve seen the spatter paint in most 66’s. I’ve not studied them by dates. Nothing but the body metal should have paint on it. Fuel filler tubes and boot, trunk light switch & wiring, taillight wiring harness, and the rubber plugs. Look for incomplete paint coverage under the package tray with at least moderate surface rust. When repainted folks will cover this area 100% and the factory did not do it so well under there. Look at the cardboard behind the rear seat and the underside of the package shelf, should be bare materials, no paint or overspray. Look in all the tight spots like around the trunk catch area where the license wire and grommet are. People are inherently lazy and the details will show evidence of respray.

checking 4 door cars is a good reference, folks aren’t trying to pretty them up and they will show correct details.

All 67’s I’ve seen have body color trunks from the factory. Even early built ones.

 

[AR67GTX]

Thanks. I know the car I showed a picture of and the one I’m buying have been resprayed in the trunk - but both have had top to bottom, quality paint jobs so it doesn’t seem they would take a short cut here. Thought I would check.

 

[R413]

You never know, if the owner left it up to the body shop they often think, “it’s just the trunk” And do a piss poor job. They don’t give a damn if it’s a hemi or a 318, it’s just a car to them.

 

[AR67GTX]

Looks like the scheduled production date on this car was 5 Apr so it was a mid-year car from Lynch Rd.

 

[64BEL]

Here's mine. St. Louis car - 7/20/66 shipping order number and 9/15/66 ship date.