[Spits] Black rear panel?

[Andrew S. Mace]

Doug, this is only my theory, based on observations and experiences. Over the
years, I've encountered a fair number of 1972 model year Spitfires, all
original including paint (several that a friend and I bought and parted out,
and one that I worked on for many years for a friend). All of them had the
black panel. Near as I could tell, it was something likely done stateside,
perhaps at the distributor level. Interestingly enough on all of these cars,
removing the taillamp units showed body color paint underneath, hence my
assumption that it was done well after the cars were assembled and left the
factory.


--Andy Mace

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-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Braun <doug at dougbraun.com>

 The 1972 Spitfire US sales brochure shows the rear body panel (where
thetaillights and license plate are) painted flat black. (The rest of the
caris red).Has anybody ever seen a car like that real life?  Or was that just
aone-off experiment that happened to make it into the sales brochure?I am in
the middle of repainting my car  (actually in the middle ofremoving the old
paint), and I am wondering if I ought to do that.