1970 Challenger tail light panel. Body color or black?

[Dave Mortensen]

Hello,

I have an unrestored, very original Canadian export sublime 70 Challenger R/T. The tail light panel looks to have been painted organosol black over the sublime paint.

Am I correct in thinking that the tail light panel should be body color? The only black tail panels I’ve seen are on the trans am cars. My assumption is that a previous owner sprayed the tail panel.

Thanks!

Hello,
My Sublime green Challenger had the rear panel painted organosol black. It was a December built LA car. Most cars had the painted rear panel.
Thanks!

 

[floyd]

Dave, you meant to say “most LA-built cars…” right?

 

[EV2RTSE]

Just wondering what these holes are for? It looks like there were perhaps screws & washers there before the black paint was applied.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Just wondering what these holes are for? It looks like there were perhaps screws & washers there before the black paint was applied.

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Just looks like the imprint from the rubber bumper on the deck lid to me?

 

[6PKRTSE]

Just wondering what these holes are for? It looks like there were perhaps screws & washers there before the black paint was applied.

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Mine screws on with small screws along that area. This is about the best picture I have that shows them if you look in the rear trunk jam area.

 

[moparlee]

Mine screws on with small screws along that area. This is about the best picture I have that shows them if you look in the rear trunk jam area.

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He's talking about the deck lid bumpers in each corner. Looks like yours are missing.

 

[EV2RTSE]

Thanks. Yup, deck lid bumpers, I see now. And also yes the SE finish panels have screws along the top and a couple of them do attach in that general area, but not exactly where the bumpers rest. My car has those as well, which kind of got me wondering.

 

[ingarage30]

We all agree the Cuda got the rear panel painted black, correct? And obviously some Barracudas where optioned to be black.

On the Challengers let me try to layout what we're all thinking:

All Special Editions had black panels regardless of RT or standard. Had an actual panel that includes the chrome quarter mouldings.

All WSS had the astrotone (silver) panel. Also has a panel with chrome quarter mouldings.

All RT Challengers are painted black? No panel with quarter mouldings?

I've not seen a factory Challenger with the rear panel painted black. There's always been a panel with the quarter chrome mouldings. But it sounds like some came with that panel black and that's a cool learning experience for me! And it makes sense that the body color would be under the black paint as they wouldn't mask off that area and would apply the black paint after like on the Cudas.

I got a 70 grand coupe barracuda with chrome side moldings and it’s painted silver FYI

 

[O5C]

Very interesting photos, Dave. I’ve been out of town, but will take some pictures when I get home. The organosol on my car looks very similar.

My car was built at Hamtramck.

 

[bc3j]

I have an original Sublime ‘70 RT with the rear black panel. Built 1/23/1970 from the LA plant.

 

[Songsrme]

Original paint pics from 1985. Only the left front fender had any paint work done on it. Bought from the original owner. Original SM, build sheet, tag, numbers, etc. etc. Owned twice. Trying to get back again. Not great pics, but clearly black.

 

[Xcudame]

I should add that my 70 Challenger WSS that has the panel on it, cover the actual sheet metal panel the is painted body color, in my case FY1 Top Banana. All the WSS and SE Challengers have a panel that includes the quarter panel end chrome trim.