Re: 1953 Caribbean Firewall/Inner Fender color

Posted by BigKev On 2014/5/5 12:21:14

All 51-54s have black inner fenders, which is how I believe the fenders were supplied, and then body paint applied over the outside portion of the fenders when the car was painted. I dont believe this was high gloss at all since it was used as a primer/base for the body color. Probably similar in color to the black e-coat primered replacement panels you get today.

Since Caribbeans were delivered unpainted, just primed to Mitchel, and with drivetrain in place, I don't see Mitchell pulling the motor back out to paint the firewall, hence why the firewalls are still black.

Also the PI Judging guide list the firewalls as being black.

When I stripped the paint off my '54, under the firewall it was red-oxide over bare metal. On my outer fenders it was red-oxide, over black, over bare metal.

Perhaps since the cars were being delivered with drivetrain in place, Packard just decided to paint the firewalls black to match the inner fenders since the body paint was being applied at Mitchell after the rear fender/body modifications were complete.

That's my $.02