Engine Deck Lid Latch

[Paul Hatfield]

Body color or black? Brush strokes or spray?
I watched Made By Hand to try and find the answer, but could not see the latch.
Same answer for all years/models?

[Mike Wilson]

Upper or lower, Paul?

I understand upper to be body color; lower black. No clue on method of application.

Mike

[Paul Hatfield]

Sorry for the poorly worded question. I agree the upper portion (on the actual deck lid) is body color. My question is about the lower "catch". I think it should be black, but trying to confirm. I suspect it was a purchased part supplied in black sprayed on paint, and put on the car after the body was painted. But, that is what I suspect and don't really know for sure. Looking for others input.

[Jim Wayman]

My car has never been apart, so this should be definitive. Upper latch is body color. Lower latch is black, but it is hand painted over the body color, so it was not painted prior to assembly and after the body was painted.

[Paul Hatfield]

Thanks Jim. Curious as to what year car you have, and also if Karmann or Reutter. Not sure there would be any difference, but wanted to ask.

Sounds like your car had the "catch" in place when the car was color sprayed, but then the factory used the hand brush technique to do not only the deck lid hinges but also this catch. Correct?

[Jim Wayman]

Paul.

It is a 1955 and you are correct as to what the process seems to have been. Reutter.

[Paul Hatfield]

Can anyone with an original Karmann bodied car verify this same feature?

[Richard Colella]

Feb. '65 Karmann coupe, body color (light ivory). It's a pretty light coat of paint.

IMG_6311.jpg (3.85 MiB) Viewed 1702 times

IMG_6310.jpg (3.94 MiB) Viewed 1702 times

[Everett Singer]

As per Paul's request, I have photographed this item on my TOTALLY ORIGINAL 356 C Coupe, Karmann 217567

[Paul Hatfield]

Thanks Everett. Last night I also got an email from an owner of a couple of very original Karmann cars. Both were body color for the catch.

So far it's leaning towards Karmann did not use the black paint with a brush on this part, but Reutter did. Guess it also could have been what day of the week, which employee, and one or two beers at lunch

For the record, my car is a Karmann C coupe. The latch was a thin coat (like post #8) of body color paint with the original black paint kind of showing through from underneath. I've been trying to decide what to do. Photo of mine attached.

Would love to hear from more with original photos or original cars.