For the 1968 fans....

[Coralsnake]

I recently had a discussion on the appearance of the three carriage bolts visible in the grille opening. # 30317-S

This document shows the front valence bolts visible in the grille opening were intended to be painted body color, the document is undated, so its still open to some interpretation.

[Bob Gaines]

I have been saying that for a number of years. It makes perfect sense to me that the factory was trying to make the carriage bolt head disappear with paint instead of standing out.  Even with primer the paint easily flacked off the zinc plated surface of the carriage bolt round head which is the reason so many doubted the paint. At least that has been my argument. Thanks Pete for bringing the smoking gun to light.

[KR Convertible]

Brush painted after assembly?

[68blk500c]

Unless more documentation is available, how about accepting body color and quit worrying about brushed or sprayed.

[Chris Thauberger]

Unless more documentation is available, how about accepting body color and quit worrying about brushed or sprayed.

Agree

[Coralsnake]

I doubt they were brushed.

It is what was intended, its possible some were unpainted, but I would error on the side of the evidence

[CharlesTurner]

It's like the assembly manuals, the intention may have been there, but sometimes we find something different on the cars.  Or, it was something done for a time period within an assembly year.

[TLea]

It's like the assembly manuals, the intention may have been there, but sometimes we find something different on the cars.  Or, it was something done for a time period within an assembly year.

+1  Smoking gun re lit
simple answer. some got it some didn't.  We know nose pieces were painted not attached to each other. If bolts were not in place then no shadow line. If bolts pre painted and attached later there would be chips (same with screws) chips= touch up= brush