Over-restoration

[Shaun 69 E]

Since I started Tru6, I've been working on how to replicate the plating you would find walking into a dealership in 1969 vs. the over-restored look you get from your local plater. I have yellow zinc down with variations according to customer taste, but clear zinc remained elusive. I just did a new batch that I think is as close to original as possible.

First pic shows a factory original part on the left that came with a car stored in a shop for over 20 years so it was probably made in the 70s or 80s. Latch on the right is refinished. It is slightly too bright but it will dull down with a little time. This, to me, is final.

Second pic shows the same factory part on the left and a refinished one with the correct dulled down finish but is not as grey. It looks very close in person vs. the pic.

Third just shows decklid latches using both techniques, the bottom being final.

it's been a fun journey! MFI lines are next.

[Fixer]

They look perfect Shaun, think you nailed it. I never like the over plated look either. Good job.-M

[Chris Pomares]

Any chance the original stored piece has dulled over time. Could it have been brighter when new? Your pieces look great to me.
Chris

[Longballa]

Looks good Shaun. I have a original 71 T that is unrestored just a signal repaint which I did and the rear engine lid receiver is yellow zinc not silver. Car is totally original as it came to me with only 50K miles or so. It was manufactured 5/71.

[Shaun 69 E]

They look perfect Shaun, think you nailed it. I never like the over plated look either. Good job.-M

Thanks Matt! I've got 60 hours into these now so I'm glad to hear it!

[Shaun 69 E]

Any chance the original stored piece has dulled over time. Could it have been brighter when new? Your pieces look great to me.
Chris

Thank you. If it dulled, it did very little, mostly because it was in a box in a bag in a box all tucked away for years. It would be nice to find another time capsule benchmark.

[Shaun 69 E]

Looks good Shaun. I have a original 71 T that is unrestored just a signal repaint which I did and the rear engine lid receiver is yellow zinc not silver. Car is totally original as it came to me with only 50K miles or so. It was manufactured 5/71.

Thanks Scott! I agree, I think, though not 100%, yellow zinc started in 1969 for the rear decklid latches. I got these as clear from my customer so I did them as such. But I can do a nice satin yellow on these as well.