Topic: '79-'81 Tail Light Paint Color

[80ws6ta]

Okay, I have scoured this site and TAC and I can't find a definitive answer on the correct color to paint the fins. Where they originally flat or semi-gloss black? I am going to start to restore a pair for my '80 and I need to know.

[RENOVATIONS]

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=2660.0

[80ws6ta]

I read that entire article and this is what I found:

First post, 4th paragraph, "I am sorry, but I can not remember if GM used a flat black or not.  I think they did, but I used a gloss."

First post, 11th paragraph, "Some people do not like it, But I used a gloss black Plasticote paint..."

Reply number 7, "The paint looks like flat black and just covers the flat ledge surface and stops before the lip of the ledge."

Reply number 29, "went with the flat black..."

All of these posts either say what they think is right, or just what they did. I just want to be 100% sure that the flat black is the way to go.

[RENOVATIONS]

I would recommend flat myself...a gloss would contrast too much with the dull smoke of the lense IMO

[79ban1]

I used a flat on mine because that's what it looked like when I took mine apart.

[CT Bird Fan]

I used Duplicolor plastic trim paint, and it is a semi-gloss. Personally I think it looks better than flat (which was what the Esprit tail lights I took off were)

[80ws6ta]

So, it sounds like flat it is! Thanks for the confirmation!

[CT Bird Fan]

Here's a pic of my tail lights that I finally got installed (painted with the Duplicolor trim paint)

The paint is semi-gloss, and you can compare it to the faded flat black on the lower part of the spoiler.