The question comes up many times - What is the original finish of the top of the cowl (not the removable cowl cover) above the firewall to cowl pinch weld?
W have visited this subject many times in relationship to 69 Dearborn cars so while researching another question in the 69 picture section of my collection I grabbed a few examples for the San Jose owners/builders. What I found is that unlike Dearborn there was not a transition from body to blacked out surface but that San Jose started out blacking this area out from Job #1 for 69 and continued through the production year. The paint pattern is also somewhat different than painters at Dearborn.
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While collecting I also grabbed pictures of the side of the cowl area in front of the A pillar to see how the continuation of that black (engine compartment and wheel well) paint was applied. As you can see it's a little or allot depending on painter.
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