1957 FLH Paint Schema Birch White with Vivid Black Tank Panel

[mrupp]

Dear Enthusiast, I am currently planning the new painting of my 1957 FLH restoration. The paint wasnīt original and very bad. I copied already the paint schema from Johns 1957 NOS paint in the Museum Wheels Through Times (thanks again to Jake and John). The line between tank panel and tank side itīs different color. The line is also clearly seeable in the original 1957 factory picture. I will do a Birch White painting (got already color card from John) with Vivid Black tank panel. Which color had the line in this paint schema? Does any body has a 1957 FLH Birch White with NOS paint and could provide a detailed picture? Or know anybody who has one? Would be very helpful. Thank you a lot for supporting. Michael (pls write to michaelrupp@gmx.net)

[droptopford]

Hello mrupp,

57-4.jpg I think the line you are referring to is what I call a pin-stripe. It is my belief that pinstripes were added to the factory paint job after delivery. I see no mention of pinstripes on the 1957 factory order forms. I have seen quite a few original paint '57s with added pinstripes. On some of them, the stripe appears to have been added to the panel (upper color) and some to the lower. I can't explain the presence of the stripe in your (what appears to be) factory photo.?.

In the O.P. '57 picture I've attached, it looks like someone added the stripe to the lower blue portion .

Also, as I'm sure you already know, standard paint schemes for '57 did not include White with Black. I'm sure it could have been special ordered that way though.

[vph-d]

There is no "line" or "pinstripe" on factory paint schemes for 57.
vph-d

[mrupp]

Thank you both for sharing information. In 1960s HD painted without final clear coat. Is this info correct? My paint specialist for antique restorations think that they painted acc. version 2 (please see enclosed sketch) to avoid sharp edges like in version 1. And in the very fist factory picture 57FL1001 the pin (paint line) is clearly visible. I have also the original order lists and yes they donīt refer in the paint schema towards the pin. More information would be highly welcome.

Mybe there ist anybody with a 1957 Birch White NOS painting or later years 1960s in Birch White and Vivid Black. Thank you a lot for information Michael

[jim d]

There is also a line on the photo right where the tank meets the dash behind the fuel cap and gas valve. It looks the same as the one you are talking about between the two colors at the side panel.

[Chris Haynes]

No stripe in factory photos.

[droptopford]

There is also a line on the photo right where the tank meets the dash behind the fuel cap and gas valve. It looks the same as the one you are talking about between the two colors at the side panel.

I see the line you are referring to. Looks like some kind of anomaly caused by the photography itself, or the reproduction of that photography.. If you look closely at the 'pinstripe' in the 'factory photo' there appears to be a thin white stripe running along above the darker stripe below. I'm thinking it's all an illusion of some sort. Would be interesting to see the actual, original factory photo before it's been copied/reproduced/digitized etc for various publications.

In any case mrupp, if you are doing this research in order to have an AMCA judged paint job, I would suggest forgetting about the pinstripe. And to answer your other question:
The original paint was good old single stage enamel applied pretty thin compared to today's paint. No clear coat.