Classic Alfa Forums

Gents, a question. All Suds I've seen so far have the battery tray (the bolt on bracket in the service area on which you mount the battery) in body colour. Is that because they are supposed to be in body colour or because all Suds have been repainted? I personally think this part is supposed to be in the body colour, but could of course be wrong. Anyone here knows or has evidence on the proper factory original spec.?

Thanks in advance for your reply(s)

Why would they waste time and money painting it a different colour?

Since the battery tray was probably not assembled to the body during the painting process (small clearance on bottom side to service are would probably lead not possible to paint surface)?

They should be body colour That’s how they were from the factory. I’m pretty sure they were bolted in place before painting as the bolt heads are usually body colour aswell. I’ll try to find some photos that may help confirm this
Lou

Body colour on my early cars and they were clearly in place when the body was painted.

Crank, is your 1972 1.2 ti an import?
I didn't think they were available in the UK then.

Thank you for the responses. I was almost sure of the part spec to be body colour, but better to ask before painting, otherwise it's a lot of work to correct it. If the bolt heads were also body colour then ideed cars must have been painted with this bracket assembled.

Sorry, only just spotted your question AlfaDave. Thats my typo, its a 1977 car not 1972. I think that only the first four door four speed cars were available in 1972.

Mine is painted black

Only reason is that I forgot to give it to the paint shop when the car was repainted!

I would image they we installed before the cars were painted and the lack of paint beneath the bolted part helps the rust to develop nicely in that area.