C4 Trivia...

[B17Crew]

From 1991 to 1995, the C4 had the front turn signal/foglight recess painted black. In 96, the final year of the C4, the recesses were left body color.

Does anybody know if Bowling Green did this as a cost saving measure or if this was done to differentiate the 96 from the 95? I can’t seem to find any hard data on this.

B17Crew

 

[scorp508]

Well it is the only way to tell a non GS or AE 96 apart from a 95 so I'm going to just go with that. Either way they had to paint the part. I'm willing to bet painting it the body color was easier though.

 

[B17Crew]

scorp508,
I keep thinking it was done to save $, just my personal opinion, no facts to back it up. Not applying the black paint was one less step in an assembly line process. Since the 95 gill panels were a carry overs to 96 --- you are correct, the only way to identify a non GS or CE 96 from a 95 would be from the black treatment to the front signal/fog lens area.

B17Crew

 

[Tuna]

Until you look at a black 95/96.

 

[B17Crew]

Until you look at a black 95/96.

Very true.

B17Crew

 

[rrubel]

Are they in fact PAINTED black, or is that the normal unpainted color? For example, on Subaru Legacys, the outside mirrors are black on normal Outbacks, L's, and Brightons (when they were still built). However, on GT's, LSi's, and Outback Limiteds they were body color. But... when you buy a new mirror, it's always black - you need to paint it to match if you want, or leave it unpainted to go on a car with stock black mirrors. This was a cost measure... Same reason GM and Chrysler kept grey bumpers on lower-model Neons and Saturns... just slap on the stock part, regardless of body color.
[RICHR]

 

[B17Crew]

Hi rrubel,
The recesses are painted black on 91-95 front bumpers. I’ve been looking at a few different C4s, on some you can see a bit of overspray, it’s minor overspray, but it’s there -- you have to look close though. The cars I checked out were original/factory paint.

If I ever come across an accurate explanation for the deletion of black paint on the 96’s, I’ll be sure to post it.

B17Crew

 

[froggy47]

If you got black, do they paint the black - black?:s

 

[B17Crew]

Hi froggy47,

I don’t know about the black... the colors I looked at were Torch Red, Competition Yellow, Copper Metallic, and Arctic White. Only a guess, but I would think they wouldn't double hit the black cars. I'm so used to hearing of companies finding every and any way to save money that I could see GM not hitting the black cars with the blackout treatment.

B17Crew

 

[froggy47]

You're probably right.