Panel gaps at the factory

[paydase]

Just seen this picture posted by Simon:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1408&start=2400#p165892

20231218-105926.jpg (98.78 KiB) Viewed 1131 times

I use this opportunity to ask the question because all of the "quality restorations" aim at perfect gaps and alignments of panels as if that was the case when cars got out of the factory at the time : was it indeed the case, or was there actually some tolerance for slightly but visibly unperfect gaps to pass quality control?

Alternatively, would some gaps appear due to wear/fatigue over time or is that unlikely?

[Simon P]

Just to add for context that by that point the car would have had around 70-80,000 miles under its belt - although the passenger door would have seen far less use than the driver's door of course.

The less said about the bonnet gaps the better!

[caveman]

From E Type UK site:
https://etypeuk.com/restoration/the-e-t ... ur-dreams/

[paydase]

Thank you Steve.
This is indeed the mantra of such restorations : BETTER THAN FACTORY

I quote:
"you should be able to look down the length of the car and not see a single break between each panel, however, this wasn’t always the case. Early production examples, at the time, were seen as a cheaper sports car alternative and therefore panel gaps weren’t the highest priority."

THerefore, perfect gaps and alignments not applicable to early unrestored cars