Rivets in fenders?

[TT from NH]

Okay, I THINK this is a stupid question but ...

I'm restoring the front fenders on my 68 Coronet. There clearly was some damage done to the very front and I cleaned out a lot of bondo to reveal some pretty fun dents. My question is: I see these two rivets that seem to be holding the top of the fender to the headlight section. If it was just on the one side (the driver's side, which I'm working on now), I wouldn't be posting. But it's on BOTH the driver's side AND passenger's side AND they are precisely in the same location on both fenders. These AREN'T factory, are they?

 

[gkent]

Would have been a tough place to spot weld !!!

 

[Dusty Dude]

My '69 Coronet has one in each fender about one inch from the corner.

 

[TT from NH]

My '69 Coronet has one in each fender about one inch from the corner.

So, do you think yours are factory?

 

[eldubb440]

yup.........I've seen them before

 

[TT from NH]

My '69 Coronet has one in each fender about one inch from the corner.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Are you saying because this is a difficult place to spot weld that the factory used rivets? Or, are you saying it will be difficult for me to spot weld?

 

[TT from NH]

yup.........I've seen them before

Hey @eldubb440. I guess I shouldn't have ground them off then....

 

[eldubb440]

you could remove that piece, hammer out any dents, and clean up the crusty while youre there

 

[Dusty Dude]

So, do you think yours are factory?

Yes I do.

 

[TT from NH]

Thanks everyone; this is NOT what I would have guessed.

 

[69Bee]

I has only been 37 years so I would have to refer to my pics, but I don't recall any rivets on my '69 Bee. The only rivets I recall were the large head ones holding the plastic shields on the bottom of the frame rails...

 

[Slipping727]

I've seen factory rivets holding chrome trim on the leading edge of front fender on 1970 satellites and roadrunners before.

 

[Rob'68Net]

I checked 2 of my pretty much untouched original 68 Coronet parts cars and they both have the rivets. They've got to be factory.

 

[TT from NH]

I checked 2 of my pretty much untouched original 68 Coronet parts cars and they both have the rivets. They've got to be factory.

View attachment 1819633

@Rob'68Net, DANG, I would NOT have guessed this! Okay, that changes things. Thank you for taking the pic! Seeing is believing.