"has anybody confirmed gray phosphate on the lower hood latch assembly,pictures anyone?" Yes, and the same for the rod going up to the hood latch, with the red paint stripe at the top.
I agree, I dug out my 71 original and appears no paint but phophate. Also NOS 71 is a very dark almost black phosphate. Used original looks like it may have been very dark as well. Dark colored rod has sloppy red remnants of stripe which is about an inch long and is not 360 around. I tried ot post picture but would not take.
Dave, Originally the red stripe was a full 360 degrees. If you look at original pieces most of them have a red stripe with the paint worn off on the forward facing surface. Duane
