RE: Repaints into 2019 fleet livery
(17 Oct 2021, 10:07 am)ne14ne1 wrote I see 8331 has a full blue rear: https://flic.kr/p/2mBjyua
A little different - Versas usually have the upper panel (invitation window?) black don’t they?
(17 Oct 2021, 10:17 am)streetdeckfan wrote From a quick look around on Flickr, it seems like Versas that have the registration plate on the upper panel have the whole panel black, presumably as it would look odd having two 'cut outs', one for the display and one for the plate, whilst the Versas with the registration plate on the bottom have the 'body colour' panel.
Not sure if that's the reason, but from the limited number of Versa arse shots, that's what it looks like
The main reason is that it was intended for 8331 to be painted into Berries livery (so the entire batch branded were 8330 - 8338 in consecutive order), so it received the white vinyl on the rear to allow the black glass panel to be painted (and in turn allow for extra vinyl messaging). Thorntons painted 8329 and 8331 the wrong way round, but the back glass panel was still painted in blue anyway just to see what it would look like.
It's a bug bear of mine that when this glass is supplied it comes with the registration 'cut out' at the top right as per the original 2009 and 2010 specification Versas, so yes, this extra vinyl also helps to cover that up on any examples which have had that replaced over the years.