As many have already stated, they were used as jacking points at a later
point in the cars life. They also fulfilled an earlier and arguably more
important function during build viz a paint drain after the car had been
totally immersed in basic primer. As the bodies emerged from the full dip
tank, primer pouring out of every crevice, they quickly assumed the stance
of carcases in a slaughter house, being dangled vertically from both front
and rear. Mainly this was to allow paint in trapped areas which could not
drain through a convenient hole or badly aligned join to spread itself
around a bit. On Barb and to a lesser degree on Innsbruck, front inner wing
assemblies were voids and held about 30 gallons each side. To this day, the
jacking holes in the floor are a source of ribald comment among the old
hands; were they really put there to aid jacking or was it more a question
of "well, we've got rid of the paint, what could they be used for in
future?" Jacking wasn't the only offered option!
John Mac
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