Westfalia Roof below luggage rack

[spacebiscuit]

In preparation for painting, I removed the rear luggage section of a westfalia front-hinging roof. As can be seen in he photos below, the area which would be directly under the luggage bars has a covering applied.

It looks as if the intention was to protect the exposed paint work perhaps? Was this a standard feature for Westfalia lids or is this a custom addition? I'm not sure if I should sand/grind it back and re-apply or just be done with it altogether?

Thanks in advnace.

[pioneer1]

pre 74? from the factory just paint and no rubber seal on the luggage rack. People do add the seal for some reason. Maybe it's old wax? not sure what the white border is
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[spacebiscuit]

It's a 72 bus but I'm not certain that it wasn't converted at some point in the past so may have been a tin-top originally. The white seal is a silicon type sealant that looks to have been added around the edge of the material which has been applied.