i think it is diecast and plated somehow. the one in my rampy was very rough.
i ground it down(not too easy to do) and had it plated. do not do this for a
car or convertible..it will blind you! my other rough ones from junkyards are
painted after sandblasting. even sandblasting is hard to do on these..they
just shoot lots of sparks. so it is a very hard casting.
regards, tim colson