A process is described for producing an aluminum alloy sheet having excellent
bendability
for use in forming panels for automobiles. An aluminum alloy containing 0.50 to
0.75 by weight Mg, 0.7 to 0.85% by weight Si, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight Fe, 0.15 to
0.35% by weight Mn, and the balance Al and incidental impurities, is used and is
semi-continuously cast into ingot. The cast alloy ingot is subjected to hot rolling
and cold rolling, followed by solution heat treatment of the formed sheet. The
heat treated sheet is quenched to a temperature of about 60-120 C. and the
sheet is then coiled. This coil is then pre-aged by slowly cooling the coil from
an initial temperature of about 60-120 C. to room temperature at a cooling
rate of less than 10 C./hr.