1968 Experts
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
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From: Monson MA
1968 Experts
I have been trying to locate front grilles for my 1968. I have purchased and resold a pair thinking that they were 68-69 re-pro's as I was told by the seller. I wanted originals that look different than the re-pro ones. The ones I took off the car are not framed, the re-pro ones have a full frame all the way around. Am I mistaking about this or are the 68-69 grille the same. Right now I am of the mindset that they are NOT the same. I would appreciate someone setting me straight.
Thanks
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: North Brunswick NJ
Here is an original on a Jan 68 built car. Let me know if you need additional info. As you can see they are not framed and are a one year only.
Last edited by jaxlt1; Apr 25, 2011 at 06:59 AM.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...Am I mistaking about this or are the 68-69 grille the same...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
i` m not the expert your looking for, but I probably have owned my 68 longer than anyone here and it`s all stock if that means anything.....There has been many beliefs about the duplicity between years, but your looking at a painted but unrestored March 68 car #13092 with 28000 miles. And I`ll stack this 68 against any other 68 as far as authenticity.....and I don't know what a correct 69 grill looks like......but I do know as far as OE replacement parts for specific years some basically one year cars have parts from the subsequent years and are probably accepted as correct ......
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Philly Suburbs (Pa.)
i` m not the expert your looking for, but I probably have owned my 68 longer than anyone here and it`s all stock if that means anything.....There has been many beliefs about the duplicity between years, but your looking at a painted but unrestored March 68 car #13092 with 28000 miles. And I`ll stack this 68 against any other 68 as far as authenticity.....and I don't know what a correct 69 grill looks like......but I do know as far as OE replacement parts for specific years some basically one year cars have parts from the subsequent years and are probably accepted as correct ......
Last edited by dgr72vette; Apr 25, 2011 at 03:26 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 345
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From: Baldwinsville New York
As jaxlt1 stated as shows the grill for all 68 where a one only design. In 69 the added additional plastic for supports simply because the 68 design was so brittle . In 69 they also added additional brackets behind the grills for better support. My 68 one correct grill and one 69 grill. It took 5 years to find the correct grill. I went crazy to find one because I was having my car judged by the NCRS. If you do find a pair you will could be sticker shock.
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Racer
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From: Baldwinsville New York
Jeff
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From: Southbound
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Concord Calif
Manuel, all the grills were painted NOT Chrome. Attached are my original grills before I restored mine and after. The silver was painted, is was was not uncommon the see overspray on them as well. the top of the grill is black. My car is a late car as well ( May). I hope these pics help.
Jeff
Jeff
Yea that's how mine look. So are these 68 or 69? Then what ones had the chrome edge as others here are saying ? 68 chrome? 69 painted?
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Baldwinsville New York
Race Director
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From: Taylor Michigan
l
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Concord Calif
The 1,3,and 4 pics is an original 68 grill. the 2nd picture is a 69 grill. The 69 grill is the one that I replaced because the previous owner I bought the car from broke the orginal one when he started to take the car apart. The grill took me me a long time to find an original one as I mentioned in a previous post . 68's had painted silver grills. If you look at my 4th picture that is was yours should look like and well as what should be painted. The sides are left black.
Mine do look like yours with the painted edges in silver as I believe to be correct. But from what others seem to be saying above that 68's had a chrome edge! Thanks for your input!
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
My bad. 68 grilles have/had a silver paint to give the effect of chrome. The silver is not an actual plating. 69s used left over 68 silver painted grilles until about January 1969. Black, unpainted after that.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Baldwinsville New York
edges of the bars where painted silver. In the later car, the grills are all black after jan of 69. Some intermedate car have been seen I have been told have the top bar only unpainted while the lower bars are painted silver . According to the ncrs jm
They mention that "original.cars with painted center grills and unpainted
outer grills have also been seen. "
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
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From: Monson MA
1968 Expert
I would like to thank everyone for their input and pictures. This really helped me a lot. It is clear to me that there is a difference between the early 68 and the late grills. The mounting taps and the surround is different. I have the early ones that are not usable. I know the original early ones are very hard to come by. If anyone knows of any please let me know. Used is OK. Thanks again and have a great Spring.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 345
Likes: 1
From: Baldwinsville New York
I would like to thank everyone for their input and pictures. This really helped me a lot. It is clear to me that there is a difference between the early 68 and the late grills. The mounting taps and the surround is different. I have the early ones that are not usable. I know the original early ones are very hard to come by. If anyone knows of any please let me know. Used is OK. Thanks again and have a great Spring.
