vmsns007

74 convertible.
As you can see in the pics - my windshield trim has seen better days. Are these pieces chrome plated steel , stainless steel, or aluminum ?
Advice on how to get these looking scratch/blemish free and mirror shiny again ?
Is there anything I can do while still on the car or does it have to come off to work on?

gbvette62

The corners are chrome plated pot metal (zink die cast), and the center header trim is stainless. The header piece may be flash chrome plated, over the stainless.

vmsns007

Thanks for the info. What about the vertical windshield trim ?
interesting that at least two different metals and methods were used which I am guessing means there is not a single answer/solution to how I get them looking new again. What have others done ? Is this a DIY or should I send them out to someone (or even maybe purchase new) ?

Easy Mike

Try some chrome polish.

Alan 71

Hi v,
As gb described there are 2 materials used…. the corner casting is chrome plated, while the rest of the trim...the header, windshield reveal, and a-pillar trim pieces are flash chrome plated stainless steel.
The corner casting is available in reproduction but none of the stainless trim is being reproduced.
The stainless trim can be repaired and polished but that removes the chrome plating. It's very difficult to find a shop that will flash chrome stainless.
If the stainless is polished but not re-plated it's difference in color compared to the chrome corner piece is pretty obvious.
It would be difficult to do any sort of serious polishing of the stainless trim without removing it.
Here's an example of the color difference.
Regards,
Alan


The un-plated stainless is more 'yellow', less the silvery-blue that chrome plating has.

vmsns007

Alan - I see the difference from your pics so that helps.
Can I ask how you went about getting your your stainless and chrome plated pieces looking so nice ? Did you replace your corner piece with retro and restore the stainless ? My stainless is pitted and scratched. I don't see hand rubbing of chrome polish making those look new again

Alan 71

Hi V,
The corner casting is the original from my car and was re-plated.
I had that done because at the time, 10+ years ago, there was no reproduction available. (There's a small area of plating on the originals that the platers don't seem able to duplicate.)
The large piece of ss trim has been buffed and polished.
The rest of the ss trim are the originals and haven't been buffed/polished.
You really can't remove the corner trim piece without first removing the windshield because 2 of the screws are partially hidden by the windshield's edge.
Regards,
Alan

This is the textured area that the platers seem unable to duplicate.