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Working on correct restoration of a 1969.
Have ordered front and fuel door emblems from paragon/ corvette central and trim parts, some burgandy some lighter red, some have checkers on flags incorrect? (black where white check should go)
Does anyone know correct color or have a picture of original tags?
and where to get best repop?
Hi Steve,
I believe the consensus is that the color of left side flag was a dark (maroon-ish) red, not a bright (orangey) red.
Have you looked at the emblems from Trim Parts? Their trim reproductions are often well done but I'm not sure of the color of the flag .
Regards,
Alan
I believe the checkered flag is correct as shown in the photos. And I don't believe that either red color is "correct" for what was there on the original flags. The bottom photo with orange-red color is way off; the upper photo with dark red color is a bit too dark...but much closer to the original flag color.
While Alan's emblem is a bit shinier than mine, this is the original gas door emblem off my 1970 LT-1 with 77k original miles. This car has not seen sunshine since 1986 and I've had it off to verify that it is the original GM emblem. (And it looks like I need to do some cleaning in the cracks)
Top is Fuel Door Emblem in darker red. (rear view with stampings in prior photo)
Lower is front bumper emblem in more fire-engine red. (not removed thus far to reveal stampings for originality)
Interesting topic - I'd like to learn more.
I was sprucing up my '69's fuel filler door this weekend, as well as the vented cap. Here are photos of the filler door back side, as well as the emblem itself - front and rear. I'm guessing this is not original, as I have not seen photos of original ones, but I'd suspect I'd be looking for some GM or division logos somewhere.
Comments welcomed as to originality of either the door or the emblem.
Also, I removed it and placed it above the front bumper emblem showing a distinct Red color difference as described in above posts.
considering the emblem in my picture is 100 percent the original emblem I'd have to agree...
My car sit's 8 feet above my 78 SA car on a lift... and has not moved in over 10 years.... and like I said above, the car only has 77k miles on it. I'm 100 percent positive the emblem is original, but I also feel that since I've not cleaned this car in over 20 years that the sheen on the emblem has possibly dulled... as compared to Alan's original emblem. The color shade is 100 percent correct, but the reproductions... if from Trim parts or imported, don't have the correct color.
I have a reproduction on my 72 and it looks horrible after being on the car for 10 years... (and it's a trim parts emblem). If needed I can post a picture of this emblem but I don't see where it would ad any pertinent info to this thread.... It's faded and looks pathetic.
The bad issue is that the Trim parts emblem is the best option even though it's not correct it is the best quality emblem being made.
Difference in what I 'see' could be photo lighting and/or computer screen display differences. You guys do know that paint 'ages', whether it is in the light or not? And you folks aren't the only ones to have had a new C3 (or so) during your life...whether you have a museum piece in your garage/addition, or not.
I stated what I remembered as a response to Steve's post. If you want to 'show off' with your treasures, go for it. The 'original' color on the '68 flags is more like the gas lid flag in Bergerboy's lower photo (blue car background)...In My Opinion.
I have a flag to show, too. It's the one on my 71's gas lid. The red on it is NOT correct, because I've refurbished it. But I like it....
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 18, 2017 at 12:51 AM.
Does anyone have part markings on the B-side, comparing original to new/repro emblems?
When I searched on the Bay, some of the fuel door emblems that are listed as "original", show same markings as what I show on my photos above.
The 2 numbers (part number and a shorter number), plus the block S type of logo.
Is this what should be on an original emblem?
And then, has there been any evidence of new-made parts using the old stampings, passing themselves off as "original"?
Thanks,
Here is an NOS front emblem, that I recently got in a group of NOS parts I bought. The label on it is dated 8-86, and it is the red-orange color. If the darker red is correct, then GM changed the red they were using, at some point.
It wasn't uncommon for GM to do this, change the colors on emblems. It sure makes it hard on the hobby though, too know what was right, and when. Of course, GM wasn't building show cars, so they didn't really worry about such things.
Originally Posted by Bergerboy
Does anyone have part markings on the B-side, comparing original to new/repro emblems?
And then, has there been any evidence of new-made parts using the old stampings, passing themselves off as "original"?
The repro's made by Trim Parts, have the GM part numbers cast into the back of them, because Trim Parts is using GM's original molds. There is (or was) a cheaper Taiwan repro, that is blank on the back. I don't recall if the Trim Parts emblems have the General Foundry logo cast into them also, but I think they do. I have a couple of the Trim Parts ones, but I can't get to them right now to look (they're packed away for Spring Carlisle).
Thanks Alan - looks like your rear emblem matches the markings on mine - so I feel gook knowing it's original (or at least well-faked).
The same block "S" is on both the rear emblem and on the fuel door itself. I was thinking they were both repro'd by the same company with the block "S' logo.
I haven't removed the front to see what I've got under there (and I likely won't anytime soon).
But the color difference in the red flag has me curious.
We called Paragon because we received two different colors for the fuel door and the front emblem, at least it would be nice if they matched!
They talked with Trim parts who said that that is the way they are? not really an explaination to me. It would seem that gbvette62 makes a lot of sense.
By the way my partner in this has had enough, he has decided to hand paint both emblems with something in between.
We called Paragon because we received two different colors for the fuel door and the front emblem, at least it would be nice if they matched!
They talked with Trim parts who said that that is the way they are? not really an explaination to me. It would seem that gbvette62 makes a lot of sense.
By the way my partner in this has had enough, he has decided to hand paint both emblems with something in between.
Good luck to all and to all a good night!
Steve
While Trim parts doesn't make them in the correct shade, the original emblems were not the exact same color... they were close, but not the same. (why I have no idea).
I still have my original front emblem on my car but getting to it might be a challenge... I can get to the rear one easy, but this car is on top of a lift and I don't want to move what's under it. Maybe I could get someone here a bit more flexible to snap one of it tomorrow and post it...
Hi dm,
I use the trim on my car as an example because I'm sure it's the original trim, I know the car led a very sheltered life, and, I have access to it.
The decision to call the red "maroon-ish" is based on many people's opinions after looking at many, many, cars that are known to have the original trim, AND, they started looking at these cars more than 25 years ago.
Could there be a 'shade' difference…. yes, but it would still be described as 'maroon-ish'
???
Regards,
Alan
1969 correct fuel door /front emblems
