68 front grilles

[bagger]

I want to replace the front grilles on my 68. I have noticed that my grilles are outlined in silver paint. When checking out venders who supply new grilles, I 've asked them if the grilles they sell have the outline in silver and all have told me no. Can anyone tell me if in 68 the grilles came from the factory outlined? Thanks for the imput!

Bagger

 

[68Roadster]

Very interesting question bagger....I too went thru this when replacing the grilles on my '68.
I purchased new ones from Greenwood Chevy and they were not outlined in silver. The ones installed on my car were silver. I purchased the car from my wifes grandfather and I don't have receipts showing that they were ever changed so I doubt they were.
I will quote from the 68-82 Restoration Guide:

"The grilles remain all black for 68 and for those 69 cars assembled after approx. January 69."

I can't say I agree at this point (my car was built Oct 67) as I have no proof they were ever changed. I spent hours carefully taping the grilles off and then painting them with rally wheel silver paint. They turned out beautiful.
To each his own unless you are having the car judged then I would follow the restoration guide by Richard Prince or advice from an NCRS judge.

If you learn otherwise please let us know. Thanks.

 

[Space Cowboy]

68's were never outlined in silver. Someone has put on the wrong year grills. Call Willcox and they can give you the correct set.

 

[68Roadster]

68's were never outlined in silver. Someone has put on the wrong year grills. Call Willcox and they can give you the correct set.

Thanks SC.....guess I'll blow some more money....

 

[Space Cowboy]

I hear ya... I've blown a ton on a complete on frame restore... just a couple of weeks from completion. Stick with Willcox... talk to Tommy or Norm. Tell them Derek from Houston sent you. They are great guys and the cheapest on parts by far from anyone else.

 

[68Roadster]

Greenwood Chevy has them for 33. each, cheapest other than that I found was 47.
Mine are about a year old but they are SILVER now....I may just order a set to keep for the future.

Thanks again.

 

[paintdaddy]

I think the early 68s had the silver but some where eroded off .No one makes the grills with the silver ,you would have to do this yourself.One of my customers said the other day that he had a 68 in the early 70s and it was definitly silver on the face of the grills.

 

[68Roadster]

I think the early 68s had the silver but some where eroded off .No one makes the grills with the silver ,you would have to do this yourself.One of my customers said the other day that he had a 68 in the early 70s and it was definitly silver on the face of the grills.

Thanks Paint D....

Now it's driving me nuts....I'm gonna check with 'ol Grandad and see if he ever replaced the grilles.....if he didn't I'm unequivocally stating that at least some early '68's came with silver painted grilles. Stranger things have happened......

 

[Space Cowboy]

Very possible... 68's were built with 67 & 69 parts depending on which end of the production year. My 68 was built so late in 68 that it actually received a 69 paint color that wasn't available in 68. That's why they call 68's the bastard year.

 

[bagger]

68 grille

Thanks SC, My vette was built in nov 67. Guess I'll have to make a decision.

Bagger

 

[Space Cowboy]

Personally on early C3's, I like the non-chrome grill look. There is enough chrome on the front with all the bumpers and guards. The dark grills enhance the look I think.

 

[JJS]

Wish you guys would post some pics!
Of the whole car(s).

-John

 

[68Roadster]

Done...

Wish you guys would post some pics!
Of the whole car(s).

-John

Heres the grilles, old and new and the machines....

 

[DR.68]

68 silver on grill

My 68, known OE silver on grill.

 

[JJS]

Heres the grilles, old and new and the machines....

Very nice cars, 68. What did you do, go out an buy the all black grilles after finding out that's the way they came? -John

 

[68Roadster]

Very nice cars, 68. What did you do, go out an buy the all black grilles after finding out that's the way they came? -John

Thanks John...
I replaced these about 2 years ago when I rebuilt the front end. All I could find were the black ones so I spent countless hrs taping and painting them.
I talked to my wifes grandfather tonite, he purchased the car new and assured me that they had never been changed. So, regardless of what the restoration manual and other 68 owners say, I'm convinced that SOME 68's were delivered with silver painted grilles. To each his own, paint 'em if ya want, leave 'em black if ya like that look.
It would be neat to find the cutoff where they went all black but I doubt we will ever find out.

Take care....

 

[blacksharkL82]

Grill color

68, all flat black.
69, silver on the front edges only, flal black elsewhere.
Bought my 69, new in Jan 69, and I rewmember the diff from my buds 68.

 

[68Roadster]

No offense blackshark but I have to disagree as I suppose a few others here might.
Look thru an Assembly Manual, you will see where GM was doing things one way and then BAM, they started doing it another way with a different part/process.
Whats standard in October of 67 when my car was built may not be standard at the end of the year run.
Does it confuse us 38 years later?, heck ya! Am I gonna change based on what some book or other individual says?, heck no! I have first hand info from the original buyer stating they were silver on the leading edge. Would I argue that all 68's were silver? Of course not.
I think GM does this to mess with us!

Maybe one day at the Pearly Gates we can ask St. Peter if it's possible to speak with Harley Earl or Bill Mitchell or Duntov and get the straight answer on this!

 

[ChuckG]

I do believe that all 68's and early 69's had silver on the leading edge of the grills. Chuck

 

[68Roadster]

I do believe that all 68's and early 69's had silver on the leading edge of the grills. Chuck

Thanks Chuck....
I would love to hear an NCRS judge's take on this...
Your statement directly contradicts the 68-82 Restoration Guide.
Do plastic parts from that era have a date stamp??