1968 Rally Sport grille research

[Steve68]

Mark

Yea, I would think John would know.  If you review the original post and replies 1 through 11 you will get a good picture of where we have been so far with the part numbers and why we continue to solicit and remain on the prowl for more car data.  We really just need a few more points to narrow this down I think......then maybe Rich can help us out with some specific leads.

Steve

[Mark's 68 L78 RS SS]

Steve:

I finally got the chance to catch up on all the posts.  Sorry it took me so long.  I now see where you are going with all this and will contact the previous owner to get more input.  I am traveling for a couple of days so it may be the weekend before I get back to you on his answer.

Mark

[firstgenaddict]

Someone may want to contact board member Tinkerr he has my old 68 RS/SS 396 Car. The car has 43k miles and he is restoring it, it is an April car and if memory serves (I sold it in the early 90's) it has the original grille and headlamp covers.

[Steve68]

Thanks!!  We'll take a shot at it.

Steve

[Mark's 68 L78 RS SS]

Steve and all the rest:

I contacted the previous owner who had my 68 RS SS since 72.  He said the grille and headlight covers were the original parts.  He also said they were chrome before he blacked them out.  My car is an 06C car VIN 124378L344xxx.  How does this date and vin compare to those of you who have later built LOS cars?

Mark

[Steve68]

Mark

The only LOS car response beside yours we have so far is the one from Ed.  See Replys 34, 39, and 41 for Les' NOR 07 built car.  Could I get you to post a picture of the front side of the old grille taken at a slight angle either up/down or sideways and the same of the HL covers.  I would like to see the pattern please.  Thanks!

Steve

[Tinkerr]

Steve,

In response to your survey.                                       Build date 04A
1.B
2.B
3.A
4.H
Additionally the left cover has a very small #1 in the center and the right has a very small #3. I could not find a part # on the grille as it's still riveted together, not that it's in great shape to reuse(cracks and such). I'm not to the point in the resto where I'm ready to tackle the grille. Hope this helps Paul

[firstgenaddict]

I thought that you could help them out Paul...

[Steve68]

Thanks so much for helping out Paul and again to you firstgen for the lead.  Without you guys taking time out of your day to look and provide us this info we would never be able to resolve this.  We sure could use some data from 04B and on right now.  Again, you guys are what make the RESEARCH part of CRG possible.  Hats off to ya!!!

Steve

[Mark's 68 L78 RS SS]

Steve:

Here are some pics of the center grille.

Paul, as someone who has been in the injection molding business for 22 years I look at the small numbers you see on the back side of the headlicht covers and say they were mold cavity numbers.  JohnZ may be able to verify this?

Mark

[Steve68]

Mark, it looks like the horizontal bars are slightly above the vertical bars where they cross each other in middle the picture.  Can you confirm.  Also, just looking at the pictures, I just have to ask, because the grille does not look like it has paint on it, but, and PLEASE be patient with me on this, are you sure it has been painted?

Steve

[Mark's 68 L78 RS SS]

Steve:

Yes the horizantal bars are raised to facilitate chroming, whether it was plating or hot stamping.  And yes, the previous owner told me the grille was chromed.  Everything he has told me has proven out to be true.  He owned the car since 1972 and he is a practicing Christian.  I believe him.

Here is the question and his responses on an email I sent him

1.)                 Do you know if the grille and headlight covers are original to the car?

2.)                 Did they have the chrome on them before you blacked them out or were they always black?

1 I think so
2 yes, painted over bright polished alum or stainless. I ran across a neat item called an eraser at the auto paint store. you put it in a drill motor to remove decals on paint works good you might try it on the grill

Steve, that is as good as it gets for the information on the grille.  It may not be what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth as best as I know it.

Mark

[JohnZ]

Steve:

Here are some pics of the center grille.

Paul, as someone who has been in the injection molding business for 22 years I look at the small numbers you see on the back side of the headlicht covers and say they were mold cavity numbers. JohnZ may be able to verify this?

Mark

I agree - generally if there are individual numbers or characters molded into the back side of an injection-molded plastic part, they're mold cavity identifiers.

[Steve68]

Mark

Thanks for checking out the height on the horizontal bars.  Thanks too for relaying what the previous owner had to say about the grille.  I of course have no reason to disbelieve him or you and would never want you to even think that I have started down that road.  Just trying to do the best research possible long distance; I'm not disappointed, the grille is what it is    but yours is the only one so far after 05D that apparently has the chrome.  Thanks again for double checking and responding.

John, do you have any idea why the ones with the mold cavity numbers don't have a part number too?

Steve

[JohnZ]

John, do you have any idea why the ones with the mold cavity numbers don't have a part number too?

Steve

Nope - generally it was optional on the drawing for the part number to appear on the part, unless Engineering had a reason for it to be required.