No one reporduces ALOT of the pot metal pieces for our cars ... including the Grille surround. Dont blame Frank - at least he gave us 69'ers what we've needed for a Looonnngggg time.
I honestly can't imagine why it would come with the grille. Totally different part, different material, different manufacturing process. I suspect a lot more owners are/were in need of the plastic grille, not the chrome surround. Same with the 68's. I have 2 very good 68 surrounds, but a repro grille???
Great job, I will be contacting Frank asap. I think the grille is more rare than the chrome surrounding it, but thats just from my experiences.
It will not look correct - It may bolt up though. '68 Grilles have no Center divider (for lack of a better term) and the chrome surround basically just goes Up, Over, and Down around its outside. '69 Grilles HAVE a center divider - the Up, over and down are the same, but there is a Cross bar designed into it that mates with the grilles' divider. This picture shows Franks Grille - look at the center "divider". That would NOT be covered by a '68 surround. Here is a picture of a '69 Skylark Custom grille - the surround is the same for the'69 GS grille (minus the center emblem which was "Custom" specific) As a side Note - this particular surround (or any one that has had the Custom center emblem installed) Would NOT be a good choice for using on a GS - because that Custom emblem has sharp edges on the part that rests on the bar and almost always leaves a pretty severe wear mark on it that goes through the chrome and into the metal. This is what a '68 (GS) Grille and surround look like
Just to follow up on Alan's comments: The 68 grille and 68 surround, as a set, will mount on a 69. And vice-versa, a 69 grille and 69 surround, as a set, will mount on a 68. You just don't want to mix-n-match 68 and 69 together. My 68 had a 69 grille and surround when I bought it.
It will "fit" a 68 as long as you use the 69 chrome surround with the 69 grille. TA's grille is Frank's repro. A # of vendors resell it. I'm sure Frank also has stock available.
last I heard stock was dwindling and Frank has no plans to do another run so Iffin you need one you better buy one NOW
Hey Alan, how many have you got stashed? I've been thinking about grabbing one and a 69 surround just in case... I really don't see my precious 68 getting repro'd, not after the last conv I had with TPP.
Send a PM to buicfrank here on the board. If he's out of stock, just buy it from one of the several Buick vendors that are reselling them. AFAIK, they are all the same price.
