NOS 1970 GS grill - question

I bought a 70 GS grill a 20+ years ago from Buick and put it in storage. Today I opened the box and discovered the grill grate area is gray plastic. Should this area have been painted black?

 

I’m pretty sure that both were available, not sure what determines what color you got from Buick. If your interested in selling I’m looking for a grey grill.

 

There are several threads on there regarding painting of '70 grilles

 

Yes ,the grate area should be black .
Is the grille made of black or gray plastic ?
Gray plastic would be production and very early
over the counter more rare the black plastic .
Get a can of satin black and spray the crate area.
Bill

 

Painted yes, but not black.



Here are some good threads:

http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/1970-gs-grill-paint.323844/

https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/70-gs-grille-resto-info.361870/#post-3115304

 

The grill itself is made of gray plastic.

Would this grill be correct for a April 70 build date?

 

Thx Gary, I was too lazy to post the links.

 

Does it have the reinforcement in the center at the top?

 

Weren't the GSCA repro's painted that way?

 

Do we know when the change took place that added that reinforcement? My 10E car I believe has a replacement NOS grille & has it. I assume it could be cut out? Not that I plan on making the car concours anytime soon but is this something judges look for in that class?

 

I purchased the grill from Deane Buick in 1990.

 

All GS in 70 came with gray plastic. Early NOS were plastic. Black came out much later

 

Gray plastic back are original factory production came on new cars Year One bought all the Gm stock in the nintys GM remade them with black plastic back and sold them and the GS club started makeing them as well in black plastic now they are being repoed by Cars

 

"Do we know when the change took place that added that reinforcement? Not that I plan on making the car concours anytime soon but is this something judges look for in that class?"

No idea when it happened and never cared to find out as it was not important on the show field. If you want, take up the quest.

No, We accept both styles of original grills and the reproductions.

Only the owners care if they have the gusset or not.

Also, I would advise owners to NOT cut out the gusset. The originals without it were made differently at the top, with the forward facing top edge being beveled. If you cut out the gusset, all you are doing is weakening the grill, and are still not making it look like the early originals.
Duane

 

The GSCA grills were and still are complete garbage,...they weren't painted,...and made from melted soda crates and poured into a mold that was whittled out Styrofoam by a 3rd grader

 

Hugger, tell us how you really feel.