Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

[Greg L.]

I was just going through my box of die cast trims pieces(emblems, mirror, hood ornaments and numbers, licence frame and exhaust bezels, etc, etc) for my 69 and was wondering if the repro parts out there are good enough to past judging or if I have to get my originals rechromed for full points?

They all need some work and some are what I would say too far gone due to lots of pitting and breakage. I'm pretty sure that the cost to repair them will far exceed the cost to just go and get some good quality repros so that is what I'd like to do.

Any advice on this would be nice because I'm trying to get an order together and I'm just wondering if I should inclued all these "little" bits and pieces too!

Thanks,

Greg Linton
#45455

[Tracy C.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg,

You are far better off buying quality repops. You couldn't afford to rechrome your emblems and you wouldn't be happy with them anyway. Thin pot metal is nearly impossible to restore and make it look right.

Find a supplier who sells Trim Parts emblems. They are as good as it gets.

tc

[Tracy C.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg,

You are far better off buying quality repops. You couldn't afford to rechrome your emblems and you wouldn't be happy with them anyway. Thin pot metal is nearly impossible to restore and make it look right.

Find a supplier who sells Trim Parts emblems. They are as good as it gets.

tc

[Greg R.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Great post Greg, would love to see it ongoing for awhile and get others opinions especially correctness...Thanks.
Greg

[Greg R.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Great post Greg, would love to see it ongoing for awhile and get others opinions especially correctness...Thanks.
Greg

[Greg L.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Trim Parts Emblems? is that a supplier? I've never heard of them before but then I'm just starting to get into this area of my car.

Do you know which of the vendors sell this brand?

I guess the one bad thing that I have heard about repro emblems is that they can be too nice and I'm really just looking for something that looks original so I hope these "Trim Parts" ones are along that line.

[Greg L.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Trim Parts Emblems? is that a supplier? I've never heard of them before but then I'm just starting to get into this area of my car.

Do you know which of the vendors sell this brand?

I guess the one bad thing that I have heard about repro emblems is that they can be too nice and I'm really just looking for something that looks original so I hope these "Trim Parts" ones are along that line.

[Greg R.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg, try this link...I have no idea if what they produce/sell is correct.

http://www.trimparts.com/

[Greg R.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg, try this link...I have no idea if what they produce/sell is correct.

http://www.trimparts.com/

[Greg L.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Ya I just found that site too. It looks like what they do sell is good quality but they only show a fraction of what I need so it looks like I'll be looking at other vendors.

Any other suggestions guys?

[Greg L.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Ya I just found that site too. It looks like what they do sell is good quality but they only show a fraction of what I need so it looks like I'll be looking at other vendors.

Any other suggestions guys?

[Richard M.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg,
Here's my experience of over 20 years buying trim and chrome for my 59.....And recently for my 62 restoration. Sorry it's not '69 specific but I think you'll get the idea..........

Back in the mid 80's, I could buy right from GM. When I rechromed bumpers etc in 95, chrome prices for trim pieces were about the same as repro pricing then. I got bumpers rechromed(even the license light trims), but decided GM outer eybrows, but had the large grille mouths rechromed. Repro price was equal to rechrome cost so I stayed with my originals. Bought new grille teeth(USA made vs offshore junk). Chrome shop said it'd be more to rechrome teeth than to buy repros. I tossed the originals, arghh!! Original grille bar rechromed, but new GM headlight bezels. BTW, all front & rear bumpers and 2 grille mouths triple plating(11 pieces) in 95 cost $900! Not today! Trim Parts door handles and emblem bezels were ok, but they're different from original GM. You can see the differences in the handles side by side. Inside door lock knobs repros today are not identical, that's why those little original devils are so costly. Put a original next to the repro and the detail of the lines in the repro handle are missing. Even the ones GM sold a few years ago were from the offshore supplier, so be careful if you see "NOS" on ebay as they may be the offshore flavor. Also keep in mind GM chrome was never perfect. Today's triple show chrome vs any GM nos has obvious differences.

Today it's different. I've seen the quality of the repros. There are differences. But even the GM nos may not be the same as when built. It depends on when the part was made. I'm sure other experts here will attest to that as they have taught me about this. I have some GM nos pieces, and compared to original on the 62 they're different. I have bought a few trim pieces nos, and deliberately the same repros to see the difference. It's very noticeable on some. Some others are spot on. It's really a learning experience. I'll find out when the 62 gets judged in about a year or so.

BTW, most vendors supply the same trim pieces. They often get them from the same suppliers. The Driveline is a good source for items too don't forget. I just wish it was online too so it would be easier to search. Good to read all of it though. It forces me to sit and relax!

Basically you need to make a decision. If you go with repro, there is a possibility some will be ok for judging, but some pieces may not be. It depends on where you want your car to be. Your best knowledge to be gained is from those here and at the judged meets. I highly recommend you attend meets whenever you can, and watch 69's being judged. I went to a chapter meet a while ago and watched a 58 being judged. I learned more in that short time than I'd ever imagine. Stuff I never knew in 20 years of my NCRS time. It may also help to be an observer judge to learn the cars even more. That's what I'm planning to do in the future whenever I can.

...my humble opinions,
Rich Mozzetta #13499

[Richard M.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Greg,
Here's my experience of over 20 years buying trim and chrome for my 59.....And recently for my 62 restoration. Sorry it's not '69 specific but I think you'll get the idea..........

Back in the mid 80's, I could buy right from GM. When I rechromed bumpers etc in 95, chrome prices for trim pieces were about the same as repro pricing then. I got bumpers rechromed(even the license light trims), but decided GM outer eybrows, but had the large grille mouths rechromed. Repro price was equal to rechrome cost so I stayed with my originals. Bought new grille teeth(USA made vs offshore junk). Chrome shop said it'd be more to rechrome teeth than to buy repros. I tossed the originals, arghh!! Original grille bar rechromed, but new GM headlight bezels. BTW, all front & rear bumpers and 2 grille mouths triple plating(11 pieces) in 95 cost $900! Not today! Trim Parts door handles and emblem bezels were ok, but they're different from original GM. You can see the differences in the handles side by side. Inside door lock knobs repros today are not identical, that's why those little original devils are so costly. Put a original next to the repro and the detail of the lines in the repro handle are missing. Even the ones GM sold a few years ago were from the offshore supplier, so be careful if you see "NOS" on ebay as they may be the offshore flavor. Also keep in mind GM chrome was never perfect. Today's triple show chrome vs any GM nos has obvious differences.

Today it's different. I've seen the quality of the repros. There are differences. But even the GM nos may not be the same as when built. It depends on when the part was made. I'm sure other experts here will attest to that as they have taught me about this. I have some GM nos pieces, and compared to original on the 62 they're different. I have bought a few trim pieces nos, and deliberately the same repros to see the difference. It's very noticeable on some. Some others are spot on. It's really a learning experience. I'll find out when the 62 gets judged in about a year or so.

BTW, most vendors supply the same trim pieces. They often get them from the same suppliers. The Driveline is a good source for items too don't forget. I just wish it was online too so it would be easier to search. Good to read all of it though. It forces me to sit and relax!

Basically you need to make a decision. If you go with repro, there is a possibility some will be ok for judging, but some pieces may not be. It depends on where you want your car to be. Your best knowledge to be gained is from those here and at the judged meets. I highly recommend you attend meets whenever you can, and watch 69's being judged. I went to a chapter meet a while ago and watched a 58 being judged. I learned more in that short time than I'd ever imagine. Stuff I never knew in 20 years of my NCRS time. It may also help to be an observer judge to learn the cars even more. That's what I'm planning to do in the future whenever I can.

...my humble opinions,
Rich Mozzetta #13499

[Dick W.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Trim Parts does (or did the last time I checked) GM Restoration emblems--probably the best ones out there. I have bought items from my Chevrolet dealer that came in Trim Parts wrapping; they do not even repackage.

[Dick W.]

Re: Quality of repro emblems, trim , etc....

Trim Parts does (or did the last time I checked) GM Restoration emblems--probably the best ones out there. I have bought items from my Chevrolet dealer that came in Trim Parts wrapping; they do not even repackage.