1965 Grill Question

[Mark P.]

Does anyone know who sells the best reproduction of the 1965 grill and how close it is to an original grill ?

My car has a 1966 grill on it that looks like it has been on the car for a while. Does anyone know when the 1966 grill became the Service Replacement for the 1965 grill ?

If anyone has a decent original 1965 grill they are selling then PM me please.

Thanks,

Mark

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

I'm guessing that there's only one supplier of the 65 grill. I've purchased 2 of them from Zip and they were both very nice. My originals were in such poor condition, anything was an improvement so I didn't really compare them for originality from a judging standpoint.

[Brian T.]

[Keith B.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

Brian I read up somewhere the 65 grile was only avalible in service doing the 65 model year and after the start of 66 production that is when GM listed the new design as replacment for 65 cars.

[Ray K.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

The 1965 Corvette grilles were available as an assembly with part # 3869148, although not for a very long time frame, as it was replaced by the 1966 - 67 style grille #3875746 in July 1966.

Ray

[James G.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

Chris Wickersham of Corvettes of Pasadena did an excellent reproduction in the 1980's. He sold his mold to Zip as I remember. And Ray has it all correct. For many years thru the 90's if you wanted a 63-65 grill, Chevrolet would sell you the 66-67 unit. Today if you see that egg crate unit in a mid-year , chances are the car had a frontal altercation with another vehicle.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

There has only been one manufacturer of the reproduction 1965 grille since some time in the 80’s. They really are very well made reproductions. To my knowledge, the 1965 grille was not offered as an assembly through GM service parts. The old parts books list the various pieces as separate parts. Maybe Joe Lucia could let us all know if this is in fact the way it was.

Brian-----

I would be glad to and able to do so easily. However, right now I'm in Italy and a long way from any of my references (confession: I don't have all this stuff memorized).

[Gary S.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

The problem I always saw on the judging field was the rivet squash of repro grills was not like that of original grills. Here is an example. These are older pictures as you can see, so maybe the current ones are improved in that area?

Top is repro hanging on a vendor's display rack in Florida, original below it. Check the mounting bracket squash. And the others on the black vanes are not the same squash as originals.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

. Today if you see that egg crate unit in a mid-year , chances are the car had a frontal altercation with another vehicle.

Jim------


YUP! Almost guaranteed.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

The repos are almost always pretty! The suppliers to GM didn't have the time to do it perfect! They were interested in the invoice to GM more than anything.
But the judges want to see perfect! My reference is Trim Parts!

JR

[Brian T.]

[Greg H.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

Hi Mark,
I suggest that you try to find an NOS grill from David Sokolowski (310) 329 5334. He has adds in The DRIVELINE

[Brian T.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

Been in this business for quite a long time and have never seen or heard of an NOS 65 grille. At one time I was stockpiling 1965 nos parts and had some very rare and unique items. That was in the 70s and early 80s when more items were around. Never even heard of anyone having one! I would really like to hear about an NOS 1965 grille.

[William M.]

Re: 1965 Grill Question

I have the first reproduction prototype 1965 grill made by Mark Sharp of Mar-K Mfg. in Oklahoma City,OK that was given to me 25+ years ago.
Bill Mock #93 Bartlesville,OK
Phone: (918)333-0748 or cell (918)214-5206
Email: williamhmock@aol.com

[Brian T.]